UNI’s Jacobson on board with shot-clock adjustment

CEDAR FALLS - Recently, there's been growing discussion among local and national media about the state of college basketball and what can be done to fix and/or grow the sport.

One consistent offering has been a change to the 35-second shot clock the NCAA has had since the 1993-94 season. Many coaches have been outspoken in the media that a reduction to 30 or 24 seconds - the latter being the same as the NBA - is best and most logical step to remedy the decline in scoring across the country.

Northern Iowa has been among the slowest-paced (348th nationally in Adjusted Tempo according to KenPom) and lowest-scoring (230th nationally) teams all season - something Coach Ben Jacobson has consistently owed to the Panthers' (16-2, 5-1 Missouri Valley Conference) defense - but even Jacobson is on board with a switch.

'I would say shortening the shot clock (would help). It has been looked at and talked about over the years. I think that would be a good place to turn,” Jacobson said Monday. 'Whether you go to 30 (seconds) or 24, I don't know what the right answer is, but shortening the shot clock would be good for the college game.”

A switch would affect teams in many different ways, but the most obvious is the amount of possessions it will add to some games. Teams that play high-possessions games - like Iowa State - are ones leading the charge for the change because it plays to their strengths. ISU Coach Fred Hoiberg told the Omaha World Herald last May he'd like to see an 18-second shot clock.

It would seem, then, for a team like UNI, that a switch would be counterintuitive to the style they play.

But Jacobson doesn't necessarily see it that way. He's said on multiple occasions the Panthers' defense taking opponents late in the shot clock is what has lowered possessions in their games, and that his team still wants to get out 'in transition and push the ball, play fast and get any easy opportunity we can in the open floor.”

A quicker shot clock, then, would only ratchet up the pressure on their opponents and force them into a bad spot in a shorter time - and by extension more times in a game. It's a change Jacobson feels could benefit UNI on both ends of the floor.

'You're going to have more situational things with the shorter shot clock, whether it be late shot clock stuff or side out of bounds and baseline out of bounds with the shorter shot clock,” Jacobson said. 'You're put into some situations where you've got to get a little more creative. And it forces your players to get a little bit better and a little more creative with what they can do. I think those things tied together can open up the game a little. I don't think the games are going to be any less competitive or hotly contested. There's just gonna be some more possessions and guys are going to be forced to get more creative.”

HISTORY-MAKING DAY

For the first time in the state of Iowa's history, three Division I men's basketball teams made the same Associated Press Top 25 ranking when the poll was released Monday.

Iowa State came in at No. 9, Northern Iowa No. 20 and Iowa No. 25. Like most coaches, Jacobson doesn't put a great deal of stock into rankings, but did acknowledge what the milestone means for basketball fans in the state - most notably high school kids and younger.

'I think it's great, mostly because we're one of those three,” Jacobson said to laughter at his media luncheon. 'I do think it's really good.

'(In-state games are) really good for the high school players in our state. They're really good for high school coaches. And when teams are playing at a high level - in this case teams that are ranked in the top 25 - all that does is increase the enthusiasm for the young kids in the state and high school kids that enjoy playing basketball.”

UNI advanced three spots from 23rd last week in the AP poll, and also advanced three spots in the USA Today Coaches poll to No. 19; up from No. 22.

TUTTLE LEADING THE WAY

There was no doubt headed into this season Seth Tuttle was going to be the focal point for Northern Iowa, but he's more than lived up to the billing so far this season.

The Sheffield native leads the Panthers in scoring (14.9 points), rebounds (6.2), assists (3.2) and blocks (0.7) per game, one of just six players to have that distinction nationally. Tuttle was a catalyst to UNI's 60-46 win against Missouri State on Sunday, in which the senior had 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

As well as he's playing, his coach was even able to joke about Tuttle leading UNI in a fifth category, maybe in an effort to keep the humble forward's feet planted firmly on the ground.

'Of those six, he might be leading in turnovers, so maybe he's the only one leading those cateorgies and turnovers,” Jacobson joked, before adding, 'Don't anybody on this call tell him I said that. He and I are getting along really good right now, so don't tell him I said that.”

NEXT UP

Northern Iowa welcomes Indiana State into the McLeod Center on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

The Sycamores were just 4-8 in non-conference play, but started 5-0 in MVC play before taking their first conference loss Sunday to Drake. Jacobson has great respect for Indiana State Coach Greg Lansing and what he's been able to do in conference after losing several key players from last year's roster.

'People in our league obviously understand how good of a coach (Greg Lansing) is and what he's done in his time at Indiana State,” Jacobson said. 'Early in the year, maybe they were shooting the ball a little quick, but you're certainly not seeing that now. They've gotten much better with time together and playing some games. He's doing a great job like he always does.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com