10-1 Heading into the Valley...

[UNIAlum95]

I hate that reminder... But you're right.

This team to date seems to have the right state of mind. I don't see them looking at either of these games as a "show up and win game".

[ceaser150]

If they go 10-1 in the preseason as suggested, (and I do mean If), what is the worst possible conference record that would get UNI into the Big Dance. Would 10-8 be good enough? I think it would be possible if some of the team we have beaten, such as ISU and Iowa, are able to have strong conference season. Or would it take 11-7?

[TravelingPanther]

The team has got to start playing better in order to keep winning. The wins are great, but not pretty.

[FerociousCat]

I watched most of the the Loyola vs. St. Louis game last week. Schlib will be difficult to stop, but he seemed to either try and do everything or was non-existant on the court. He can do it all, but he was trying crossover-fadeaway 25 footers. He was very tough taking it to the basket. They have a scrappy undersized post player, who just somehow kept getting boards and putbacks against St. Louis 7ft center. Loyola led till about midway thru the second half but St Louis wound up winning by about 5 I think. Loyola seemed out of sync on offense with whoever had the ball improvising for their own shot.
Can look at the week off two ways, either we have a week to prep & get better, or we have a week to get rusty & maybe overlook Loyola.

[joecooll6]

Wasn't me either...

I was talking about BC. Someone posted that we would be #1 in football going into Iowa State, right before the North Dakota game. Must not have been you.

[Chummy]

Who have we beaten that is an NCAA tournament caliber team this season? In the past, 10-1 non-conference would be great, but there is a decent chance that only 1 or 2 teams we beat of the 10 will be above .500 at the end of the season. At 10-1 in the pre-season, our resume isn't going to look good if we are 11-7 and 5th in the MVC. I think 12 minimum possibly 13 MVC wins, with at least one victory in St. Louis are going to be necessary. That means, one loss, no more at home, and split our road games, at worst.

[Panthers to the Bone]

21 wins in this year's MVC will get the Panthers in (regardless of how they get them...non-con, MVC, tourney). We would probably be talking about an RPI somewhere around the 20's.

Bucknell and Loyola will give UNI some very good RPI help throughout the year...add in the fact that UNI might be the best MVC road Bracket Buster team, and you are looking at a great matchup there.

[unigriff]

cant we just win the rest of our games and not worry bout the what ifs?

[valleyclimber]

I'd have to agree with the original poster. I believe a 10-1 non-con and either 11-7 or 12-6 in the MVC is definitely within reach. Pick up a Bracketbuster win, and the Panthers are sitting at 22-8. And even if UNI loses a first round MVC tourney game, that's still an outstanding 22-9 record which combined with some quality Valley wins is going to look MIGHTY attractive to the Big Dance selection committee.

As for UMKC, I see the Panthers absolutely STOMPING them. Loyola-Chicago will be the tough one. The Ramblers did lose at home last week to a decent SLU team, and they got creamed last night at Purdue (17 points). Sooooo....as long as UNI brings it's "A" game, then the Ramblers are beatable on their own court. Needless to say a victory over Loyola is extremely important because the Panthers need EVERY quality win they can get.

GO PANTHERS!!

[BCPanther]

The team has got to start playing better in order to keep winning. The wins are great, but not pretty.

No such thing as an ugly win, IMO...

[PantherHawk]

10-1 will be nice, but come valley time UNI needs to protect their home floor! They have in past years let some big games go at home! They need to protect their home floor and win a few on the road! I am looking at 10-1 start and finishing somewhere around 22-9 or 24-7 on the year. They need to start playing better and start hitting some outside shots! We can't rely on our bigs all year long, MVC teams will just start to 2-3 zone UNI and force us to beat them from the outside!

[tcondon]

I am worried about the Loyola game as well, and have been since the preseason. This is going to be a very tough oppenent, an experienced as well.

If this team does finish up the work in the nonconference schedule to finish 9-1, an 11-7 finish with a Bracket Buster victory should be enough...unless they are struggling down the stretch. UNI had the Crawford injury as a reason for the struggles last season. 12-6 with a Bracket Buster loss is probably needed to feel comfortable.

Looking at the schedule come MVC time, I look at things most likely to happen as this:

Finish 7-2 at home, beating Evansville, Indiana State, Illinois State, Bradley and Drake. Split between Wichita, Missouri State, Southern and Creighton.

If the Panthers can go 4-1 against the 2nd division on the road (a tough chore no doubt) and go 1-3 against the top teams, you are looking at a 12-6 record.

Personally, this team perhaps mirrors the past Wichita teams coming into the season. Wichita seemed to always be right there until the end, when would fade. Last season looked to be another NIT season for the Shocker and all they did was win the Valley and go to the Sweet 16. Not complete mirror images, just something to ponder.

[TravelingPanther]

No such thing as an ugly win, IMO...

I can agree on that. I just don't think we've seen our "A" game since Washington. A lot of "B", "C" and maybe even "D" games.

[BCPanther]

This team has such great leadership and toughness from Brooks, Stout, Coleman, and Griffin (Yes, Tyler Griffin) that they will take care of business.

This team ALWAYS plays hard and that is a great way to get a W on a night that contains poor shooting.

As for the posts I have seen about lack of a 3 point threat, I don't see it as a huge problem. Every team we have played so far has geared up to stop our interior game and we have still been successful there. Its about hitting big shots, like Brown the other night, not hittling all of the shots you take. This team is full of kids that have done nothing but win, they will find ways to get it done...