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January 31st, 2005
UNI has a 14-7 record. 5-5 conference record
January 31st, 2004
UNI has a 11-7 record. 6-4 conference record
2004- UNI has 5 road games left
2005- UNI has 4 road games left
2004 RPI on Jan. 31st- in the 120's
2005 RPI on Jan. 31st- 66
The main difference between last year's team and this year's is that the 2004 Panthers came out of no where to do what they did. They had David Gruber and Matt Schneiderman as leaders and they were consistent every night. This year, Jacobson, Crawford, and Foster are the leaders. They don't play in the post, but still do a great job. They haven't been as consistent % wise, but when they are on, they are tough to beat.
In the coming week, I think we will see a different team step forward. This team has the motivation of getting beat by E'ville by 19 pts, losing at Drake in front of state-wide television, and the coaches in their grill...not to mention the dwindling opportunities of playing in the post season.
At the beginning of the year, most of us thought that 18-20 wins would be a great accomplishment for the 2005 Panthers considering the youth inside. That youth surprised most of us early on, and has started to show some of it's vulnerabilities lately. We have a great chance to make a nice little run here, and the team needs us to be behind them. That starts Wednesday night in the Dome. They need to see a vocal crowd to help them get back that killer instinct. That doesn't mean they need a defensive stop when down 7 to stand up and cheer. That means if they are up 9 and need a big bucket to stand up, yell, clap, and cheer them on to making a bucket and getting the stop. I challenge everyone of you posters to stand up at big moments of the game. If you are a student, you already are. If you aren't a student, get up and yell, and make those others around you do the same. If you are a Maniac, make a UNI flag (or buy one) and take turns running around the court waving the flag and getting people on their feet.
This team has a unique opportunity to get some major press in the upcoming week. Next Wednesday, the team plays on national tv against Creighton. Three days later they play on regional tv at Ill. St. Seven days later ESPN comes to town. 4 days later they play on Fox Sports Net. Six days later they will probably play on FSN Midwest again. This team needs to get some momentum going right now. The 3 pt shooting came back in the second half against Drake. That will improve against E'ville Wednesday. The state of Iowa is ready to ride a team down the stretch. ISU fans are tired of the up and down Clones. Hawk fans are upset with the Pierre Pierce situation. Drake fans have all but given up on their team. UNI has the opportunity to get on the winning track and ride the state-wide momentum into the post season. A huge part of that is Bracket Buster Saturday, if ESPN2 comes to the Dome. I say the bleachers should be all students in Maniac t-shirts. A sea of gold. The endzones should be filled with fans wearing purple t-shirts. The football stands are going to be filled with purple and gold Panther fans rowdy for the first ESPN network game in the Dome in years.
We as Panther fans have been given a second chance with being a televised ESPN game. The team won't let it slip by them...don't be caught letting it slip by you!
UNI has a 14-7 record. 5-5 conference record
January 31st, 2004
UNI has a 11-7 record. 6-4 conference record
2004- UNI has 5 road games left
2005- UNI has 4 road games left
2004 RPI on Jan. 31st- in the 120's
2005 RPI on Jan. 31st- 66
The main difference between last year's team and this year's is that the 2004 Panthers came out of no where to do what they did. They had David Gruber and Matt Schneiderman as leaders and they were consistent every night. This year, Jacobson, Crawford, and Foster are the leaders. They don't play in the post, but still do a great job. They haven't been as consistent % wise, but when they are on, they are tough to beat.
In the coming week, I think we will see a different team step forward. This team has the motivation of getting beat by E'ville by 19 pts, losing at Drake in front of state-wide television, and the coaches in their grill...not to mention the dwindling opportunities of playing in the post season.
At the beginning of the year, most of us thought that 18-20 wins would be a great accomplishment for the 2005 Panthers considering the youth inside. That youth surprised most of us early on, and has started to show some of it's vulnerabilities lately. We have a great chance to make a nice little run here, and the team needs us to be behind them. That starts Wednesday night in the Dome. They need to see a vocal crowd to help them get back that killer instinct. That doesn't mean they need a defensive stop when down 7 to stand up and cheer. That means if they are up 9 and need a big bucket to stand up, yell, clap, and cheer them on to making a bucket and getting the stop. I challenge everyone of you posters to stand up at big moments of the game. If you are a student, you already are. If you aren't a student, get up and yell, and make those others around you do the same. If you are a Maniac, make a UNI flag (or buy one) and take turns running around the court waving the flag and getting people on their feet.
This team has a unique opportunity to get some major press in the upcoming week. Next Wednesday, the team plays on national tv against Creighton. Three days later they play on regional tv at Ill. St. Seven days later ESPN comes to town. 4 days later they play on Fox Sports Net. Six days later they will probably play on FSN Midwest again. This team needs to get some momentum going right now. The 3 pt shooting came back in the second half against Drake. That will improve against E'ville Wednesday. The state of Iowa is ready to ride a team down the stretch. ISU fans are tired of the up and down Clones. Hawk fans are upset with the Pierre Pierce situation. Drake fans have all but given up on their team. UNI has the opportunity to get on the winning track and ride the state-wide momentum into the post season. A huge part of that is Bracket Buster Saturday, if ESPN2 comes to the Dome. I say the bleachers should be all students in Maniac t-shirts. A sea of gold. The endzones should be filled with fans wearing purple t-shirts. The football stands are going to be filled with purple and gold Panther fans rowdy for the first ESPN network game in the Dome in years.
We as Panther fans have been given a second chance with being a televised ESPN game. The team won't let it slip by them...don't be caught letting it slip by you!
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