What a long, strange trip it's been

[panthertrack]

I remember the Denver game like it was yesterday.
No people to be found at the McLeod Center, and rightfully so at the time - UNI eeked out a victory over the hapless Pioneers, and it was only November. People were still worked up about football and had forgot we had a team playing.
I remember calling my father after the game and lamenting on how long of a season it was going to be.
"They take so many outside shots," I told him. "If we shoot like this every game, we'll be bottom of the MVC for sure."
We kept shooting like that for awhile. I drove to Iowa City and went to the Iowa game, where we shot 21 percent or something from beyond the arc. This followed an epic fail from the arc in the Iowa State game at home the week before.
I finally got the nerve to ask Jake a question during the press conference.
"Jake, you've been rough shooting the ball, 21 percent in the last two games from beyond the arc. Is this a concern to you at this point?"
Jake looked at me with that fierce, howdareyouaskthatyoupunk look, and sternly said "No. Fair question, but no. Our guys are great shooters. They have the green light, always."
I didn't believe him.
Boy, was I wrong.


Safe to say, I'm glad Jake knows his team better than I did coming into this season. It's a good bet that shooting isn't a concern of his, still.

What an amazing year.

[r54uni]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

I am a little worried about Johnny Moran though. He had an awful shooting weekend and hasn't looked very good offensivly for quite some time. He makes up for it with his hustle, defense and pure 100% all the time attitude. I sure hope he snaps out of his offensive funk in the next week and a half.

Not much mentioned about it on here but I think the NBA three line really screwed some guys up this weekend.

[jman2004]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

I've eaten crow plenty of times this season as well (especially after the Indiana State home game) . . . at least our hearts were always in the right place!

[panthertrack]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

I am a little worried about Johnny Moran though. He had an awful shooting weekend and hasn't looked very good offensivly for quite some time. He makes up for it with his hustle, defense and pure 100% all the time attitude. I sure hope he snaps out of his offensive funk in the next week and a half.

Not much mentioned about it on here but I think the NBA three line really screwed some guys up this weekend.

My take on Johnny, after watching him for 20+ games this year, is that he looks like he has the butterflies when he runs the point. He dribbles really high and gets picked a lot. He's the anti-Kwadzo, who stays low at all times and rarely turns the ball over because of it.

I mentioned to another writer that I sometimes want to nickname Moran "Happy Feet," but can't bring myself to do it because that's what I used to call Alex Thompson, and Moran actually has talent and isn't a spaz.

[jman2004]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

I am a little worried about Johnny Moran though. He had an awful shooting weekend and hasn't looked very good offensivly for quite some time. He makes up for it with his hustle, defense and pure 100% all the time attitude. I sure hope he snaps out of his offensive funk in the next week and a half.

Not much mentioned about it on here but I think the NBA three line really screwed some guys up this weekend.

He did have one very sweet fade away jumper yesterday . . . my father in law, who hasn't watched a lick of Panther basketball all season (he's a dirty Cyclone) saw that shot and said "Oooee, that white boy can shoot."

But I agree, overall, he had a pretty rough tournament. They showed a collage of UNI turnovers after Illinois State made their run yesterday and Moran was involved in all three clips they showed.

Needs to shake it off. He's better than this weekend.

[panthertrack]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

I won't sell out on Moran because he's made a ton of extremely clutch shots this year.

The 3 against Bradley to win it on the road and the 3 to send the Iowa State game into overtime both come to mind. HUGE shots for a freshman to take, let alone make.

[UNI Prof]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

He could be hitting the wall a bit as a freshman as well. The time off we'll get prior to the tournament game will be very helpful.

[06panther10]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

I won't sell out on Moran because he's made a ton of extremely clutch shots this year.

The 3 against Bradley to win it on the road and the 3 to send the Iowa State game into overtime both come to mind. HUGE shots for a freshman to take, let alone make.

I'm pretty sure that was Kerwin.

[panthertrack]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

I'm pretty sure that was Kerwin.

You're right. I seem to remember Johnny hitting a big shot in that game. Maybe the three before it?

[Purrrrrfect]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

You are right. He did make a big one in both those games.

I just wanted to quickly come on here, rant, whine, eat crow or what not for a second.

Wanted to first say..WOW, what a year. A football MVC title followed by a Sweep in basketball. The best graduation gift I could ask for. I, too, even doubted the Panthers would finish .500 on the season after a dismal start and losing to ISU and IOWA...pathetic. How do you lose to them?

I Know last season I made a donkey out of myself by calling out the students and putting down the team, or what not. It is just my general nature to be so involved with Panther sports and wanting everyone else to love what I got to love every single game. Win or Lose. So I apologize to the NI, the student body, current/former players who were or were not in class, especially with me , and you PN. A small public institution and I made 100s of connections through so many people, players, administration and so forth. I just got riled up!

I just wanted to think (and some people thanked me, joking i hope!?) that me leaving at semester break was a contributing factor that helped the Cats rise again to prominence. I left the state the day after the Indiana St. Loss at UNI. The Cats won 11 in a row while I was out of the state and many friends and colleagues said, I wasn't allowed back in the state. Once they lost, I felt a lil more at ease, but it was still a weird feeling.
Some of you may have saw me when we won the Evansville game for the title. I was there for my first game since before X-mas break; this time as a UNI spectator, and not hardcore fan. I was glad we won and I got to experience one more memory. I wish I could have been there in St. Louis, as I have gone every year of my undergrad. I was so happy but now I'm so literally sick to my stomach cuz I wish i coulda been there! Man, that would have been the highlight of my UNI stay for sure! I knew I shouldn't have watched those youtube videos and ESPN!
Congrats to the boys and Coach Jake. I hope they get the #12 seed and become another thorn in a 5 seed. This is our year!

I hope this apology, rant, wishful thoughts for the future post can find friendly peace with many of you between us and let us live to fight another day as a Panther.

-Forever a Panther,
Griff

PS - No, Rob, I cannot give 1.2 mil to the baseball team right now. As us Cub fans keep saying, Maybe next year.

[06panther10]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

It finally comes out, the official admission of dual identities.

[UNIMIS2001]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

I won't sell out on Moran because he's made a ton of extremely clutch shots this year.

Agreed, he is only a freshman and will continue to improve. Congrats Panthers!

[Purrrrrfect]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

It finally comes out, the official admission of dual identities.

Truth be told, I woulda still had my old name, however, was unable to get a new password to work, and such. Figured just get a new name.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

I am a little worried about Johnny Moran though. He had an awful shooting weekend and hasn't looked very good offensivly for quite some time. He makes up for it with his hustle, defense and pure 100% all the time attitude. I sure hope he snaps out of his offensive funk in the next week and a half.

Not much mentioned about it on here but I think the NBA three line really screwed some guys up this weekend.

I think Johnny will be ok. He's young. The rest will be great for him.

I agree about the NBA line.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: What a long, strange trip it's been

PS - No, Rob, I cannot give 1.2 mil to the baseball team right now. As us Cub fans keep saying, Maybe next year.

How about $100 to the PSC.