Busting Brackets
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Missouri Valley Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

By TJ Miller

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 31: Loyola Ramblers fans cheer before the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal against the Michigan Wolverines at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 31: Loyola Ramblers fans cheer before the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal against the Michigan Wolverines at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – NOVEMBER 10: Bennett Koch #25 of the Northern Iowa Panthers takes an elbow to the head during their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on November 10, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – NOVEMBER 10: Bennett Koch #25 of the Northern Iowa Panthers takes an elbow to the head during their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on November 10, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

7. Northern Iowa Panthers

2017-18 season: 16-16 (7-11)

There’s no question Ben Jacobson can coach. He’s taken this program to 4 NCAA tournaments with multiple big wins in March.

However, the past couple of years have been rough by Jacobson’s standards. The Panthers 7 wins in league play are Jacobson’s fewest since taking over at UNI 2006. That said, this team had bright spots this past season. Northern Iowa scored a win over SMU and North Carolina State before giving difficult tests to Big East heavyweights Villanova and Xavier.

An 0-5 start to MVC would derail any momentum gained from non-conference play as the Panthers finished in the bottom half of the league.

The 2018-19 team has a good deal of roster turnover but will also feature some young talent. Senior forwards Bennett Koch and Klint Carlson graduated leaving a hefty hole in the frontcourt. Although point guard Juwan McCloud is transferring, the backcourt of this team should be its strength.

6’4 Tywhon Pickford (9.1ppg, 7.8 rpg) had a breakout freshman year and expectations will be high for his sophomore year. The bouncy guard can score above the rim and also displayed the ability to knock down outside shots on occasion. He will be joined by AJ Green, a top-100 ranked guard who is a huge get for Jacobson. Pickford and Green could be an entertaining duo to watch the next few years.