UNI in Las Vegas Tourney

[Aces1982]

UNI wins the tournament. Makes you wonder how the hell they lost to Iowa now, doesn't it?

It's great when an MVC team wins a tournament with a field consisting of Colorado, Indiana, and New Mexico. I think some people will be rethinking where they predicted UNI after this week.

I'm not so sure UNI shouldn't be mentioned ahead of MSU and right with or above WSU. They have been impressive the last couple of games. A vetrean PG, big man and Moran who can knock hit down and little Koch. Plus play tough D. Not too mention a club that knows how to win.

Wouldn't surprise me at all to see them win the Valley this year. They are being overlooked and shouldn't be.

[valleychamp]

The way I have seen UNI play they will be lucky to win one game let alone sweep the trip they do not impress on offense and they are no where near as intimidating on defense

[GarH]

Great showing for UNI. It's too bad we didn't see more of this from other Valley teams this year.

[shocker3]

Another nice win. Congrats to the Panthers.

I agree with those who say it looks like UNI and WSU have to enter the conference season as the teams favored to battle out for the championship at this point. I would place Missouri St third right now with CU fourth.

[MVCfans]

Andy Katz with a nice writeup on UNI after the Las Vegas Classic:

LAS VEGAS -- For a few stretches Thursday night, Northern Iowa had found its stroke like it was March of 2010 yet again, taking down a team of higher stature.

Last March, UNLV and top-ranked Kansas fell victim to the Panthers, before Michigan State clipped them in the Sweet 16. The daring 3-point shot by Ali Farokhmanesh that was one of the shots of the NCAA tournament to ice a win over Kansas, the play of Jordan Eglseder and Adam Koch inside and out were memories that will live in Panther lore.

But the Panthers are quickly proving that this is no longer just the team Ben Jacobson built on the heels of Greg McDermott's initial startup.

Northern Iowa has a program, and the pieces are in play for the Panthers to be in the thick of the Missouri Valley Conference race and once again potential NCAA tournament pests.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... oise-later

[unipanther99]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... al-respect

This is a write up from the Register's Rick Brown, who was in Vegas. Some interesting tid-bits, including a slight by the Orleans Hotel and Arena that Jake used as a motivator for the team.

[jayball]

Great performance Panthers. I'll be interested to see you guys play again, since the Syracuse game is all I have seen.

Sounds like James is really emerging as a key player and that the new group is back to playing fundamental defense.

[DUBulldog]

Wow, looks like UNI lucked their way to another win...

Dawgie_Style is still not impressed.