UNI embracing the stage against Wichita State

CEDAR FALLS - Unless you live under a rock or pay zero attention to college basketball, you're well aware the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls will be host to perhaps the most important game in its history on Saturday.

Social media, television and print have all dedicated time to the matchup of No. 18 Northern Iowa and No. 12 Wichita State since the season began, and even more so in the past week. If you're even remotely interested in the Panthers (19-2, 8-1 Missouri Valley Conference), this is the only thing you've talked about, save for a few conversations about their win against Southern Illinois.

So it stands to reason the UNI players are among those listening and taking part in that conversation. They aren't blind to the stakes or the stage, and are definitely the most eager to get to tipoff. Coach Ben Jacobson certainly isn't hiding anything from them, either.

'We're going to let them experience it. I won't downplay it at all. I'll tell them to experience in the way that's going to best help them get prepared. For some of the guys that means taking everything in,” Jacobson said. 'There's been a lot of hype for a number of weeks, people are excited to say the least, and so are the guys on the team. I just kind of take that in stride and leave them alone.

'We work really hard with the guys to put together a solid, hardworking group who work hard to prepare themselves right. We've got an opportunity now to be a part of a potentially terrific basketball team in a big-time atmosphere, so we're going to take it all in understanding preparation is the most important thing.”

Jacobson and his staff push this group as hard as he has any group in his nine seasons in Cedar Falls, and it shows in the steps this team has taken from a year ago where basically the same roster struggled in many situations they don't this season.

Led by senior forward Seth Tuttle, the UNI players know there's still a monumental task in stopping the three-headed monster of point guard Fred VanVleet, guard Ron Baker and forward Darius Clark, so the days of preparation are vital.

The Shockers (19-2, 9-0) play a similar style to the Panthers - they're aggressive and defend as well as anyone. It'll be Tuttle's job to stop Clark defensively, take advantage of that aggression on offense and 'somehow find a way to get Carter in foul trouble.”

'My biggest challenge is just going to be being aggressive on every possession - whether it be on offense or on defense. I just have to be in attack-mode,” Tuttle said. 'I've got to play aggressive, but I've got to play smart. Just have to do all the small things that help our team win - even if it's just being the emotional leader.

'Emotions are going to be flying on Saturday for both teams, so whoever can control them the most and control the runs that each team are going to have in the game, that's going to be the key to winning the game on Saturday.”

All of that is easy to say for Tuttle because he's backed it up with his play this season as he leads his team in points (15.1 per game), rebounds (6.7), assists (3.1) and shooting percentage (60.9 percent).

Jacobson said, 'I really feel great,” about the rest of his team 'rising up to the challenge we've got coming in here Saturday,” as well. And like every time he's answered questions about his team this season, Jacobson went back to defense and rebounding as the way to beat a team that's won 30 straight games against MVC opponents.

'Setting your transition defense is very important because their guard play is so good. If you have any crack in transition, they're going to get you,” Jacobson said. 'And you've got to have the ability to keep the ball in front of you when you get in the half court. You've got to defend the ball screen and see if you can't keep VanVleet, Baker and (Tekele) Cotton in some spots on the floor that are better for us than they are for them.

'After you get done doing that, you've got to find bodies and block them out. You have to find a way to rebound with them and limit them to one shot as often as possible.”

However his players get to that mind-set is fine with Jacobson.

It's the way they've played - minus a few exceptions - all season, so when the ball is tipped at 3 p.m. Saturday, he's confident they'll be ready. All the hype and the sold out arena are great, but if they let that get carried away they'll lose sight of the real goal.

If their actions match their words, the Panthers will be just fine.

'You know you can't get too worked up about it. You're still playing the game, and as everyone knows, there's such a thing as playing the game too worked up or too amped up,” Tuttle said. 'We're trying to keep our emotions in check and just play the same game we've played all year. We're just going to play a little smarter and a little more physical, keep making the right reads and keep playing together as a team.”

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