UNI's only senior Johnny Moran set to finish disappointing season, stellar career

By Nancy Justis

All good things must come to an end, or so the saying goes. For the University of Northern Iowa's only senior, guard Johnny Moran, the end could be here in as little as a month.

“It's definitely tough knowing there are only a few more games,” Moran said. “I'm just trying my best to enjoy as much as I can. I don't want to have any regrets when I leave.”

The Panthers, 17-12 overall and 7-9 in the Missouri Valley Conference, have just two regular season games remaining prior to the league tournament March 1-4 in St. Louis, Mo. Just one of those games is in the McLeod Center – Wednesday versus Bradley.

The fact that Moran is the only senior on the squad has contributed to a topsy-turvey season. Heading into the Bradley game, the Panthers are tied for seventh place in the league. They've lost four games by five or fewer points.

“I believe my strengths are defense and shooting,” Moran said. “Defense has always been the most important thing since I've gotten (to UNI). Coach has always stressed that. I work hard and I'm motivated.”

He may not think he can create his own shot, but when open, Moran makes use of the opportunity. He ranks second on UNI's all-time three-pointers made chart with 191 triples. He needs just one more point to become the 34

^th

Panther to join the 1,000-point club. He set a school record for games started with 121 against Wichita State on Jan. 18. He ranks fifth all-time with 145 career steals.

UNI is 90-42 over Moran's four years and 46-24 in league play with two MVC regular-season titles and two tournament titles.

Moran says he tries to get in the gym and shoot extra shots before the scheduled shoot-around prior to a game. He also shoots on his own almost every day. “I just try to stay in rhythm.

“What people say is shooters don't have any memory. You shoot all the time so you know you can do it. If they're not going in, you've just got to trust yourself. It's easy on this team because we all trust each other and we know we all put in the time and the work to make sure we're shooting the ball well. And if you're not, if you're having an off night, you've just got to forget it.”

Moran picked up 16 points in UNI's 78-63 win over Illinois State a little over a week ago. He gave the Panthers a 62-60 lead on a three-point shot with 8.6 seconds left at Evansville last Wednesday. Unfortunately, the Aces won on a three-point play with under four seconds left.

“It was a lot of fun to see Johnny have the kind of game he had (at Illinois State)”, UNI head coach Ben Jacobson said. “He had it going the entire time. He knocked down a couple shots in the first half, rebounded the ball, did all the other things that he does every night.

“But you get noticed when you score points. From the coaches' standpoints and his teammates, and I know all our fans, they appreciate everything he does all the time.

“It would take me too long to talk through and express all the things he's done for our program.”

Moran grew up in Algonquin, Ill., playing against and with two older brothers and one younger brother. They were close enough in age that he got to play with all three at one point in his high school career. None but Johnny went on to play at the collegiate level.

“Me and my brothers are best friends,” Moran said. “Knowing none of them got to play in college kind of helps motivate me. I think of them a lot, how they would have loved the opportunity to play. So I try to keep that in the back of my mind. Plus, I just hate the feeling of losing. That's a great motivator, too.

“It's been an amazing four years. I'm definitely happy with the decision to come (to UNI). I've made life-long friends, the coaches have been awesome. I really don't want it to end. It'll be tough.”

A major in Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching, Moran is considering going to graduate school. He doesn't want to stop being associated with basketball.

“I've seen how much the coaches have helped me and all the players,” he said. “I want to be able to do that for someone, too.”

He speaks with former Panther Ali Farokmenesh, who's playing professionally in Europe, often. “He thinks I should give (pro ball) a shot for one year. If there are offers, I definitely will think about it. I'll just see how it feels not to never to be able to play again.”