Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Every Missouri Valley team’s most successful season since 2000

By Shea Irish

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Ali Farokhmanesh Northern Iowa Panthers (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Ali Farokhmanesh Northern Iowa Panthers (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Northern Iowa Panthers

Year: 2009-10

Record: 30-5 (15-3)

NCAA Tournament Results: 9 Seed- Advanced to the Sweet 16

-Defeated (8) UNLV 69-66 and (1) Kansas 69-67, Lost to (5) Michigan State 59-52.

Head Coach: Ben Jacobson

Notable Players:

Adam Koch (11.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG):

-2010 MVC Player of the Year.

Jordan Eglseder (11.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG):

-2010 MVC 2nd-Team Selection.

Ali Farokhmanesh (9.7 PPG, 77 3-PT):

-The guard would appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated after his heroic shot vs Kansas.

Season Summary:

The 2009-10 season would be a special one for the Northern Iowa Panthers. Starting the season 22-2 and having impressive victories over both in-state power conference schools (Iowa and Iowa State) on their resume, they reached the #19 ranking in the AP Poll by mid-February. That mark was the highest in program history at the time.

Winning the MVC Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships, the Panthers from Cedar Falls were just getting started. Severely under seeded as a (9), they took down UNLV in the Round of 64, setting up a showdown with National Championship favorite Kansas. As a prohibitive underdog heading into the matchup, they would cap off the dream season by slaying Goliath.

After jumping out to a 36-28 halftime lead, the Panthers would have to hold off a furious Kansas comeback. The Jayhawks rallied back to a 1 point deficit in the closing minute until Ali Farokhmanesh splashed the dagger 3 heard round the world with 35 seconds left to play. The rest is history.

Another Season Worth Honorable Mention: In 2014-15 the Panthers went 31-4 (16-2) and received the highest seed (5) in school history. They would win one tournament game before being knocked off by (4) Louisville in the Round of 32.