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Northern Iowa basketball: Who’s the go-to Panther in 2017-2018

By Doug Winkey

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 21: Brandon Robinson
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 21: Brandon Robinson /
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Northern Iowa basketball enters 2017-2018 without its top player from last year. The Panthers need to find a new guy to command the team.

Last season was a disappointment for Northern Iowa basketball. They returned the Missouri Valley’s top all-around player in Jeremy Morgan, but the Panthers still struggled to a 14-16 record and no postseason. Morgan is gone, so UNI has to find a new body to lead the team.

It’s important to start with just what Morgan meant to the team last season. He led the Panthers in every category other than shooting percentages. That sort of production is very difficult to replace, but there are four seniors who will do their best to try.

Of those four, the best option is swing man Klint Carlson. The Waverly, Iowa native stands at 6’7″, 222-pounds and is the favored option to replace Morgan on the wing. Carlson averaged 8.3 points, 4.9 boards, and 2.1 assists. He was UNI’s most important asset in early victories over Arizona State and Oklahoma last fall.

The one thing Carlson really needs to excel as this team’s number one option is better outside shooting. His accuracy from deep plummeted from 32% in 2015-2016 to 25% last year. He will be an All-MVC selection if he can hit between 34 and 36% of his long-range attempts with his other skills.

If a senior can’t do the job, look for sophomore point guard Spencer Haldeman make a case for himself. The young man from Peosta, Iowa outplayed the competition last year to the tune of 7.6 points and 2.2 rebounds. He only dished out 22 assists total, but that number should go up with a lack of proven distributors on the roster. He also needs to get better from outside (32% as a freshman), but Haldeman is poised to be UNI’s mainstay at the floor general spot.

Next: Montana State needs help for Tyler Hall

Northern Iowa’s road to the postseason is measurably easier without Wichita State in the MVC, but potential forces in Loyola and Missouri State mean one or more guys need to take action.