Northern Iowa – Finally Old Again

But They Are Leaning on Green

(St. Louis, MO) – Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson is the ‘dean’ of Missouri Valley Conference coaches. He has thrived on building veteran teams led by seniors and fifth year players. This season Jacobson’s team is finally old again.

UNI has six seniors and three juniors. Four of the seniors are fifth year players. Jacobson enters into his 14^th head coaching season with a .613 winning percentage and 266 wins. His best teams have had senior laden rosters.

His best teams are headed by players that grown up in the program. Jacobson has taken Panther teams to the NCAA Tournament four times and took one trip to the Sweet Sixteen. Veterans like Adam Koch, Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Ali Farokhmanesh, Seth Tuttle, Lucas O’Rear, Anthony James, Wes Washpun, Matt Bohannon and Jeremy ‘Captain’ Morgan were stars on UNI teams that made national headlines.

In an era when grad transfers are all the rage and running after junior college players like they are the cure to cancer, Jacobson has held a steady hand. He wants to recruit players when they are young, get to know them, sign and redshirt them and prepare them for the rigors of college basketball and for life.

Sometimes the slow process is a hard one.

The last three seasons have not been kind to UNI.  They are 46-50 over those three campaigns. Jacobson has held the line. They will sign the occasional transfer or junior college player, but not nearly to the extent that is common in today’s college basketball scheme.

One Spectacular Sophomore

Even with all those upper classmen on the roster, the key to UNI success is connected to sophomore A.J. Green. The Valley’s reigning ‘Freshman of the Year’ led the Panthers in scoring (15.0 ppg) and with 71 three-pointers. Green was a Top-100 recruit coming out of Cedar Falls High School and did not disappoint. His 509 points were a Panther freshman record. He topped the 20-point mark nine times, including a 23-point game in UNI’s Arch Madness title game loss to Bradley.

Jacobson says Green is an extremely hard worker and the experience he and the entire team gained last season will help the 2019-20 squad.

 

 

Jacobson’s teams at Northern Iowa are known for defense, offensive efficiency and three-point shooting. Green is a great offensive player. Becoming a great and complete player still lies before him. The 6’4 guard says he has to get better at defense and offensive decision-making. He believes last year’s experiences have prepared him for the challenges of playing in the Missouri Valley Conference.

 

 

Returners – Finally Old Again 

UNI returns the league’s top sixth-man (Spencer Haldeman) an All-Defensive Team member (Isaiah Brown) and a member of last year’s All-Improved team (Luke McDonnell). All three averaged better than seven points per game and played more than 20 minutes per game.

Returning starter Trae Berhow averaged 7.7 points and was the team’s leading rebounder (6.1). The Pepperdine transfer was third on the team in scoring, minutes played and 3-pointers (49).

Haldeman’s veteran presence is key to this year’s team. He is an outstanding outside shooter (51 triples) and is deadly from the line (.866). His leadership is key. As one of those four redshirt seniors he carries the knowledge of how to win, prepare and react to the younger players.

The former Gatorade Player of the Year (Iowa) says he takes seriously his senior leadership role. He adds that Green is an extremely hard worker and that the youngster’s future is bright.

 

 

Phyfe The Wild Card

Also returning to the this year’s mix is Austin Phyfe. The former number two recruit in the State of Iowa missed last season with a unique illness. The 6’9, 235 pound post player was side-lined by vasovagal syncope which causes a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rates. He played seven games before sitting out the rest of the season.

Phyfe is the type of player Jacobson has built around in the past, with his ‘four-out, one-in’ offensive sets. If the returns to full strength, he could team with McDonnell and seniors Justin Dahl and Shandon Goldman to form a ‘four-headed monster’ in the post.

Jacobson says he is cautiously optimistic about Phyfe’s return.

 

 

(For more on the importance of Phyfe’s presence read ‘Four Returners Will Shape the Valley Season‘)

Solid Rookies

Six freshmen form this season’s recruiting class. A redshirt or two are likely, but the rookies received valuable playing time during the team’s trip to Italy. Cole Henry, Antwan Kimmons and Noah Carter are the players we’ve heard the most buzz about.

With so many veterans returning and Green leading the pack, UNI was picked to finish third in the Valley race. Jacobson, a three-time winner of the league’s ‘Coach of the Year’ award is excited about this year’s team. Despite all the changes in the recruiting landscape, he believes the UNI methods will pay off.

 

 

Northern Iowa hasn’t been above .500 in league play since 2015-16 and hasn’t won a conference title since 2009-10. If either of those streaks are to come to an end it depends on Green and the fact that they are finally old again.

Do Good

 

Featured photo courtesy of unipanthers.com.