Hawkeyes set their eyes on Northern Iowa

Fran McCaffery knows Northern Iowa based on his experience at Siena. Iowa's players know Northern Iowa based on their own experience.

So who has the final say in putting together a scouting report?

“We have a lot of guys that have played with these players, and they've given their input and I appreciate it,” McCaffery said. “Most of the decisions we make is what we see on film and what we tell our guys. I know and understand the relationship, but in terms of evaluating personnel and coming up with game plans on how we're going to defend each and every person, we'll pretty much decide that.”

But it's the players from both teams who will decide the outcome on the court, and there is a strong familiarity among them.

Nearly every player from both rosters compete in the summer Prime Time League in North Liberty. They're mixed together on the same rosters. Iowa power forward Melsahn Basabe likely will guard UNI post Jake Koch tonight on a handful of possessions. Last summer, they played on the same team. Basabe led the Prime Time League with 30 points and 12 rebounds a game. Koch averaged 10.3 points and 7.3 rebounds.

In the real season, Koch averages 10 points and 5.2 rebounds so far. Basabe puts up 7.5 points and nearly 6 rebounds game.

“It should be a good contest,” Iowa junior Matt Gatens said. “Coach (Ben) Jacobson is a good coach. We all know those players.”

The last two games featured blowouts by the home team. Two years ago, Iowa rolled UNI by 19 points at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Last year, Northern Iowa crushed the Hawkeyes, 67-50, in Cedar Falls. Both years the Panthers advanced to the NCAA tournament, while Iowa suffered losing seasons.

McCaffery also has history with UNI, taking his NCAA tournament-bound Siena club to Cedar Falls last year. Siena was bounced by 17 points. Two seasons ago McCaffery's squad beat UNI, 81-75, in Albany, N.Y.

“I have a real knowledge of their personnel,” McCaffery said. “I think I have a good knowledge of how they play, their defensive style and philosophy, their offensive style; although this year's team is different in terms of who they're going to. It's kind of like their system is so good they plug the players in there and they kind of do a lot of the same things.

“They run really good offense, they do a lot of different things offensively with their play sets. The execute well. I think with them in particular ... they just don't make mistakes.”

Bragging rights are important for Iowa's players, just as notching another win against an in-state foe. But it could be even more important from a public relations standpoint. Iowa hosts Iowa State on Friday, then plays Drake on Dec. 18 in Des Moines.

“A lot of people pay attention to it, and you've got to take a sense of pride with it,” Gatens said. “We've got a lot more Iowa guys on our roster who I think feel that sense of pride, but I think it's a matter of passing it on. I think they understand because they know what it's all about.

“It would be a huge week for us to sweep it. We're looking forward to us.”