Next Year...

[UNIpanther99]

I know it's early to talk about this stuff... But next year Brooks and Grant will have a chance to lead UNI to their 4th straight NCAA tournament appearence. That feat hasn't been accomplished by an Iowa university since the Hawks went 5 years straight from 1985-89. I believe ISU went 3 straight in the mid-90's.

[GonzoCat]

We came in 5th in the MVC this year, although we were about 5 points away from winning it. UNI is losing 3 of our top 6 players which is more than any of the other top Valley teams. I'm afraid next year will be a rebuilding year. If we get to the dance again GM is truly a miracle worker.

[UNIAlum95]

We came in 5th in the MVC this year, although we were about 5 points away from winning it. UNI is losing 3 of our top 6 players which is more than any of the other top Valley teams. I'm afraid next year will be a rebuilding year. If we get to the dance again GM is truly a miracle worker.

I would disagree with rebuilding. It is more of a reloading year (which is fantastic to be able to say). We have some real talent coming in who will hopefully with a much deaper bench, be able to replace some of what we lost. I am also expecting even bigger things from Brooks, Grant, & Eric.

[NJ Panther]

Lets beat Georgetown and OSU first...

[UNIAlum95]

Lets beat Georgetown and OSU first...

I'm certainly not ready to move on to next season yet. Let's get a couple of wins and see what the purple and gold can do in Minneapolis!

[GoCats05]

Two weeks rest is just what this teams needs to get ready for this tourn. Look out Georgetown!! Next year, we will be deeper, which really came back to haunt us late in the season this year. We had six guys playing major minutes and tough, tough defense. Unfortunately, our offense suffered because of it. I agreee, not a rebuilding year next year, but a reloading!!

GO PANTHERS!!

[Ozzie Guillen]

I'm excited for next year I feel the big question is how Mac is going to coach the team next year. Traditionally Mac has had some less athletics teams that it was necessary for him to always use his 3524643 plays and rely on the halfcourt game. Next year the team will be significantly more athletic than others in UNI history and they will be able to push the tempo of games. With players like T-Brown, Williams, Kwadzo, Stewart along with our big men Stout, Coleman, Jordan, and even Santos who move up and down the floor very well we have people who can create their own shots which has been something we lacked this year. The team speed will also go up a great deal so maybe just maybe we will be able to press teams on D. 2 more big questions for next year is who is going to step up and be the leader and what are we doing w/ Brooks? The answer to these questions will all be easier to find after we win our first NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (although we might want our first tournament win more realistically).

[UNIAlum95]

...(although we might want our first tournament win more realistically).

Technically our second tournament win, the first for Mac. But I would definitely love to see a Sweet Sixteen banner in the new Mac next year. What a sweet way to open the arena, an unveiling of a banner marking the greatest run in Panther history!

[pantherfan4ever]

I would disagree with rebuilding. It is more of a reloading year (which is fantastic to be able to say). We have some real talent coming in who will hopefully with a much deaper bench, be able to replace some of what we lost. I am also expecting even bigger things from Brooks, Grant, & Eric.

i agree here totally. Jacobson, Crawford, and Little will be hard to replace, but I think we can do alright next year. Jacobson was able to take a lot less of the scoring load this season, even when crawford was out. this is in large part because brooks, little, coleman and stout. Coleman and Stout are arguably the best 1-2 combo inside in the conference, we are having brooks come back who has run the offense for 3 straight years. you can rag on him all you want, but he knows the system and is a HUGE asset coming back next year with both crawford and jacobson leaving us. Even if he plays more 2 next year, he has great knowledge of the system and can help whoever steps up to the PG spot.

Travis Brown has proven that he is going to be a tough cover already, and dont forget Coach Mac was planning on Viet being a big part of this years team before he went down with the injuries. If he is healthy, he is a very dangerous shooter as well.

I think guys who did not play a lot this season, such as Williams and Josten will do fine next year as well as that freshman pointguard coming in from Minnesota who is supposed to be a very good all around point guard.

And I never hear anyone mention his name, and since i dont live in cedar falls anymore maybe he isnt even on the bball team anymore...haha... but if he is, don't count out Pedescleaux from filling a spot inside for us. I am not saying he will be better than Coleman, but remember, he was more highly recruited by UNI than Coleman was, until he decided to attend the UofM his freshman year. He was a 4 star on many recruiting sites.

we will have a lot of inexperience on our team, depth wise... but coming back with Coleman, Stout, and Brooks could end up being a lot like our first of our 3 consecutive Tourny teams when we had Scheiderman and Gruber inside along with 1 two year starter at point in foster and a lot of young guys around them like jacobson, crawford, little, stout, and brooks.... next years team reminds me a lot of that team.

i think it could look a lot that way when we look back on next year as well... we will have coleman (who is undersized but has an uncanny ability to score inside like Gruber did) and stout (who can stretch the defense some like Matt did and he has steller D) inside along with a 4th year starter in brooks (who will be the 3rd guy in our lineup with significant experience like foster did that first year) and then the young guys in Brown, Viet, Williams, Josten, Atilia, Pedescleaux, and the 2 freshman coming in that may help us out some like stout, brooks, and little did as freshman. is it as good as that 2004 team? Maybe or maybe not since jacobson was already a 14 point a game guy and crawford had experience already and was a 10pt guy.. but who knows, brown is definitely a scorer that could step up and fill one of those guys spots on offense i think, and then we never know who else will step up. Whether we are quite as good all around as that team or not, i think they will still be good in the system that Mac has set up and I think we will do just fine.

[kabullseye]

I would disagree with rebuilding. It is more of a reloading year (which is fantastic to be able to say). We have some real talent coming in who will hopefully with a much deaper bench, be able to replace some of what we lost. I am also expecting even bigger things from Brooks, Grant, & Eric.

Egelseder in the middle? Can you spell r-e-b-o-u-n-d-s playing with Grant and Eric?

[pantherfan4ever]

Egelseder in the middle? Can you spell r-e-b-o-u-n-d-s playing with Grant and Eric?

I've heard the word "redshirt" when i hear his name, that's why i did not mention him in my post.... but if he doesnt redshirt then he would definitely be a good asset to our team inside at 7ft tall with a wingspan of 7ft 8in (longer than anyone in the last 3 NBA drafts!)

[BCPanther]

NO Redshirt for Eglseder. Players that can help immediately don't sit out for a year. He can help with inside depth next year!