Iowa vs. UNI

[JCPanthers]

Had a great time in Iowa City last night!! Although the Panthers couldn't pull it out, they did have a chance to steal a win with our best shooter at the end. Some things that I was extremely proud of last night:

1. The way we fought back from the double digit deficit!! These guys could have folded after Iowa went up by 15 and the crowd (pitiful as it was) began to get pretty loud.
2. The mutual respect shown by the players and coaches (with one exception: Pierre Pierce pushing John Little after Little fouled him and proceeded to help him up....what an a$$)
3. Our coaches: They put together a great game plan and the decisions that were made down the stretch put us in a position to win the game.
4. The Fans: When we were making our comeback the 1,000 or so fans, who by the way were spread out all over Carver started to chant U.N.I.......U.N.I. got to be pretty dang loud. Then the embarrassed Iowa fans tried to drown us out with their U of I chant.
5. My 7 year old son making 3 three pointers in a row in front of the Hawk's Nest and them cheering him on...getting louder and louder with each one made!! He was supposed to be rebounding for the team, but was able to sneak a few shots in!!

[igo4uni]

Great game, we lost, oh well

I still think we will do great the rest of the year.

peace

igo4uni

[Panthers to the Bone]

Things to think about:

Our starting PG got hurt and couldn't play most of the game. We still only lose by 3.

Erik Crawford bites through a chunk of his tongue (how horrible), and still plays the whole game (albeit, through pain). We still only lose by 3.

We shoot 50% from the FT line. We still only lose by 3.

Iowa shoots 56% from 3. We still only lose by 3.

Greg Brunner hits his first 2 3-pt baskets of the year. We still only lose by 3.

Erek Hansen goes perfect from the field (including 1 three). We still only lose by 3.

We played by far our worst game defensively of the year, didn't knock down our usual open 3's, shot poorly from the FT line, and still, we had a shot at beating the #17 team in the country (who by the way, probably won't lose again until January...probably). The state of UNI basketball has never been better. We, as UNI fans, know that last night, the guys didn't "play great basketball" like the rest of the media is making it out to be. We know that there is a better UNI team than that played last night in Carver. Did we witness a great game? Absolutely! Did we see two teams that went 100% for all 40 minutes? Yes. But did we see the UNI team that we usually see? Almost, but not exactly. And that has to give us great confidence. Knowing that our team can go anywhere in the country, and give anyone a great game---regardless of how that team might be so-called "more athletic" or "more talented"---and that should make all of us very proud.

Are we going to win every game this year? Heck no (although it would be fun)! But we have a team that is going to represent our university and fan base with class....AND win alot of games! This is going to be a fun year. Last night, despite being a little bummed that we lost (especially to the Hawks---not a fan!), I witnessed something for the first time. It was Iowa fans that were excited about beating UNI. Not only were they excited about beating UNI (despite being ranked 17th nationally), but they knew they almost got beat by Benny Jake and the Pasty Gangstaz. That made me smile big time! Even though our team doesn't accept moral victories, us fans can take joy in knowing that our team has arrived to an extent. If they play hard like they have every game since Mac has been here, our students won't be going to Cancun for Spring Break, and our "blue hairs" will be coming back earlier this year from Arizona and Florida to watch our Panthers play some post season ball. How exciting?!

Our next home game is on Wednesday of finals week. I think we will see how far our beloved program has come, when the students actually stick around after finals to watch the Panthers play ball. Call me crazy, but I think there is going to be a good crowd of 5,000+ for that game, and there will be a ton of students. It's no longer "uncool" to be a Panther fan, b/c these students know that they won't be embarassed by lopsided losses to big teams (in fact is just the opposite!). We all are advocates of Panther athletics, and we all have spread the word for our basketball team. Now, we just have to give a few more nudges to our co-workers, fellow students, neighbors, and friends, b/c what is about to happen in the next few months will be unprecedented in the Cedar Valley. As Karin Kinsella and Terence Mann said, "People will come". And people are about to come in droves for Panther basketball like never before seen!

[Marc Wigim]

*hums "Battle Hymn of the Republic*

P2theB is right... your "inside source" (me) has noticed buzz on the campus about men's basketball. People are excited, people are hyped.

One thing though: I wish we could get some big-name teams into the DOME for non-conference. This is one thing holding us back. I'm sure we'd give teams fits, and I think that basically any team would suit us. Possiblities include:

-Butler (again)
-Northern Illinois
-Nebraska
-Kansas State
-Valparaiso (actually playing them here instead of in Vegas)
-UW-Green Bay
-Minnesota

The list goes on. Some of those are more likely than others, but anything is a start.

[Panthers to the Bone]

In response to those thoughts from OTP'04:

Don't count on it right away. And here's why. Nebraska and Minnesota won't play UNI 1 for 1 or 2 for 1. I have heard they have tried in the past, and those teams won't do it. Especially now, they are scared, I'm sure. Nebraska plays Creighton...and one MVC teams is enough for them. Plus, they remember what happened the last time they played us! K-State finally started playing Wichita, they won't pick up games with us. They would be scared too (plus they might actually hurt our RPI!).

We play Green Bay this year at home, but they are going to be really, really good this year and for the next few years. I don't know if we would want to play them. Plus, how much notariety do they bring in? Would that game sell that great? I hope so, but not sold. Valpo is a team that would work out great to play. However, we already play a team from their conference...UMKC (and I think Mac said that we have a 4 year deal with them--and Loyola). Reasons we play these games is to stay connected to areas where we have lots of alumni/former athletes!!!

Butler is the same reason as Valpo, we already play a team from the Horizon (Loyola-Chicago). Plus, the Butler teams now, aren't the old Butler's from a few years ago. They have gone down a little, and soon, they probably won't be as "well known" as they have been lately.

Which leads me to Northern Illinois. I personally would love to see a series with the Huskies. This is a game that features teams a few hours a part, and I think it would be great. I know that we will play Iowa, ISU, Bracket Busters 3 opponent from this year, BB 4 new opponent, Loyola, UMKC, the game in Des Moines, plus 2 others. I'm not sure who those teams would be, but maybe we will see a NIU. We also might be playing in a tourney again next season, so look for that.

But, you also have to realize that our Bracket Buster game could be a huge game! The better we play from here on out, the better our draw will be. That could be huge!

[RobFromCedarFalls]

I hope panther fans can get into the rest of our games a little earlier. i tried getting chants going from the opening tip and got very little help. to any of you who helped me, thanks. my throat still isn't over all the screaming. for those of you who were in the area, i was the guy in section J screaming the whole game. i hope to meet a lot of you at the upcoming home games. my finances have gotten better so i can hopefully make more games. if anyone is a season ticket holder who can't make it, or if you know someone who can score me some comp tickets, it would be much appreciated.

[Jonny_Rogers]

As Karin Kinsella and Terence Mann said, "People will come". And people are about to come in droves for Panther basketball like never before seen!

You had to know I was going to read this post, Bone.

[Panther AC]

Panther Nation Classic

Since everyone in the Missouri Valley Conference refers to us as just "Northern", we could host an "all Northern" tournament. It would feature the only four Division I "Northern" universities: Northern Illinois, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado and Northern Iowa. We could call it the Panther Nation Classic!

[Marc Wigim]

In response to those thoughts from OTP'04:

Don't count on it right away. And here's why. Nebraska and Minnesota won't play UNI 1 for 1 or 2 for 1. I have heard they have tried in the past, and those teams won't do it. Especially now, they are scared, I'm sure. Nebraska plays Creighton...and one MVC teams is enough for them. Plus, they remember what happened the last time they played us! K-State finally started playing Wichita, they won't pick up games with us. They would be scared too (plus they might actually hurt our RPI!).

We play Green Bay this year at home, but they are going to be really, really good this year and for the next few years. I don't know if we would want to play them. Plus, how much notariety do they bring in? Would that game sell that great? I hope so, but not sold. Valpo is a team that would work out great to play. However, we already play a team from their conference...UMKC (and I think Mac said that we have a 4 year deal with them--and Loyola). Reasons we play these games is to stay connected to areas where we have lots of alumni/former athletes!!!

Butler is the same reason as Valpo, we already play a team from the Horizon (Loyola-Chicago). Plus, the Butler teams now, aren't the old Butler's from a few years ago. They have gone down a little, and soon, they probably won't be as "well known" as they have been lately.

Which leads me to Northern Illinois. I personally would love to see a series with the Huskies. This is a game that features teams a few hours a part, and I think it would be great. I know that we will play Iowa, ISU, Bracket Busters 3 opponent from this year, BB 4 new opponent, Loyola, UMKC, the game in Des Moines, plus 2 others. I'm not sure who those teams would be, but maybe we will see a NIU. We also might be playing in a tourney again next season, so look for that.

But, you also have to realize that our Bracket Buster game could be a huge game! The better we play from here on out, the better our draw will be. That could be huge!

I realized shortly after posting that we were in fact playing UW-GB. My bad. I also plan on staying an extra day of finals just to go to the game! So that should be good.

I had this same conversation with a friend today, and he offered another one (it seems unlikely, however): how about a home-and-home with Marquette? What's the story on that? I still am a strong supporter of a Northern Illinois game, too.

[Panthers to the Bone]

My response:

Creighton has tried for years to get this game on a home and home basis (Marquette). Why would they want us, when they have consistently said no to CU?

[Marc Wigim]

Well jeez... I'm just trying to throw out suggestions...

[Panthers to the Bone]

OTP-

Was not meant to be such a harsh reply. I was in a hurry and needed to be quick with my answer. My bad!!!

[Marc Wigim]

I know, I know, I'm just busting your chops a bit. I just wish we could get some high-profile competition to play us in CF. I don't want to say its because their scared, but I don't know so much anymore...