Northern Iowa Basketball: Panthers still as dangerous as ever

By Doug Winkey | Nov 6, 2016

Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Northern Iowa Panthers guard Jeremy Morgan (20) reacts in the first overtime period against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Preseason Missouri Valley Conference predictions have Northern Iowa basketball third behind Wichita State and Illinois State

The MVC preseason poll has Wichita State leading the way for the fourth straight year. The Shockers are number one largely because of head coach Gregg Marshall and eight returning players that have played in at least 21 games.

Related Story: UNI 2015-16 season review

Despite Wichita State’s overwhelming power the last few years, Northern Iowa has managed to take them down at key moments. UNI is the two-time defending MVC Tournament champion and has many tools to make a third run.

The biggest reason why UNI is a dangerous squad is 6’5″ senior Jeremy Morgan. The Coralville, IA native finished third on the team in scoring last year at 11.3 points a night. He also led the squad in rebounds and steals and was second in assists. That sort of versatility has him among the favorites for the conference’s Player of the Year this season. He has the small forward position locked down.

In a stark departure from last year’s four-guard look, the front court will return the majority of the team’s experience from last year. Klint Carlson and Bennett Koch stand at 6’7″ and 6’9″, respectively. They combined for 15 points and just over seven boards a night last year as lesser offensive options.

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Karlson is more of a small forward, but will likely slide closer to the hoop while adding a stretch dimension after hitting 32 percent from deep in 2015-16. Both are very solid on the boards and I like their potential going into year three.

Behind them is fellow junior Ted Friedman. He was a reserve who didn’t play much last year, but still saw action in every contest.

The biggest questions facing head coach Ben Jacobson is how to replace the departed Wes Washpun, Matt Bohannon, and Paul Jesperson. Those three hit over 200 threes as a unit.

Point guard could be a heated competition between junior Wyatt Lohaus, first team All-Region JUCO sophomore Hunter Rhodes, dynamic freshman Juwan McCloud and former Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year Spencer Haldeman. I have no idea who should win that battle, but four options at lead guard is a nice problem to have.

One of those four could also start at shooting guard, but I like Iowa State transfer Jordan Ashton in that role. The senior never got much of a chance as ISU’s eighth man, but the 6’4″ guard did put up 16.4 points and shoot over 40 percent from deep for Kirkwood [IA] Community College.

He should be motivated to show off his true potential at the Division I level in his final campaign. Ashton has the experience to play an important role for this Panthers team.

Four redshirt freshman (including Haldeman) might also play a role this year. In particular, 6’9″ Luke McDonnell and 6’11” Justin Dahl have the size to backup Karlson and Koch down low. The new faces will at least provide more competition for the guys in the primary rotation.

Northern Iowa basketball is in a great place. Jacobson enters his 11th year having finished no worse than third in the MVC since 2010-2011. The rotation will be very different this year, but the cupboard is far from bare in Cedar Falls.

Next: In-depth Big Ten preview

Returning the third, fifth, sixth and eighth ranked contributors provides experience and stability, even if the numbers don’t jump out at fans. This team has plenty of talent to earn an NIT bid and an outside shot at their third MVC Tournament victory.