Panthers Blitz SLU With 3’s
(Indianapolis, IN) – Northern Iowa’s veteran team has one mission. They want to win championships. UNI was successful in wining the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship. After getting knocked out of the Arch Madness tournament, they re-focused on a National Invitation Tournament title.
The historic 32-team tournament kicked off this week. While playing in the shadow of the NCAA Tournament, the NIT gives teams a second chance at playing for a championship.
UNI (20-11) took its first step to another title by defeating Saint Louis (80-68). SIXTEEN three pointers, drove the Panthers to the round of SIXTEEN in the NIT. UNI’s 43.2% success rate from deep allowed them to blitz SLU (23-12) and continue their season.
MVC ‘Player of the Year’ A.J. Green and super senior Trae Berhow made eleven of those triples. During the contest Green moved into fourth place on UNI’s all-time scoring list. Panther head coach Ben Jacobson says he is proud of all the hard work Green has invested and notes, Green is driven by winning.
Trying to Win Championships
Jacobson isn’t shy about the way he has refocused his team with the opportunity to continue to win championships. The allure of playing in Madison Square Garden is something the 16-year head coach has shared with his team. By claiming their twentieth victory, the Panthers have now reached that total in eight of Jacobson’s 16 years. The five-time Valley ‘Coach of the Year’ has now led his team to postseason basketball in seven of those seasons.
He has spent a lot of time talking to his team about this chance to win championships and head to the Big Apple. I asked him about keeping retiring UNI play-by-play man Gary Rima from being able to fully retire for a couple of more weeks.
It isn’t the Arch Madness championship they wanted, but Jacobson, Green, Berhow and others love to win championships and now they know their next opponent.
UNI travels to Provo, Utah for a Saturday date with Brigham Young.
Do Good
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Hey! @ValpoBasketball, Justus McNair & @RogerPowellJr’s Beacons getting some national love!
BTW, the McNair triple was from the logo! #SCtop10 anyone? @ValpoBasketball
Nice win for @ValpoBasketball today. Triple my McNair at the buzzer for the win. One win away from tying last year's total & first true road win this year. @RogerPowellJr is building it brick by brick.
The @OVCSports men's basketball season is six games old and the home teams @MSUEaglesMBB @LRTrojans @USI_Basketball @SEMOMBB & @WIUMBB won five of them. Those 5 are 1-0. @TTU_Basketball lost at Western and won at @LUMensBball and is 1-1. Five teams are 0-1.
