Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

[kcpanther20]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

I agree this is the biggest game going in. The impact of the game will not be seen for some time. From an impact prospective, I think the SIU game was the biggest. The immediate benefit was a two seed versus a four and the benefit of Mo. State(SMS) doing the dirty work in St. Louis so that UNI did not have to play SIU again. I also think winning that tournament and representing well in the NCAA left residual benefits in the at large selection process for subsequent years.

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

You could make the same argument for the Benny J shot at Wichita. That win probably got us into the tourny as well.

Right... which is what I said in the beginning. I think you're missing my point and perhaps that is my fault a bit.

Maybe the title of my thread (which was essentially a brain dump) should have been - "Is this the biggest regular season game in history prior to tip off?" It would be hard to argue that one. There is no way WSU was even within shouting distance of this one prior to the game. Its only after the fact that we talk about it being so meaningful (which it obviously was). But at the time we couldnt really tell, considering a few days later we p!ssed one down our legs in the MVCT against Mo St and had to spend 9 days agonizing if we had done enough.

Look at it this way... our win at WSU had people jumping up and down and screaming in their houses... a win on Saturday and people will be dancing in the streets. That settles it for me.

In the end, it doesnt matter... we all know how big this one is and how big all of the rest were. And it sure beats the sad news we've had to discuss around here lately!!

[ceaser150]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

I think it is an apples to oranges situation, but the SIU game in 2004 is probably bigger. SIU was ranked and undefeated in the conference, Chris Foster had just gotten injured. It would have been easy to just roll over in that game. But we pulled the upset and clinched the #2 seed and avoid a rematch with SIU in the tournamen. Without that seed, I don't think we win the tournament and go to our first NCAA since 1990.

Also, the game Saturday loses some importance if Creighton loses. However, if they win Saturday afternoon, then you may be right, it becomes the biggest game in a long time.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

I think it is the biggest simply because of the MVC title...the FIRST regular season MVC title. Winning that will definitely help legitimize us as more than just a worthy member of the league. I'll take that and the auto NIT bid this season and sleep well regardless of what happens in the tournament next week.

[4N6]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Been attending UNI BB games since '81. In my opinion, Saturday's game is the most important regular season game ever played at UNI.

[Victory_For_UNI]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Dear God,
Please let us win.
Sincerely,
VFU

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Hardware...it's all about hardware. Get some hardware, get some momentum, get some extended play for the development of the team going into next year, show the hardware off to recruits...repeat.

[Newt99]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Dear God,
Please let us win.
Sincerely,
VFU

Dear team,
Please win Saturday regardless of what God thinks.
Seems like God should have better things to do than watch college basketball right now anyway.
Sincerely,
Newt99

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Hardware...it's all about hardware. Get some hardware, get some momentum, get some extended play for the development of the team going into next year, show the hardware off to recruits...repeat.

Yep. We've never had a game where we can claim a trophy and auto-qualify for a tournament all wrapped up in one.

[Coachdags]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Yep. We've never had a game where we can claim a trophy and auto-qualify for a tournament all wrapped up in one.

March 8th 2004, MVC Tournament Championship Game UNI 79 - MSU 74 (2OT)

UNI goes on to the 1st of 3 NCAA apperances in a row.....

[northwest iowa panther]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

In lockerrooms all over the nation, when goal sheets are filled out and the results posted prior to the season "win the conference" will be the number one goal of the majority of teams. All other goals fall into place with that. Yes! This is the biggest game in school history for that goal alone. How many conference championship banners do we have overhead in the Mac? You're in the toughest Mid Major conference in the nation, play an eighteen conference schedule, everyone in the conference has this same number one goal = yes, this is as big a game as we have ever played at UNI. Go Panthers!

[Da Hog]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Well at least there isnt too much pressure riding on this game. The guys should be relaxed and out there having fun since there is no pressure. They wont be tight at all.

[OH BABY! I luv this team!]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Well at least there isnt too much pressure riding on this game. The guys should be relaxed and out there having fun since there is no pressure. They wont be tight at all.

Your point is well taken but this team has been playing under pressure for quite awhile as the league leader in one of the top ten division 1 conferences in the country. Also, this is another good reason we need a huge crowd on saturday night! A large, enthusiastic, sold out McLeod Center could really help this team in what in my eyes IS the biggest home regular season conference game in school history!!

[northwest iowa panther]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Every "Little Panther" will emulate this game from here on. Imagine the kids on driveways around the Cedar Valley all day Saturday with this echoing in their heads "he dribbles to his left, now back to his right, 5 seconds, 4 seconds, be a hero little guy, 2 seconds, he pulls up, he lets fly, there's the buzzer, IT'S GOOD! Panthers win! Panthers win! O how I luv this team!"

For this reason alone, this is the biggest ever.

[UNIAlum95]

Re: Saturday is the Most Important Regular Season Game in UNI History

Also, this is another good reason we need a huge crowd on saturday night! A large, enthusiastic, sold out McLeod Center could really help this team in what in my eyes IS the biggest home regular season conference game in school history!!

I hope this is the case but I'll bet there are the usual empty seat backs. We'll never fill those up as they are sold today.

Let's hope the rest of the standing room crowd makes up for it in noise.