Semi-OT: UNI basketball / Ben Jacobson

[HawkeyesAndCubs1023]

DISCLAIMER: I have not watched a single second of a UNI basketball game this season. However, I saw that the Panthers concluded a sub-.500 regular season, and it got me thinking:

With 45 seconds left in the 2016 NCAA Tournament Second Round game against Texas A&M, the Panthers had a 12-point lead and were headed to the Sweet 16. Creighton had left the MVC, Wichita State was leaving, and UNI was poised to rule that league for years to come. Jacobson was one of the best coaches in the country and if he ever expressed a desire to leave, he would have a number of P5's eager to snap him up.

We all know what happened after that.

Since that time, they have had multiple sub-.500 seasons, and have failed to make the NCAA Tournament, even with a generational player who is now on the Milwaukee Bucks.

While I have not watched any of their games, one thing that jumps out to me is that they give up a lot more points than they used to. In their heyday, they played a deliberate pace with lockdown defense.

As somebody who does not follow it closely, I am fascinated to know why their program was has been unable to capitalize on what should have been theirs for the taking.

Thoughts?

 

[unipanther1999]

This year is injuries, plain and simple. The team is very young. When Nate Heise went down, that was kind of it for the Panthers this year. Not having Austin Phyfe really hurts. Hoping to have both back next year.

Defense is still really important, but they score more points than they used to. Seth Tuttle brought in a more modern offense he learned playing pro ball and serves as a defacto offensive coordinator, calling most of the plays.

They are down this year, but were MVC champs the previous two seasons. The conference has been down with all of the transition, but that is starting to even out. They got upset in the conference tournament last year. They got screwed by the St. Louis board of health the previous year, and they year before that the tournament was cancelled - and I think they had a decent shot at an at-large.

UNI's identity is essentially unchanged under Jacobson and I think they will bounce back with a strong year next season if everyone is healthy.

 

[MitchLL]

UNI and Jacobsen are a good fit.

He's probably never going to get a bigger gig and maybe doesn't even want one.

 

[unipanther1999]

UNI and Jacobsen are a good fit.

He's probably never going to get a bigger gig and maybe doesn't even want one.

I think there was a time where a job like Wisconsin or Minnesota would have made a lot of sense for him, but that's probably not happening without UNI going on another successful tournament run. And even then, I think the situation would have to be a really good fit. His family seems happy and settled in the Cedar Valley.

 

[warriors dad]

I really like there trajectory next few years. Team was very young. Looked good at times but then reallity hit them in the face. Go Hawks!! Go Panthers!!

 

[MitchLL]

I think there was a time where a job like Wisconsin or Minnesota would have made a lot of sense for him, but that's probably not happening without UNI going on another successful tournament run. And even then, I think the situation would have to be a really good fit. His family seems happy and settled in the Cedar Valley.

I remember Ben being at a youth basketball tournament a few years ago when his kid played. Maybe family plays a part as well?

 

[NI hawk]

DISCLAIMER: I have not watched a single second of a UNI basketball game this season. However, I saw that the Panthers concluded a sub-.500 regular season, and it got me thinking:

With 45 seconds left in the 2016 NCAA Tournament Second Round game against Texas A&M, the Panthers had a 12-point lead and were headed to the Sweet 16. Creighton had left the MVC, Wichita State was leaving, and UNI was poised to rule that league for years to come. Jacobson was one of the best coaches in the country and if he ever expressed a desire to leave, he would have a number of P5's eager to snap him up.

We all know what happened after that.

Since that time, they have had multiple sub-.500 seasons, and have failed to make the NCAA Tournament, even with a generational player who is now on the Milwaukee Bucks.

While I have not watched any of their games, one thing that jumps out to me is that they give up a lot more points than they used to. In their heyday, they played a deliberate pace with lockdown defense.

As somebody who does not follow it closely, I am fascinated to know why their program was has been unable to capitalize on what should have been theirs for the taking.

Thoughts?

Actually had a 12 point lead with 35 seconds left.
2019 blew the largest lead ever in Missouri Valley championship game.
2020 Only one seed to lose to eight seed Valley tournament history.

 

[warriors dad]

Actually had a 12 point lead with 35 seconds left.
2019 blew the largest lead ever in Missouri Valley championship game.
2020 Only one seed to lose to eight seed Valley tournament history.

His end of games when leading are terrible. Just keep playing but they allways seem to get out of there offense and play not to loose.

 

[Bishop1971]

DISCLAIMER: I have not watched a single second of a UNI basketball game this season. However, I saw that the Panthers concluded a sub-.500 regular season, and it got me thinking:

With 45 seconds left in the 2016 NCAA Tournament Second Round game against Texas A&M, the Panthers had a 12-point lead and were headed to the Sweet 16. Creighton had left the MVC, Wichita State was leaving, and UNI was poised to rule that league for years to come. Jacobson was one of the best coaches in the country and if he ever expressed a desire to leave, he would have a number of P5's eager to snap him up.

We all know what happened after that.

Since that time, they have had multiple sub-.500 seasons, and have failed to make the NCAA Tournament, even with a generational player who is now on the Milwaukee Bucks.

While I have not watched any of their games, one thing that jumps out to me is that they give up a lot more points than they used to. In their heyday, they played a deliberate pace with lockdown defense.

As somebody who does not follow it closely, I am fascinated to know why their program was has been unable to capitalize on what should have been theirs for the taking.

Thoughts?

They started out rough, then went on a good run and were vying for 1st place before losing a key player. Also have a player that had covid and will never be the same again. They are a young team and should be better next season. I've seen a lot of their games despite not being a uni fan but family is and brother is director of athletic training. They always play solid defense and were expected to finish at the bottom of the league this year. I think they are 2 years away from the tournament again and have proven they can play with the power 5 teams in the tournament. Coach Ben is definitely the real deal. And i may be biased as i really think the world of him. But he runs solid practices and are a defensive team. I'm not a fan of their offense they run but they're history of winning conference and tournament titles gives Ben plenty of leeway. I've seen him coach big games and he has a great basketball mind. I only played div 3 before going to Iowa but have seen quite a few different coaches running practices and Ben is as good as any I've seen. Honestly i thought they were having a goid season until just a bit ago since the last i was paying attention to their record they were battling for first place maybe half way through the season. I can't say enough good things about coach Jacobson

 

[Bishop1971]

UNI and Jacobsen are a good fit.

He's probably never going to get a bigger gig and maybe doesn't even want one.

He doesn't want a different job. Loves UNI. And although they have lost some games they probably should have won there are plenty of games the opposite has happened. He turned down some high profile jobs so he'll be at uni for awhile. As said by a previous poster they are a team that will be on the rise. We'll see them in the tournament again in the next few years.

 

[MikeMD]

His end of games when leading are terrible. Just keep playing but they allways seem to get out of there offense and play not to loose.

Sounds like a football team I've seen play for a long time.

 

[shudaddy]

Sounds like a football team I've seen play for a long time.

Purdue fan, huh?

Iowa gets too conservative sometimes, but I’ll take that over the Boilers who’ve lost recent games by continuing to throw & not burning clock.