NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Iowa of last decade
By Joey Loose
5. Seth Tuttle – Northern Iowa
A four-year starter at Northern Iowa, Tuttle was no average player from Iowa. A 6’8 forward originally from Sheffield, he spent those four years with the Panthers under Ben Jacobson, turning himself into one of mid-major basketball’s very best players with a stunning senior season.
Tuttle was an important piece in all four seasons with the Panthers, starting all 136 games of his career. By his junior season, he was averaging greater than 15 points per game. He had a slew of double-doubles and helped lead Northern Iowa on a CIT run as a sophomore, but senior year is what made him a star. He averaged 15.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, leading Northern Iowa not only to an MVC Tournament title but a first-round win at the NCAA Tournament.
Tuttle was a force on the court and was named MVC Player of the Year, while also a Second Team All-American for his efforts. He led the MVC in field goal percentage and player efficiency while he remains the conference’s all-time leader in offensive rating. He was an efficient and explosive weapon that helped lead Northern Iowa back to the Big Dance. After a brief professional playing career, Tuttle joined his alma mater’s coaching staff and enters his second year as a full-time assistant.