Props to UNI!

[FarmerClone]

Great game by McKowen and Coleman. UNI was the better team tonight but I was pleasantly surprised by how my Clones battled considering Taylor was just not in the game and we had zero inside presence. But UNI showed poise, leadership and execution down the stretch and earned the win.

Best of luck the rest of the year. And I will now be disappointed if McKowen returns to his low scoring ways when he plays Iowa next week! But I expect Stout to be a much bigger force in that game. he just really had a tough night tonight.

[Matt Trump]

Thanks Farmer. I wish the other clone fans here were as classy as you.

[UNIPNTHR]

Have a great season FarmerClone, it's been a pleasure seeing a reasonable Clone fan stop by for a visit. Come post again!

[wonkadog]

I second his sentiments...here's hoping you guys nail every single shot you hoist against Iowa.

[Panthers Win!!]

I'm sure all UNI fans appreciate the kind words but I caught your post on the Rivals board Farmer. It sings a somewhat different tune. While the nice words here are great it seems more like a politician telling his or her audience what they want to hear.

"...it isn't like they are a juggernaut...the mere fact ISU was in the game with as bad as we were playing tells me that the Panthers may have a tough time making a fourth straight NCAA tourney."

http://iowa.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=803&tid=84279814&mid=84279814&sid=940&style=2

The Panthers, as a team, didn't seem to have that great of a game either. If they can hit their average number of free throws and hit just a few of those point blank shots under the basket it would have been a blow out. You really don't think UNI will make the Tournament?

UNI should blow out Iowa and to most objective observers is the best team in the state.

[Sex Panther...]

Take all of the drama out of this game and what remains is this-

UNI got a win at home against a team they should beat. The next two games will be tougher tests.

[Panthers Win!!]

I'm not so sure. I think this team has a chance to go far. While it's definitely way too early to start predicting post season tournaments either way, it seems to me that this team has greater potential then last year's team. I question anyone that would write off the NCAA Tournament for this team at this point in the season however, even if they are a Cyclone fan. If Eglseder can improve his defense (or catch a break from the officials) they can even match up with a G-town type team with a tall and offensively skilled center.

UNI's play in the Washington game demonstrated that this team can play with anyone. If one assumes Washington's near top ten ranking is deserved, UNI's lead for most of the game, at times by near double digits. Washington needed nearly everything in the last three minutes to sneak out with a win on their home court.

[jordana33]

This team can go far. But, lets not get ahead of ourselves. There is a lot of growth that still needs to take place. I think they will be a force in the Valley but one step at a time.

[SteinPizza]

Remember, the Valley's a better conference this year than last. There's way too much returning talent in the league, along with Bradley's somewhat suprising play, to think otherwise. We could subjectively be a better team this year, but finish with a poorer record.

[FarmerClone]

I'm sure all UNI fans appreciate the kind words but I caught your post on the Rivals board Farmer. It sings a somewhat different tune. While the nice words here are great it seems more like a politician telling his or her audience what they want to hear.

"...it isn't like they are a juggernaut...the mere fact ISU was in the game with as bad as we were playing tells me that the Panthers may have a tough time making a fourth straight NCAA tourney."

http://iowa.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=803&tid=84279814&mid=84279814&sid=940&style=2

The Panthers, as a team, didn't seem to have that great of a game either. If they can hit their average number of free throws and hit just a few of those point blank shots under the basket it would have been a blow out. You really don't think UNI will make the Tournament?

UNI should blow out Iowa and to most objective observers is the best team in the state.

It doesn't sing a different tune. My post here gave props for winning the game and doing what it took to best ISU. But on the flip side, I feel ISU is a pretty poor team right now, and even though we are getting visibly better every game, the mere fact that ISU had a chance to win this game down the stretch given everything that was in UNI's favor in this game leads me to believe that UNI will have a very tough time making it four straight. The Valley is very tough this year from the results so far and I really expected UNI to pull out to around a ten point lead last night and keep it around that level the entire night. Coleman and Stout are beasts, but UNI has struggled to find consistent play from any guard. Brown has been the most consistent offensively, but until last night McKowen had still struggled shooting this year. UNI's defense will keep you in most any game this year, but I do believe you will struggle to get to your fourth straight.

I guess I fail to see how me saying that is disrespectful and politician like. UNI is a good team and has potential to get better, but I think that they will struggle to beat out Creighton, Wichita State, Missouri State, Sothern Illinois and Bradley in the MVC. Please, by all means, feel free to proove me wrong. It would be just fine by me if you make it four straight.

And by the way, UNI DID hit their average number of free throws last night. UNI season average is 67.5 and you hit 65.5 last night. Not much difference. And as far as missing layups, did you see how many chippies ISU missed in the last five minutes with the game on the line? A person could play could of, should of, would of all night, but the bottom line was you struggled to beat an average team at home in front of a huge crowd against a team whose offense your players knew better than ours with emotions running high against their old coach. To me it shows signs you may struggle. But, as I said, PLEASE proove me wrong.

[Panthers Win!!]

Nothing personal Farmer. Your post here was great and again I'm certain appreciated by all. One thing I enjoyed about this board last season was how generally everyone respected the opinions of others even if they disagreed. My tone is intended to be one of friendly banter, not to personally attack you. It just seemed insincere when on the Rivals board you were downplaying UNI's ability and claiming that ISU played poorly against (implied) UNI's best game.

As to the specifics, the MVC is certainly going to be good again this year and while UNI lost their head coach and a few very good seniors it seems to me that they haven't lost a step. Indeed, as I mentioned earlier I think this team has more facets than last year's.

While UNI's team FT percentage may have been close to it's season average they still missed 9 whereas ISU only missed 3 (assuming ESPN's stats are accurate). UNI has been very good about not fouling in the last few years. If ISU had hit 100 percent it would have only resulted in 3 more points. As well, when one removes McKowen's FTs the rest of the team only shot 38% from the FT line, far below their season average. Lastly, while ISU may have missed some easy shots as well (which probably accounts for your view that they played poorly) my point was that your conclusion that UNI isn't very good presumes UNI played well as well. Something that isn't true (other than McKowen that is).

Do you believe UNI's play against a top ten team (Washington) at Washington was a fluke?

Let me put a different spin on things. UNI won by double digits, exceeding the point spread by nearly double against a coach and staff (including some that played with the UNI players) that knew each of the weaknesses of the players on the UNI squad in a venue that they (UNI) too were somewhat unfamiliar with due to the relocation of the game to the dome. Heck, ISU should have known each UNI player's idiosyncrasies better than they knew them themselves.

[FarmerClone]

Nothing personal Farmer. Your post here was great and again I'm certain appreciated by all. One thing I enjoyed about this board last season was how generally everyone respected the opinions of others even if they disagreed. My tone is intended to be one of friendly banter, not to personally attack you. It just seemed insincere when on the Rivals board you were downplaying UNI's ability and claiming that ISU played poorly against (implied) UNI's best game.

As to the specifics, the MVC is certainly going to be good again this year and while UNI lost their head coach and a few very good seniors it seems to me that they haven't lost a step. Indeed, as I mentioned earlier I think this team has more facets than last year's.

While UNI's team FT percentage may have been close to it's season average they still missed 9 whereas ISU only missed 3 (assuming ESPN's stats are accurate). UNI has been very good about not fouling in the last few years. If ISU had hit 100 percent it would have only resulted in 3 more points. As well, when one removes McKowen's FTs the rest of the team only shot 38% from the FT line, far below their season average. Lastly, while ISU may have missed some easy shots as well (which probably accounts for your view that they played poorly) my point was that your conclusion that UNI isn't very good presumes UNI played well as well. Something that isn't true (other than McKowen that is).

Do you believe UNI's play against a top ten team (Washington) at Washington was a fluke?

Let me put a different spin on things. UNI won by double digits, exceeding the point spread by nearly double against a coach and staff (including some that played with the UNI players) that knew each of the weaknesses of the players on the UNI squad in a venue that they (UNI) too were somewhat unfamiliar with due to the relocation of the game to the dome. Heck, ISU should have known each UNI player's idiosyncrasies better than they knew them themselves.

UNI did win by double digits, but you and I know the game was much closer than that until ISU failed in the last minute to cut the gap and was forced to foul. But that really doesn't matter.

"While UNI's team FT percentage may have been close to it's season average they still missed 9 whereas ISU only missed 3 (assuming ESPN's stats are accurate)."

ISU shot 8 free throws. UNI shot 26. Of course if UNI had hit 100% of their free throws and ISU hit 100% of theirs the gap would be wider. Coleman, Stout, Brown, Josten and Ahelegbe are all under 60% on the season from the free throw line. You seem to believe UNI shot WELL below season average as a team. It was average. Nothing more, nothing less.

No, UNI's play against Washington was not a fluke. But last year, UNI won at LSU. This year, they fell short in their key road game in the non-conference. They get another crack when they travel to Iowa now. Win it and it will help in getting an at large bid, but ISU and Iowa are both likely worse than last year so UNI's SOS will be hurt by those teams being worse and by not having won a game like LSU last year.

"Lastly, while ISU may have missed some easy shots as well (which probably accounts for your view that they played poorly) my point was that your conclusion that UNI isn't very good presumes UNI played well as well."

Every team has nights where the play well and they don't play well. My take on UNI isn't that they aren't good, it is that I feel that other teams in the MVC are better. Like I said, I am not out to offend anyone. It is my opinion, nothing more. I have already said I would gladly be wrong.

"It just seemed insincere when on the Rivals board you were downplaying UNI's ability and claiming that ISU played poorly against (implied) UNI's best game."

I am not downplaying UNI's abilities, I am giving my honest assessment. I was more impressed by the UNI teams I saw the last two years than I was by the team I saw last night. Does that mean that UNI cannot improve and get better and achieve more than those two teams? No. It was just my opinion.

[Matt Trump]

I agree Farmer. UNI missed terribly on some BIG opportunities at Washington. That was a big game that could have meant the different between the Big Dance and the NIT for this years team.

[FarmerClone]

I agree Farmer. UNI missed terribly on some BIG opportunities at Washington. That was a big game that could have meant the different between the Big Dance and the NIT for this years team.

It was a huge opportunity for the Panthers. Missouri State knocked off Wisconsin and got their key win out of conference. Wichita State got LSU. UNI having Washington, ISU and Iowa was supposed to give them three big cracks at decent opponents, but ISU and Iowa look to be average at best and UNI's game with recent solid club Bucknell is losing it's luster as the Bison keep losing. The MVC will likely get five teams maximum and I just think some factors are not in UNI's favor to make the Dance come season's end. But the easiest way to deal with those factors is to just win baby! Good luck!

[Matt Trump]

Yup. Success in the MVC should be enough to get an NCAA bid, but UNI needs a big tim OOC win to push them over the edge come selection time. Look at MSU from last year. Now, if UNI finishes in the top 3 of the MVC, they will be more than worthy of an at-large big to the NCAAs.