Making the Grade: UNI men's basketball Feb. 24-March 3

One loss does not a season ruin.

That was the message from Coach Ben Jacobson after his No. 11/12 Northern Iowa men lost at No. 8 Wichita State on Saturday. No, there would be no regular season Missouri Valley Conference title and no No. 1 seed for the MVC Tournament, but there was plenty to be happy with.

As for this week specifically, it'll be something his team will – and has to – learn from before the team heads to St. Louis and the Scottrade Center, where the Panthers haven't won a game since 2010.

Schedule/Results

UNI vs Evansville; W, 68-57

UNI at Wichita State; L, 74-60

Offense

B- Why: The jump in competition from Wednesday to Saturday can't be overstated. As good as Egidijus Mockevicius was defensively for Evansville on Wednesday, he didn't compare to the elite defensive unit Wichita State threw at UNI in Wichita.

The Panthers were at their usual solid efficiency overall, finishing the week at 1.082 points per possession in the two games. But Saturday's effort efficiency-wise was mostly helped by the furious 16-2 run in a comeback that saw UNI score on eight of nine straight possessions and cut the lead from 51-33 to 57-53 with 7:30 left. That was as close as the Panthers got, though, and the Shockers pulled away once again.

Outside that flurry, there was a mess of unforced turnovers, little-to-no success on the offensive glass, a struggle to share the ball effectively with just eight team assists in 22 made shots and a battle with WSU's full court press. The environment certainly played a role, too, but UNI didn't have the same confident look or ease about them on offense.

Saturday may have been the exception, not the rule, but it's certainly something to learn from.

Defense

B Why: Speaking of learning something, Jacobson's two main focuses on what UNI did wrong on Saturday were transition defense and rebounding.

Whether it was a lack of communication because of the crazy Charles Koch Arena environment or a lack of execution, the Shockers were able to push it up the floor with relative ease. They exploited the Panthers on six or seven occasions, either off a miss or a make, where Fred VanVleet took the outlet or inbound pass, went up the sideline in one pass to an open teammate for an easy score.

WSU was able to get the looks they wanted in their half-court offense as well, whether through a set or off a screen – the latter of which depended on communication that was hampered by the noise. There were uncharacteristic breakdowns by UNI on defense we haven't seen all season. The Shockers torched the nation's fourth best scoring defense and 15th most efficient defense for 74 points and 1.518 points per possession (compared to 0.926 overall this season) – both season-highs for a game that ended in regulation.

Again, the opponent Saturday had a lot to do with how UNI played. But with another matchup against WSU possible, getting back to form is imperative.

Players (in the last two games)

 

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Seth Tuttle, forward

– Back to his usual spot as the scoring and rebounding leader this week, as he has been all but one week of this season. His 16 points at Wichita State were a game high, and came ahead of being named MVC Player of the Year on Tuesday. Not a bad day for the senior.

Deon Mitchell, guard

– So many times this season, Mitchell has followed a great game with one where he was all but invisible. The same happened this week, where he had 17 points and was perfect from the field against Evansville, then sat for most of the second half – and the whole comeback – against Wichita State. Was named to the All-MVC Honorable Mention list on Tuesday.

Paul Jesperson, guard

– Speaking of All-MVC honors, Jesperson was named to the All-MVC Newcomer team Tuesday as well. He was a big part of the ill-fated comeback against the Shockers with a couple 3-pointers, part of a good week shooting. He's been consistent lately, something he's chased all year.

Matt Bohannon, guard

– He also hit a couple big 3s in the 16-2 run on Saturday, but apart from that couldn't seem to get open. Having been shadowed all season has to be frustrating, and it's becoming harder for him to get open.

Wyatt Lohaus, guard

– Played a lot against Wichita State and sort of officially baptized him into the rigors of what the MVC has to offer. His freshman year has been solid if not spectacular, and the time he's gotten to play in key situations reflects what Jacobson thinks of him and his future.

Marvin Singleton, forward

– His biggest responsibilities have always been defense and rebounding. He lived up to half of that, especially against Evansville, on defense. But his rebounding left something to be desired this week. The size he was up against left him outmatched in Wichita.

Wes Washpun, guard

– Washpun was a key part of the run in the second half that cut the WSU lead to four, especially a big 3-pointer, and he calmed down from an erratic performance against Evansville. He was also rewarded with the MVC Sixth Man of the Year award on Tuesday.

Jeremy Morgan, guard

– If we're talking All-MVC snubs, this guy has one heck of a case at being left off the MVC All-Defensive team after the performances he's had this season. This week, though, wasn't his greatest offensively, with a few bad turnovers to his credit.

Nate Buss, forward

– Just a forgettable week for Buss, who had the best week of any Panther the week before. He was just 1 of 7 from the field overall, and had three total rebounds in both games. UNI really needs his offense should there be a rematch in the MVC title game with Wichita State.

Upcoming Week

UNI vs either Drake or Bradley at 6:05 p.m. at Scottrade Center in St. Louis

Past weeks: Nov. 15-22; Nov. 23-30; Dec. 1-8; Dec. 8-15; Dec. 16-23; Dec. 23-30; Dec. 30-Jan. 6; Jan. 6-12; Jan. 12-20; Jan. 20-27; Jan. 27-Feb 2; Feb. 2-10; Feb. 10-17; Feb. 17-24

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