The Fast Break(down): UNI hoops vs Southern Illinois

Whatever it was the Northern Iowa men's basketball team had (or has) to recover from to get back on a winning track, the only way to that goal was to start with one win. The Panthers (11-11, 3-6 Missouri Valley Conference) got it Wednesday night at Bradley — the first true road win since a win at George Mason on Dec. 8.

UNI welcomes Southern Illinois to McLeod Center on Sunday in search of its first back-to-back wins since November. The Panthers do so against a Salukis (18-4, 7-2) squad that is undefeated on the road this season and has surprised many with just how solid they've been all season.

Here's a breakdown of the matchup between the two teams:

Key player

Northern Iowa:

Bennett Koch, forward — The Panthers can go guard-for-guard with the Salukis — though Anthony Beane (see below) might be the best guard on the court — so once again Koch's contributions are weighted very high. UNI has made an effort to get him more involved, and he can be the difference if he and the offense execute the way Coach Ben Jacobson wants them to. He'll have to deal primarily with Sean O'Brien, who has size, but has shown he can score. If he can stay out of foul trouble and provide that much-needed safety valve, it'll go a long way for UNI.

Southern Illinois:

Anthony Beane, guard — This one is obvious. Beane is having an All-MVC season to date, and has been the driving force behind nearly all of the Salukis' wins this season. Beyond averaging 19.8 points to this point, he also lit up the Panthers in Carbondale, to the tune of 32 points on 11 of 17 shooting. Oh, and he's coming off 30 points in an overtime loss to Evansville on Thursday. He's the guard type UNI has struggled with most — he can shoot and get to the rim. The Panthers can't focus only on him, but containing him is a very high priority.

Strengths

Northern Iowa:

What UNI relied on most heavily before the four-game losing streak was what failed the Panthers during the streak. Get shooters in space, knock down shots and run in transition when the opportunity arises — that was the formula. Persistence paid off Wednesday, and Paul Jesperson looked like the guy from the Iowa State game. More than anything — even through the losses — the Panthers take good shots and, for the most part, take care of the ball. An effective field goal percentage of 54.3 percent (25th) and a turnover percentage of 15.9 percent (37th) don't lie.

That efficiency is a strength many covet, even if it hasn't turned into wins. The Panthers convert at the line and they convert at the rim — when they get there.

Southern Illinois:

In the Salukis' 18 wins so far this season, the Barry Hinson-led team has shown a solid ability to be efficient — particularly on offense — and has had good shot selection. SIU can work the ball into the paint with dribble penetration or by working it into their big men, and shoot better than 50 percent inside the arc. The actions the Salukis ran last time out against the Panthers got shooters open and kept Beane in space. Their aggressiveness on defense has paid off, too, forcing turnovers on 22.2 percent of possessions.

Most importantly, perhaps, is that this team seems on the same page and bought in to what Hinson has been working toward and with this group for the last few years. They frustrated UNI last time — until the last few minutes — and are certainly capable of doing so again.

Weaknesses

Northern Iowa:

To avoid sounding exactly like a broken record, UNI continues to struggle with denying the opposition from dribbling the ball from beyond the half court line toward the rim, as well as with grabbing the ball in the field of play after a shot doesn't go in. That's different from saying defense and rebounding, right?

Seriously, the Panthers float between man and zone these days, and still have a hard time locating shooters with consistency. Additionally, rebounding hasn't improved. UNI is 347th of 351 teams in offensive rebounding, grabbing an offensive board in just 19.2 percent of eligible situations — though some of that is by design because Jacobson has made guys getting back a priority. The issue is those guys getting back hasn't paid off like it used to.

Southern Illinois:

The Salukis haven't shown a ton of weaknesses to this point, to which they owe their current standing in the MVC. Like UNI, SIU doesn't go super deep with its bench — six players play the majority of minutes, with three more hovering around nine minutes per game — and relies heavily on a few guys to score. They don't play at a fast pace, so if they struggle finding what they want through their actions, their transition game isn't overwhelming.

Defensively, the Salukis aren't rim protectors, and if the Panthers can be patient enough to work the ball inside, SIU allows teams to shoot 50.9 percent near the rim — ranking them 262nd in the country on KenPom.

Northern Iowa wins if …

perimeter closeouts are strong, SIU guards don't get to the paint with ease and if there's a paint presence for the Panthers. Koch, Carlson and Friedman could have a huge impact on both ends. Jesperson and Matt Bohannon making shots won't hurt a thing, either. The Salukis have never won in McLeod Center, and the UNI players feed off the Panther fans tremendously.

Southern Illinois wins if …

Beane and Co. continue to get the shots they've been getting, if the Salukis can get the right Panthers in foul trouble and if they control the glass again. Ball movement has hurt UNI on several occasions, and SIU has shown it can move well. Being multidimensional will serve the Salukis well, and could continue their surprise run this year in conference play.

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