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NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Butler, Villanova rising for the Big East

By Lukas Harkins

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 21: Collin Gillespie #2 and Jermaine Samuels #23 of the Villanova Wildcats react after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks at the Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 56-55. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 21: Collin Gillespie #2 and Jermaine Samuels #23 of the Villanova Wildcats react after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks at the Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 56-55. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 10: Coach Jacobson of the Panthers reacts. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 10: Coach Jacobson of the Panthers reacts. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Northern Iowa just continues to be one of the most impressive teams in the country so far this season. After securing a home win over Marshall during this past week while being forced to play at an up-tempo pace, the Panthers moved to 11-1 on the year. While their strength of schedule might not be the most challenging in the country, it is important to mention that their lone loss came to a fellow ranked team in West Virginia and they boast a pair of strong victories over South Carolina and Colorado.

Northern Iowa has already secured four wins (five games) outside of Cedar Falls and that includes three true road victories. This team is steadily building a strong resume for a potential NCAA Tournament at-large bid but it is also the clear-cut favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference moving forward.

Head coach Ben Jacobson’s squad features a highly-efficient offense that excels in the halfcourt by picking apart opposing schemes and letting it fly from beyond the arc consistently. To this point in the season, UNI ranks 26th nationally in 3PAr while still managing to connect on 36.9% of those attempts.

This elite 3-point shooting can also largely be contributed to one player as Trae Berhow has been absolutely lights-out to begin this season. The 6-foot-5 junior guard has been the epitome of efficiency so far this season as he is posting 15.5 points per game on 38-for-68 (55.9%) shooting from beyond the arc. He is also shooting 66.7% on twos and 87.0% at the free-throw line.

Joining him in double-figures as scorers on this team are AJ Green (16.6 points) and Spencer Haldeman (10.0 points).

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