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Missouri Valley Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

By Jason Burgess

Mar 7, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Loyola Ramblers pose for a photo after defeating the Drake Bulldogs in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Loyola Ramblers pose for a photo after defeating the Drake Bulldogs in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Missouri Valley Basketball Northern Iowa Panthers AJ Green Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Missouri Valley Basketball Northern Iowa Panthers AJ Green Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Northern Iowa Panthers

2020-21 record: 10-15 overall, 7-11 in the MVC

For Ben Jacobsen’s Northern Iowa Panthers last season should’ve been one of excitement and big post-season aspirations after going 25-6 and winning the MVC regular-season title the year before. But, the injury bug hit the Panthers early and in a big way when Player of the Year guard AJ Green went down with a season-ending hip injury after just three games averaging over 22 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.

The team would go just 10-12 the rest of the way and then would have their season ended by Covid-19 during the MVC conference tournament. Along with the return of Green, the other good news is that the Panthers return everyone of consequence from last season including Trae Berhow, Austin Phyfe, Noah Carter, and Bowen Born who all averaged over 11 points per game.

Add to them key role players in guards Nate Heise, Tywhon Pickford, and a returning Antwan Kimmons who only played in three games last season and the Panthers are loaded for a rebound season and ready to reclaim the title they relinquished last season.

With everyone back at Northern Iowa and not a ton of new faces to fit in, the biggest key for the Panthers this season will likely be the stability of normalcy. The Panthers should be considered one of the favorites to climb the Missouri Valley mountain top in 2021-22.