Iowa vs. UNI

[#1pantherfan]

1 more day until me get to see who probably will be the state champion. I hope to see everyone down in Iowa City tuesday. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It will be a very good game, the game should sell out and it will be on Tv all around Iowa; so it will be another great opportunity for the state to learn about UNI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

Prediction: UNI: 81
Iowa: 73

[tcondon]

UNI is going to have to shoot the ball well to win. Of course, if they shoot like they did against Iowa State, they should be able to coast to another victory. But shooting in Carver isn't the toughest environment out there.

Iowa needs to find a way to force UNI to beat them off the dribble. This Iowa team is pretty athletic, so they need to force McKowen, Jacobson, Foster, etc. to put the ball on the floor. This game should be a great team. I though both teams had a good shot at making the postseason this year, but they are both playing very good basketball right now. I say McKowen gets hot once again against Horner and that is the difference.

Panthers 79
Hawkeyes 74

[Marc Wigim]

Good analysis, I agree in every aspect.

I also think there's an intangible that no one has thought about. Last year, I went to Orlando Florida to watch the Hawkeyes in the Outback Bowl (yes, I'm a sellout). They had an event called the "Hawkeye Huddle," and part of the festivities were that they were showing the Iowa/Eastern Illinois basketball game. I wore my UNI sweatshirt, and shamelessly rooted for the EIU Panthers. Here's the thing that bears mentioning though: so did other Hawk fans.

If we show tenacity, and we hang with this team, we'll quickly eliminate any sort of homecourt advantage the Hawks might have. This is important because at one time, Carver was not a fun place to play. We can go in there without any reservations tomorrow if we execute (CLICHE ALERT!)

[Panthers to the Bone]

Matchups:
PG: Horner vs. McKowen- Horner is looking like he will have a banner year. Jeff is definitely doing more than just passing. He is making shots. His D has stepped up from last year, and I think that this battle is going to be very fun. Mr. Basketball vs. Mr. Basketball. McKowen has become a fantastic distributing PG. We all know he can make shots, and his FT's are almost automatic. I had this debate with some friends and relatives in regard to who was the best PG b/t the two. I still take McKowen. His heart and hustle is second to none in the state, IMO. This should be a fun matchup.

G: Pierce vs. Crawford- This matchup is going to be another great matchup. You have Crawford who is a lock down defender. Pierre is athletic, but E did more than enough last year in the Dome to take Pierce out of the game. Crawford has the green light to shoot it, and this year he is taking his shots more. Little comes off the bench to keep Pierre on lock down. Whether or not the two are able to contain PP is to be seen. Regardless, these two are going to go at each other on both ends of the court. This would be "finesse" (PP) vs. "strength and toughness" (Erik)

G/F: Jacobson vs. Haluska- Another Iowa H.S. boys showdown. This is what makes these games so much fun to watch. These two former AAU teammates are going to put on a show, IMO. Haluska is athletic, but we forget who was the 2nd place high jumper in state his senior year (Jacobson). Haluska has a height advantage, but Jacobson has deadly shooting. This would be my "Western Iowa Showdown" matchup.

PF: Brunner vs. Stout- Another great state of Iowa matchup. Brunner is no doubt more physical, but Stout has the height advantage. Both can knock down outside shots. Bru has been in foul trouble more this year, and Stout's long arms are helping lead the team in blocked shots. If Stout gets a face up jumper, there isn't much the Hawks are going to be able to stop him (with the exception of Thomas/Hansen blocking his shot). But Brunner has quick post moves, which Stout will not have seen yet this year. Another stellar matchup.

C: Hansen vs. Coleman- As a college basketball fan this is going to be war. Coleman's hard nosed aggressive inside game, vs. Hansen's length/height. Coleman gets the strength advantage, but Hansen has the height advantage. Coleman plays tougher and is a lefty (which could be an advantage in this game), and Hansen has been banged up as of late. I would be interested in seeing what a Coleman post up hip bump would do to Hansen. If Hansen can handle Coleman's body and doesn't get banged up by the physical play, this will be a great matchup, other wise, I see Coleman winning the matchup over whoever else comes in off the bench.

The Bench:
John Little: Held Chauncey Leslie to seven points two years ago, and can lock down defenders with the best of them. With Little's improved outside shot, he is no longer an offensive liability (i.e.-opponents guard him more now this year than last).

Chris Foster: If he is healthy and rested, he will add a change of pace and acceleration in going after Horner. We all know that Horner can't play the whole game, but if close, SA will keep Jeff in the game as long as he can. A Chris Foster burst of acceleration and quickness should help wear down Horner. Plus, he is the most experienced Panther out there. He thrives on big games.

Jon Godfread/Atila Santos: Look for these two to give spot minutes for Coleman and Stout. Godfread has always played well when he plays against 6'10"+ guys. He doesn't get called for as many over the backs and defensive fouls. Look for Godfread's minutes to be in short spurts, but productive nonetheless. It's obvious that Mac has decided to bring Santos along slowly and keep Atila confident. We all know that Atila has great athleticism, but look for Mac to bring Atila in for a few minutes at a time- just like he has since the Cincy game. But I would expect Atila to get the majority of his minutes when going up against Doug Thomas. DT vs. Atila would be a great athletic matchup.

Schmit/Viet- Look for Petey to come in and spot McKowen for a few breathers and provide excellent composed minutes. Look for Viet to come in and give the Panthers a big three if needed.

Iowa:
Henderson/Reed- The W'loo connection is alive and well in Iowa City. These two guys have really played well in the previous weeks. If they get confident in shooting early, it could bode not very well for the Panthers throughout the game. These two bring more athleticism than the Panthers off the bench, but that has never been a problem with McDermott coaching. Regardless, these two are great assets, and could be dangerous for the Panthers.

Doug Thomas- Brings another athletic body off the bench. He doesn't have the size to bang with Coleman, but could provide some problems for Stout. Should be an interesting X factor for the Hawks.

Thompson- Has played sparingly, but could give the bigs a few breathers. I'm sure he will want to play well for the state of Iowa, but Stout did play with him in AAU ball back in the day. These two are familiar with each other, and Stout's experience should counter whatever Thompson brings to the table.

Coaches: McDermott vs. Alford- You gotta love Coach Mac. Enough said.

The arena: For the first time in a long time, the Panthers sound like they might be bringing a good crowd to IC. A thousand or so Panther fans could make CHA sound loud if the Panthers get going. I've heard CHA quiet before, and would love nothing more than the Panther faithful to be loud and boisterous to fill that CHA silence if the Panthers come out and end strong. The fact still remains, UNI has never won in Carver. McDermott has beaten all four state schools, won at places UNI hasn't won in years in the past year or so.

A win in CHA would etch McDermott's place as potentially the greatest coach in UNI history. A Panther win would give them not only a great headstart to the mythical state championship, but would also bring tons of media attention to Cedar Falls. A win in CHA would exponentially improve UNI's financial status athletically than any one thing any one person could do, IMO (outside of a big donor giving 1 million+). A win in CHA, and no more sub 3,000 crowds for the Panthers. A win in CHA, and no more nonTV games when UNI heads to Cincinnati. A win in CHA, and those semi Panther fans have something to finally come out and become full time Panther fans. A win in CHA, and the backing from the whole state of Iowa comes.

See, UNI is in a unique position. The majority of the time, it's frowned upon, but in the instance that UNI has great success, it could be the most beneficial position we could be in. We aren't part of the Hawkeye/Cyclone rivalry. We don't have bad blood with the other schools. We are the "good son" of the state. We have no black eyes. We can bi-partisanly win the state over. We have alot of fans that are both Cy/Hawk fans and UNI fans. We can reach that crossover fan base that Iowa and ISU can't reach. We can, and not just one school, but both. We have to be able to garner their interest, keep it, and get them attached. A win in CHA would go a long way, and this is a year that UNI could take that interest and run with it a long, deep way into March.

Anyone ready for the game? Can you tell that I am?

[Born-a-Panther]

PTTB --

Everything was very well said. A calling to all Panther Nation members who will be at the game tomorrow night --- if the UNI people around you aren't doing their fair share of yelling - then call them out about it. Make 'em yell. Make 'em stand, make 'em scream. Let's help push the Panthers to victory tomorrow night in Carver Hawkeye Arena!!!!!!

[UNIpanther99]

I'm not afraid to piss off a few of the "blue hairs" wearing yellow and black tomorrow night. I'll be respectfull of course, but I'm going to be yelling my head off in support of the cats! (from the 36th row, i'll have to be pretty loud)

[Panthers to the Bone]

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1041037&t=Sports+News&c=32,1041037

Supposedly, UNI said some things last year that have made the Iowa bulletin board. Lad-de-freakin-da!

[AmesPanther]

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?...s&c=32,1041037

Supposedly, UNI said some things last year that have made the Iowa bulletin board. Lad-de-freakin-da!

That's a really big stretch for board material. It is a Hawkeye state and I would hope that every team that isn't Iowa would want to change that.

[UNIAlum95]

Pretty sad if

that's what it takes for them to get up for the game. The hawkeye BB sites have several people giving UNI a lot of credit and sweating the outcome of the game. There are of course the typical boaders who predict a +20 point wipeout of UNI. Some even say that it will be pathetic if they don't beat us by that amount. I can't wait for the doom and gloom after UNI breaks the 0-20 streak in IC.

[B.True]

being in central indiana, i don't get the game on TV, but a friend that lives in Iowa and works in a Pennies just called me on his break to let me know the score....apparently the game was on in their breakroom and he felt obligated to inform me....gotta love that....

does ben jacobson really have 17 points with 3 minutes left in the first half.....did the hawks do any scouting at all for this game?

[AmesPanther]

Currently Ben is the only one playing well. I hope Coleman figures things out and steps up his game.

[AmesPanther]

Oh yeah Ben does have 17.

[#1pantherfan]

you got to be happy about the 1st half. we are down by 8 but besides jacobson, no one is shooting good, so i think we are right in the game. for a part of the game, we didn't do nothing at all so i have to be happy.

LETS GO PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[troyvogel]

So close Panthers!!! Great game though!

[UNI Guy]

Here's how close the game was. Both teams shot 30 for 57, but Iowa had 2 more three pointers and 1 more free throw.

I wish I could have been there. Sounded like a great game. Oh well, now lets win the MVC and get to the NCAA Tourny again.