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Northern Iowa Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Panthers

By Harry Schroeder

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Head coach Ben Jacobson of the Northern Iowa Panthers reacts to a play on the court against the Bradley Braves during the final game of the MVC Basketball Tournament at the Enterprise Center on March 10, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Head coach Ben Jacobson of the Northern Iowa Panthers reacts to a play on the court against the Bradley Braves during the final game of the MVC Basketball Tournament at the Enterprise Center on March 10, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /
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Northern Iowa Basketball Tywhon Pickford Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Northern Iowa Basketball Tywhon Pickford Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Northern Iowa basketball has a better team this year than the one they brought into the season last year, but their preseason Missouri Valley Conference rankings will be worse. Last season the Panthers were the odds on favorite to capture the Valley crown.

They had the league’s returning Player of the Year in A.J. Green, an all-conference center in Austin Phyfe, a solid supporting cast filled with veteran talent, and a freshman guard that had just received the Player of the Year award in the State of Iowa.

UNI finished 10-15 and just 7-11 in league play.

So what happened?

Green missed all but three games with a hip injury, backup point guard Antwan Kimmons left the team to help his family during the pandemic, wing Trae Berhow played through some early season injuries and it took Phyfe a while to adjust to life without Green.

This season’s team is better than the team that would have entered last season. Every player of consequence returns and head coach Ben Jacobson has added some key pieces. Several players gained valuable experience last year and this season will be better versions of themselves.

Jacobson’s Panthers aren’t used to losing and are prepared to climb to the top of the Valley ladder once again. The four-time Valley Coach of the Year has won 301 games and is the longest-tenured MVC coach.

UNI is a proven winner and 2021-22 could be their year. Is the roster good enough to propel the Panthers to the top of the Missouri Valley?