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By Joel Welser
jwelser@collegehoops.net
2006 NCAA Tournament Capsule:
Northern Iowa
Northern Iowa Panthers (23-9)
Missouri
Valley: 5th(t), 11-7
RPI: 23
AP: na
Big Wins:
Iowa (67-63), at LSU (54-50), at Wichita St (75-61)
Bad Losses:
at Iowa St (61-68), Creighton (52-55), at Indiana St (60-61)
Last NCAA
Appearance: 2005, First Round
Top Players:
Ben Jacobson,
Sr, G, 14.2 ppg, 3.8 apg
Grant Stout, Jr,
F, 12.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg
Eric Coleman,
So, F, 11.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg
Erik Crawford,
Sr, G, 9.9 ppg, 2.3 apg
Depth is a
problem, and it caught up with UNI at the end of the season. Although an
injury to Erik Crawford was part of the difficulty, the depth was the main
cause as the Panthers lost five of their last seven. Six players average
around 30 minutes per game, while nobody else averages over ten. With some
time off before the NCAA Tournament, UNI will be well rested. The good news
is the Panthers average only 14.5 fouls per game, so it is rare that any
player needs to spend much time on the bench for that reason. Ben Jacobson
is the go-to-guy, but he’s actually having a disappointing season. The
senior guard is only shooting 39% from the floor and 33% from long range.
He needs to find his stroke if the Panthers expect to make a Sweet Sixteen
run. The experience is there for UNI, but they are undersized and will face
some match-up issues.
Seed: 7
First Round:
Georgetown
Joel's Likely
Finish: First Round
CHN's
Official Prediction: Second Round
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