GETTING INSIDE

   The past three MVC champions—Wichita State, Southern Illinois, and Drake—took significant tumbles as defending champs.

   Northern Iowa, co-champions with Creighton in 2009, won’t fall into the same pit. The Panthers return five starters and the MVC’s top sixth man. Coach Ben Jacobson approaches everything with a solid, no-nonsense manner. The Panthers won’t get caught up in the hype.

   UNI did run into problems during February. Teams exposed some of their weaknesses and the Panthers lost four of five games, two at home. UNI isn’t the most athletic team. It can be beaten with quickness and its guards can be silenced with size.

   But the Panthers finished strong. They are too solid to slump for long. That consistency should help them again in 2009-2010.

   Center Jordan Eglseder and forward Adam Koch and Lucas O’Rear give the Panthers an inside attack that is tough for Valley teams to defend. Eglseder, a 7-footer, is too big for most centers. He has good hands and a soft touch. Foul trouble and conditioning sometime limit his minutes (19.3 a game). Koch emerged as UNI’s go-to player with a knack for drawing fouls and frustrating defenders. O’Rear came off the bench to give the Panthers energy and 5.2 points and 5.5 rebounds.

   The Panther guards shoot the ball accurately and make few mistakes. Junior Kwadzo Ahelegbe is a strong defensive presence and a good penetrator. Ali Farokhmanesh made 37.9 percent of his threes. Sophomore Johnny Moran led the team with 41 steals.

   Jacobson believes he added more depth and athletic ability in the off-season. The Panthers don’t need much help.

NOTES, QUOTES

• UNI’s four NCAA Tournament berths in the past six seasons are tied with Southern Illinois for the most of any MVC school.

• UNI made 75.3 percent of its free throws to rank 14th nationally. Four of its five starters shot 74 percent or better from the line.

   LAST YEAR: 23-11 overall, 14-4 in the MVC.

   HEAD COACH: Ben Jacobson (career 59-38); third year at Northern Iowa (59-38).

   QUOTE TO NOTE: “Our guys understand this is a brand new team. I’m not real big on looking back on things we accomplished.”—Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

   SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Newcomers can find a cushy spot with the Panthers. No pressure. Just contribute what you can and fix problems.

   Freshman Marc Sonnen is part of a Minnesota pipeline that has been good to UNI. He can play both guard spots.

   Guard Anthony James red shirted last season after coming down with mono.

   KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Jacobson compiled a challenging schedule, as he should. The Panthers could play Tennessee in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. They play Iowa and Siena at home and face Iowa State on the road.

   PROGRAM DIRECTION:

   UNI won 18 games in Jacobson’s first two seasons. But the Panthers were 9-9 in the MVC both times and didn’t appear capable of making a move in 2009. After a bad start, the Panthers found their chemistry and won 11 straight games.

   Jacobson wins with good shooters and smart players. The Panthers won’t overwhelm teams with athletic ability. They won’t make mistakes.

   PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Kwadzo Ahelegbe, SG Ali Farokhmanesh, SG Johnny Moran, PF Adam Koch and C Jordan Eglseder.

   ROSTER REPORT:

   —Guard Antonio Jones, a junior transfer, left the program in October to play for NCAA Division II Midwestern (Texas) State. He was a candidate to replace graduated Travis Brown as a defender who could handle shooting guards and small forwards.