University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Wednesday, November 1
Madison, Wisconsin
7 p.m.
University of Northern Iowa
at
Wisconsin (Exhib.)
UNI Ready for Exhibition at Wisconsin
10/31/2017 10:44:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Complete Release (PDF)
UNI at Wisconsin (Exhibition)
Wed., Nov. 1, 2017 • 7 p.m. | VIDEO | AUDIO | STATS
Madison, Wis. • Kohl Center
SERIES NOTES
All-Times Series: Wisconsin leads 4-1
Last Meeting: Wisconsin 57, UNI 52 (March 18, 2005)
• UNI last played in Madison in the 1982-83 season.
• UNI defeated Wisconsin in 1983-84, 60-59.
UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL STORYLINES
• UNI will take on the Wisconsin Badgers in a charity exhibition Wed., Nov. 1, at the Koch Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
• Tickets for the event were free. Fans in attendance will be asked to donate to Team Rubicon, an organization founded by former Badger football student-athlete and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jake Wood that unites the skills and experience of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams to disaster areas. Team Rubicon has current relief operations underway in Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico and at the wildfires in California.
• Wisconsin holds a 4-1 lead in the all-time series with UNI. The Badgers posted wins in Madison in 1981-82 (65-53) and 1982-83 (76-69), in Las Vegas in 1987-88 (64-56) and in Oklahoma City in the 2005 NCAA Tournament (57-52). UNI's lone victory was in Cedar Falls in the 1983-84 season (60-59).
• UNI has been picked to finish second in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference poll.
• Seniors Bennett Koch and Klint Carlson have earned preseason all-MVC recognition. Koch earned preseason first-team all-MVC honors, while Carlson was named to the second-team all-MVC squad.
UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. WISCONSIN
UNI MBB NEWS/NOTES
The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball will look to the return of three starters and 12 letterwinners as the Panthers embark on the 2017-18 season.
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson is entering his 12th season at the helm of the Panther program having posted a career mark of 234-134.
Senior Bennett Koch is UNI's top returning scorer at 11.0 points per game. In his last 14 games last season, Koch averaged a team-best 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game. Koch also blocked 16 shots in his last 14 games last year.
Senior Klint Carlson averaged more points per game for the third consecutive season (8.3 ppg). Carlson ranked No. 4 in the league at 36.6 minutes per game.
Senior Ted Friedman earned second-team all-MVC Scholar-Athlete status with a 3.97 cumulative GPA while majoring in business economics, financial management and psychology. Friedman grabbed 19 offensive rebounds to rank third on the squad.
Sophomore Spencer Haldeman earned a spot on the MVC's All-Freshman Team after averaging 7.6 ppg. Haldeman drained 49 three-pointers to ranks second on the squad. Haldeman's 49 made 3-pointers ranks as the third-highest total ever for a UNI freshman.
Junior Wyatt Lohaus will return after taking a medical redshirt in the 2016-17 season for an injured ankle. Lohaus averaged 4.5 ppg in six games before sitting out the remainder of the season. In the 2015-16 season, Lohaus averaged 4.0 ppg and shot 77.8 percent from the free throw line.
Sophomore Juwan McCloud started 28 of 30 games and ranked second on the team in steals (32). McCloud averaged 3.7 ppg and dished out 45 assists on the season.
Senior Hunter Rhodes came off the bench and drained 17 three-pointers, while averaging 3.5 ppg. Sophomore Luke McDonnell saw action in 23 games and ranked fourth on the squad with 18 offensive rebounds. Sophomore Isaiah Brown played in 26 games and averaged 1.8 ppg. Sophomore Justin Dahl grabbed 1.1 rpg in 13 games. Sophomore Lincoln Conrey saw action in nine games. Senior guard Rafael de Souza played in 10 games.
UNI signed a trio of players in Austin Phyfe, Tywhon Pickford and Miles Wentzien. Phyfe earned all-state honors at Waverly-Shell Rock High School. Pickford finished in the top 10 of Minnesota's Mr. Basketball. Wentzien earned JUCO All-America honors at Kirkwood Community College.
TEAM RUBICON
Fans in attendance Wednesday will be asked to donate to Team Rubicon, an organization founded by former Badger football student-athlete and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jake Wood that unites the skills and experience of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams to disaster areas.
Team Rubicon has current relief operations underway in Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico and at the wildfires in California.
WISCONSIN BADGERS
Wisconsin finished last season with a mark of 27-10.
The Badgers are currently enjoying a streak of 19 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, tied for the fifth-longest streak in tournament history.
Last season, Wisconsin reached the Sweet 16 for the 4th-consecutive year and the sixth time in the
last seven seasons.
Head coach Greg Gard is just the third coach in the last 20 years to pilot his team to the Sweet 16
in each of his first two seasons, joining UCLA's Steve Lavin (1996-97) and Gonzaga's Mark Few (2000-01).
ALL-TIME SERIES
Wisconsin holds a 4-1 lead in the all-time series with UNI.
The Badgers posted wins in Madison in 1981-82 (65-53) and 1982-83 (76-69), in Las Vegas in 1987-88 (64-56) and in Oklahoma City in the 2005 NCAA Tournament (57-52).
UNI's lone victory was in Cedar Falls in the 1983-84 season (60-59).
TOP-FOUR FINISHES IN MVC
UNI extended its streak of top-four finishes in the Missouri Valley Conference to a ninth straight season with its third-place finish in 2016-17.
IN THE UPPER HALF
UNI recorded its 14th straight upper-half finish Missouri Valley Conference.
It is the longest active streak in the league.
Prior to the 2003-04 season, when the current streak began, UNI had finished in the top half of the MVC on two occasions (1993-94 - 5th, 1996-97 - 4th) since joining the league in 1991-92.
14 STRAIGHT YEARS OF 9 OR MORE MVC WINS
UNI also extended its streak of nine or more MVC victories in a season to 14 straight years. It is the longest active streak in the league.
Wichita State has the second-longest active streak at eight.
UNI in the MVC Since 2003-04
2003-04 - 12-6 (T-2nd)
2004-05 - 11-7 (T-3rd)
2005-06 - 11-7 (T-5th)
2006-07 - 9-9 (5th)
2007-08 - 9-9 (T-5th)
2008-09 - 14-4 (T-1st)
2009-10 - 15-3 (1st)
2010-11 - 10-8 (T-4th)
2011-12 - 9-9 (T-3rd)
2012-13 - 11-7 (3rd)
2013-14 - 10-8 (3rd)
2014-15 - 16-2 (2nd)
2015-16 - 11-7 (T-4th)
2016-17 - 9-9 (T-3rd)
UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 561 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.
TURNING IT AROUND
UNI became only the third team in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference to begin league play at 0-5 and bounce back to win its next five games.
Previously, only two teams in MVC history had lost their first five league games and rebounded to win their next five. Iowa State started 0-5 in 1915 and won its next five; Washburn started 0-5 in 1936 and won its next five.
JAKE RANKS AMONG VALLEY'S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACHES
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson ranks No. 6 in the Missouri Valley Conference history in victories with 234.
Jacobson ranks No. 7 in league history in MVC games only with 123 wins.
Henry Iba tops both lists with 486 total wins and 187 league wins.
MVC Coaching Victories
1. Henry P. Iba (Oklahoma State) 486
2. Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis) 337
3. Dana Altman (Creighton) 327
4. Gregg Marshall (Wichita State) 261
5. Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU) 248
6. Ben Jacobson (UNI) 234
7. Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois) 225
8. Ralph Miller (Wichita State) 220
9. Maury John (Drake) 211
10. Joe Stowell (Bradley) 197
MVC Coaching Wins (Conf. Games Only)
1. Henry P. Iba (Oklahoma State) 187
2. Dana Altman (Creighton) 182
3. Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis) 163
4. Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU) 134
Gregg Marshall (Wichita State) 134
6. Dr. F.C. Allen (Kansas) 126
7. Ben Jacobson (UNI) 123
8. Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois) 111
9. Jim Molinari (Bradley) 110
10. Maurice John (Drake) 95
WINNING TRADITION AT MCLEOD
UNI will be playing its 12th season in the McLeod Center and the Panthers have made winning a priority in their home venue.
UNI has posted an all-time mark of 133-35 (.792) in games played in the McLeod Center.
UNI secured a school-record 16 home wins in the 2012-13 season.
UNI has posted a trio of perfect home seasons since moving to NCAA Division I. UNI was a perfect 14-0 in both the 1983-84 and 2009-10 seasons and then UNI notched a 15-0 mark at home in 2014-15.
UNI set its home-court win streak of 21 consecutive victories between the 2008-09 and 2010-11 seasons.
The McLeod Center opened in November 2006.
9 HOME WINS IN 11 STRAIGHT YRS
UNI has won nine or more home games in the McLeod Center in 11 consecutive seasons.
UNI's Home Record Since 2006-07
Year Record
2006-07 9-4
2007-08 11-6
2008-09 11-4
2009-10 14-0
2010-11 13-5
2011-12 13-3
2012-13 16-4
2013-14 11-2
2014-15 15-0
2015-16 11-3
2016-17 9-4
EIGHT NCAA TRIPS FOR UNI
UNI made its eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2016. The Panthers are 5-8 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
UNI's All-Time NCAA Tourney Results
1990 - W, 74-71 vs. #3 Missouri
1990 - L, 84-81 vs. #6 Minnesota
2004 - L, 65-60 vs. #3 Georgia Tech
2005 - L, 57-52 vs. #6 Wisconsin
2006 - L, 54-49 vs. #7 Georgetown
2009 - L, 61-56 vs. #5 Purdue
2010 - W, 69-66 vs. #8 UNLV
2010 - W, 69-67 vs. #1 Kansas
2010 - L, 59-52 vs. #5 Michigan State
2015 - W, 71-54 vs. #12 Wyoming
2015 - L, 66-53 vs. #4 Louisville
2016 - W, 75-72 vs. #6 Texas
2016 - L, 92-88 (2OT) vs. #3 Texas A&M
7TH NCAA APPEARANCE SINCE 2004
The Panthers have made seven NCAA appearances since the 2004 season.
That is the most NCAA Tournament apperance since 2004 for any current member of the MVC.
MVC'S NCAA Appearances Since 2004
UNI (7) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016
Wichita St. (7) - 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Southern Illinois (4) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Creighton (4) - 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013
Indiana State (1) - 2011
Drake (1) - 2008
Bradley (1) - 2006
PANTHERS PICKED SECOND IN MVC PRESEASON POLL
UNI has been slotted to finish second in the preseason 2017-18 Missouri Valley Conference poll.
UNI received eight first-place votes in the preseason poll. It is the most preseason first-place votes in a year that the Panthers were not picked as the preseason favorites.
MVC Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1. Missouri State (30) 381
2. UNI (8) 337
3. Loyola (1) 321
4. Illinois State (1) 256
5. Southern Illinois 226
6. Valparaiso 214
7. Bradley 182
8. Indiana State 116
9. Evansville 88
10. Drake 79
KOCH, CARLSON EARN ALL-MVC PRESEASON HONORS
University of Northern Iowa seniors Bennett Koch and Klint Carlson have been named to the Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference teams.
Koch earned first-team all-MVC honors, while Carlson was selected to the second team.
Koch is UNI's top returning scorer at 11.0 points per game. In his last 14 games last season, Koch averaged a team-best 14.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game.
Carlson averaged more points per game for the third consecutive season (8.3 ppg). He ranked No. 4 in the league at 36.6 minutes per game.
RADIO INFORMATION
This year's UNI men's basketball games can be heard on the UNI Sports Radio Network, with KXEL (1540 AM, Waterloo, Iowa) serving as flagship station. Affiliates include KBGG (1700 AM, Des Moines), KGYM (1600 AM, Cedar Rapids), KQCR (98.9 FM, Hampton), KILJ (105.5 FM, Mount Pleasant), KFXE (1160 AM, Decorah-Waukon) and KVFD (1400 AM, Fort Dodge).
Long-time Panthers announcer Gary Rima handles play-by-play duties, while Kevin Boyle serves as analyst. Head coach Ben Jacobson's weekly radio call-in show will air on Thursdays, beginning in December at 6 p.m., live from The Other Place in Cedar Falls.
WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson or a member of his coaching staff will be available at the weekly press conference held each Monday beginning at noon in the McLeod Center's Alumni Suite.
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER & YOUTUBE
Fans of UNI Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube will have access to updates, score recaps and special announcements.
UNI Athletics on Facebook will give fans the chance to connect with other Panther fans, as well as providing information on upcoming events. Followers on Twitter will be able to access news and scoring updates. Followers on YouTube will be able to access game highlights and press conference footage.
FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/UNIAthletics
www.facebook.com/UNIMensBasketball
TWITTER
www.twitter.com/UNIAthletics
www.twittercom/UNIMBB
YOUTUBE
www.youtube.com/UNIAthletics
INSTAGRAM
www.instagram.com/UNIAthletics
UNI at Wisconsin (Exhibition)
Wed., Nov. 1, 2017 • 7 p.m. | VIDEO | AUDIO | STATS
Madison, Wis. • Kohl Center
SERIES NOTES
All-Times Series: Wisconsin leads 4-1
Last Meeting: Wisconsin 57, UNI 52 (March 18, 2005)
• UNI last played in Madison in the 1982-83 season.
• UNI defeated Wisconsin in 1983-84, 60-59.
UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL STORYLINES
• UNI will take on the Wisconsin Badgers in a charity exhibition Wed., Nov. 1, at the Koch Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
• Tickets for the event were free. Fans in attendance will be asked to donate to Team Rubicon, an organization founded by former Badger football student-athlete and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jake Wood that unites the skills and experience of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams to disaster areas. Team Rubicon has current relief operations underway in Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico and at the wildfires in California.
• Wisconsin holds a 4-1 lead in the all-time series with UNI. The Badgers posted wins in Madison in 1981-82 (65-53) and 1982-83 (76-69), in Las Vegas in 1987-88 (64-56) and in Oklahoma City in the 2005 NCAA Tournament (57-52). UNI's lone victory was in Cedar Falls in the 1983-84 season (60-59).
• UNI has been picked to finish second in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference poll.
• Seniors Bennett Koch and Klint Carlson have earned preseason all-MVC recognition. Koch earned preseason first-team all-MVC honors, while Carlson was named to the second-team all-MVC squad.
UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. WISCONSIN
UNI MBB NEWS/NOTES
The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball will look to the return of three starters and 12 letterwinners as the Panthers embark on the 2017-18 season.
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson is entering his 12th season at the helm of the Panther program having posted a career mark of 234-134.
Senior Bennett Koch is UNI's top returning scorer at 11.0 points per game. In his last 14 games last season, Koch averaged a team-best 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game. Koch also blocked 16 shots in his last 14 games last year.
Senior Klint Carlson averaged more points per game for the third consecutive season (8.3 ppg). Carlson ranked No. 4 in the league at 36.6 minutes per game.
Senior Ted Friedman earned second-team all-MVC Scholar-Athlete status with a 3.97 cumulative GPA while majoring in business economics, financial management and psychology. Friedman grabbed 19 offensive rebounds to rank third on the squad.
Sophomore Spencer Haldeman earned a spot on the MVC's All-Freshman Team after averaging 7.6 ppg. Haldeman drained 49 three-pointers to ranks second on the squad. Haldeman's 49 made 3-pointers ranks as the third-highest total ever for a UNI freshman.
Junior Wyatt Lohaus will return after taking a medical redshirt in the 2016-17 season for an injured ankle. Lohaus averaged 4.5 ppg in six games before sitting out the remainder of the season. In the 2015-16 season, Lohaus averaged 4.0 ppg and shot 77.8 percent from the free throw line.
Sophomore Juwan McCloud started 28 of 30 games and ranked second on the team in steals (32). McCloud averaged 3.7 ppg and dished out 45 assists on the season.
Senior Hunter Rhodes came off the bench and drained 17 three-pointers, while averaging 3.5 ppg. Sophomore Luke McDonnell saw action in 23 games and ranked fourth on the squad with 18 offensive rebounds. Sophomore Isaiah Brown played in 26 games and averaged 1.8 ppg. Sophomore Justin Dahl grabbed 1.1 rpg in 13 games. Sophomore Lincoln Conrey saw action in nine games. Senior guard Rafael de Souza played in 10 games.
UNI signed a trio of players in Austin Phyfe, Tywhon Pickford and Miles Wentzien. Phyfe earned all-state honors at Waverly-Shell Rock High School. Pickford finished in the top 10 of Minnesota's Mr. Basketball. Wentzien earned JUCO All-America honors at Kirkwood Community College.
TEAM RUBICON
Fans in attendance Wednesday will be asked to donate to Team Rubicon, an organization founded by former Badger football student-athlete and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jake Wood that unites the skills and experience of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams to disaster areas.
Team Rubicon has current relief operations underway in Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico and at the wildfires in California.
WISCONSIN BADGERS
Wisconsin finished last season with a mark of 27-10.
The Badgers are currently enjoying a streak of 19 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, tied for the fifth-longest streak in tournament history.
Last season, Wisconsin reached the Sweet 16 for the 4th-consecutive year and the sixth time in the
last seven seasons.
Head coach Greg Gard is just the third coach in the last 20 years to pilot his team to the Sweet 16
in each of his first two seasons, joining UCLA's Steve Lavin (1996-97) and Gonzaga's Mark Few (2000-01).
ALL-TIME SERIES
Wisconsin holds a 4-1 lead in the all-time series with UNI.
The Badgers posted wins in Madison in 1981-82 (65-53) and 1982-83 (76-69), in Las Vegas in 1987-88 (64-56) and in Oklahoma City in the 2005 NCAA Tournament (57-52).
UNI's lone victory was in Cedar Falls in the 1983-84 season (60-59).
TOP-FOUR FINISHES IN MVC
UNI extended its streak of top-four finishes in the Missouri Valley Conference to a ninth straight season with its third-place finish in 2016-17.
IN THE UPPER HALF
UNI recorded its 14th straight upper-half finish Missouri Valley Conference.
It is the longest active streak in the league.
Prior to the 2003-04 season, when the current streak began, UNI had finished in the top half of the MVC on two occasions (1993-94 - 5th, 1996-97 - 4th) since joining the league in 1991-92.
14 STRAIGHT YEARS OF 9 OR MORE MVC WINS
UNI also extended its streak of nine or more MVC victories in a season to 14 straight years. It is the longest active streak in the league.
Wichita State has the second-longest active streak at eight.
UNI in the MVC Since 2003-04
2003-04 - 12-6 (T-2nd)
2004-05 - 11-7 (T-3rd)
2005-06 - 11-7 (T-5th)
2006-07 - 9-9 (5th)
2007-08 - 9-9 (T-5th)
2008-09 - 14-4 (T-1st)
2009-10 - 15-3 (1st)
2010-11 - 10-8 (T-4th)
2011-12 - 9-9 (T-3rd)
2012-13 - 11-7 (3rd)
2013-14 - 10-8 (3rd)
2014-15 - 16-2 (2nd)
2015-16 - 11-7 (T-4th)
2016-17 - 9-9 (T-3rd)
UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 561 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.
TURNING IT AROUND
UNI became only the third team in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference to begin league play at 0-5 and bounce back to win its next five games.
Previously, only two teams in MVC history had lost their first five league games and rebounded to win their next five. Iowa State started 0-5 in 1915 and won its next five; Washburn started 0-5 in 1936 and won its next five.
JAKE RANKS AMONG VALLEY'S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACHES
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson ranks No. 6 in the Missouri Valley Conference history in victories with 234.
Jacobson ranks No. 7 in league history in MVC games only with 123 wins.
Henry Iba tops both lists with 486 total wins and 187 league wins.
MVC Coaching Victories
1. Henry P. Iba (Oklahoma State) 486
2. Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis) 337
3. Dana Altman (Creighton) 327
4. Gregg Marshall (Wichita State) 261
5. Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU) 248
6. Ben Jacobson (UNI) 234
7. Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois) 225
8. Ralph Miller (Wichita State) 220
9. Maury John (Drake) 211
10. Joe Stowell (Bradley) 197
MVC Coaching Wins (Conf. Games Only)
1. Henry P. Iba (Oklahoma State) 187
2. Dana Altman (Creighton) 182
3. Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis) 163
4. Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU) 134
Gregg Marshall (Wichita State) 134
6. Dr. F.C. Allen (Kansas) 126
7. Ben Jacobson (UNI) 123
8. Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois) 111
9. Jim Molinari (Bradley) 110
10. Maurice John (Drake) 95
WINNING TRADITION AT MCLEOD
UNI will be playing its 12th season in the McLeod Center and the Panthers have made winning a priority in their home venue.
UNI has posted an all-time mark of 133-35 (.792) in games played in the McLeod Center.
UNI secured a school-record 16 home wins in the 2012-13 season.
UNI has posted a trio of perfect home seasons since moving to NCAA Division I. UNI was a perfect 14-0 in both the 1983-84 and 2009-10 seasons and then UNI notched a 15-0 mark at home in 2014-15.
UNI set its home-court win streak of 21 consecutive victories between the 2008-09 and 2010-11 seasons.
The McLeod Center opened in November 2006.
9 HOME WINS IN 11 STRAIGHT YRS
UNI has won nine or more home games in the McLeod Center in 11 consecutive seasons.
UNI's Home Record Since 2006-07
Year Record
2006-07 9-4
2007-08 11-6
2008-09 11-4
2009-10 14-0
2010-11 13-5
2011-12 13-3
2012-13 16-4
2013-14 11-2
2014-15 15-0
2015-16 11-3
2016-17 9-4
EIGHT NCAA TRIPS FOR UNI
UNI made its eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2016. The Panthers are 5-8 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
UNI's All-Time NCAA Tourney Results
1990 - W, 74-71 vs. #3 Missouri
1990 - L, 84-81 vs. #6 Minnesota
2004 - L, 65-60 vs. #3 Georgia Tech
2005 - L, 57-52 vs. #6 Wisconsin
2006 - L, 54-49 vs. #7 Georgetown
2009 - L, 61-56 vs. #5 Purdue
2010 - W, 69-66 vs. #8 UNLV
2010 - W, 69-67 vs. #1 Kansas
2010 - L, 59-52 vs. #5 Michigan State
2015 - W, 71-54 vs. #12 Wyoming
2015 - L, 66-53 vs. #4 Louisville
2016 - W, 75-72 vs. #6 Texas
2016 - L, 92-88 (2OT) vs. #3 Texas A&M
7TH NCAA APPEARANCE SINCE 2004
The Panthers have made seven NCAA appearances since the 2004 season.
That is the most NCAA Tournament apperance since 2004 for any current member of the MVC.
MVC'S NCAA Appearances Since 2004
UNI (7) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016
Wichita St. (7) - 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Southern Illinois (4) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Creighton (4) - 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013
Indiana State (1) - 2011
Drake (1) - 2008
Bradley (1) - 2006
PANTHERS PICKED SECOND IN MVC PRESEASON POLL
UNI has been slotted to finish second in the preseason 2017-18 Missouri Valley Conference poll.
UNI received eight first-place votes in the preseason poll. It is the most preseason first-place votes in a year that the Panthers were not picked as the preseason favorites.
MVC Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1. Missouri State (30) 381
2. UNI (8) 337
3. Loyola (1) 321
4. Illinois State (1) 256
5. Southern Illinois 226
6. Valparaiso 214
7. Bradley 182
8. Indiana State 116
9. Evansville 88
10. Drake 79
KOCH, CARLSON EARN ALL-MVC PRESEASON HONORS
University of Northern Iowa seniors Bennett Koch and Klint Carlson have been named to the Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference teams.
Koch earned first-team all-MVC honors, while Carlson was selected to the second team.
Koch is UNI's top returning scorer at 11.0 points per game. In his last 14 games last season, Koch averaged a team-best 14.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game.
Carlson averaged more points per game for the third consecutive season (8.3 ppg). He ranked No. 4 in the league at 36.6 minutes per game.
RADIO INFORMATION
This year's UNI men's basketball games can be heard on the UNI Sports Radio Network, with KXEL (1540 AM, Waterloo, Iowa) serving as flagship station. Affiliates include KBGG (1700 AM, Des Moines), KGYM (1600 AM, Cedar Rapids), KQCR (98.9 FM, Hampton), KILJ (105.5 FM, Mount Pleasant), KFXE (1160 AM, Decorah-Waukon) and KVFD (1400 AM, Fort Dodge).
Long-time Panthers announcer Gary Rima handles play-by-play duties, while Kevin Boyle serves as analyst. Head coach Ben Jacobson's weekly radio call-in show will air on Thursdays, beginning in December at 6 p.m., live from The Other Place in Cedar Falls.
WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson or a member of his coaching staff will be available at the weekly press conference held each Monday beginning at noon in the McLeod Center's Alumni Suite.
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER & YOUTUBE
Fans of UNI Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube will have access to updates, score recaps and special announcements.
UNI Athletics on Facebook will give fans the chance to connect with other Panther fans, as well as providing information on upcoming events. Followers on Twitter will be able to access news and scoring updates. Followers on YouTube will be able to access game highlights and press conference footage.
www.facebook.com/UNIAthletics
www.facebook.com/UNIMensBasketball
www.twitter.com/UNIAthletics
www.twittercom/UNIMBB
YOUTUBE
www.youtube.com/UNIAthletics
www.instagram.com/UNIAthletics
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