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The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team has had a rich history in college basketball. The team has made eight appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, with a record of 5-8. In the 2014-15 season, the Panthers achieved the highest ranking in their history, reaching #10 in the AP Poll and #9 in the Coaches Poll. The team has also made three appearances in the NIT, with a record of 2-3, and four appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. The Panthers' success has been driven by notable players and coaches, such as Jacobson, who led the team to significant victories and milestones.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Northern Iowa Panthers |
| University | University of Northern Iowa |
| Location | Cedar Falls, Iowa |
| Conference | Missouri Valley Conference |
| NCAA Division I Appearances | 8 |
| NCAA Tournament Record | 5-8 |
| NIT Appearances | 3 |
| NIT Record | 2-3 |
| NAIA National Tournament Appearances | 1946, 1948, 1949, 1953 |
| NAIA Tournament Record | 2-4 |
| Highest Ranking | #10 (AP Poll), #9 (Coaches Poll) |
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What You'll Learn
Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team history
The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team represents the University of Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The team is currently a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and has appeared eight times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2016. The Panthers have a record of 5–8 in these tournaments.
The Panthers have also made the NIT three times, with a record of 2-3. Additionally, they have made the NAIA National Tournament four times in 1946, 1948, 1949, and 1953, with a combined record of 2-4. In 2007, the team represented the United States at the World University Games, finishing ninth.
Ben Jacobson, the head coach of the Panthers during the 2009-10 season, led the team to a successful season. The Panthers won the regular season championship and the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament, earning an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. This season marked the team's run into the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament, highlighted by an upset of top national seed Kansas. ESPN columnist Pat Forde called the Panthers' win "the biggest tourney upset in years."
In the 2014–15 season, Jacobson led the Panthers to their highest ranking in school history, with a #10 ranking in the AP Poll and a #9 ranking in the Coaches Poll. The team achieved the most wins in the school's history with 31. Jacobson has been awarded the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year award three times, in 2009, 2010, and 2015. On November 21, 2015, Jacobson led UNI to a significant victory over #1 North Carolina, marking another milestone in the program's history.
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Northern Iowa's highest-ranking seasons
The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team has had several notable seasons where they achieved high rankings and significant victories. Here is an overview of some of Northern Iowa's highest-ranking seasons:
2014-15 Season:
During the 2014-15 season, the Northern Iowa Panthers achieved their highest ranking in school history. Under the leadership of coach Jacobson, the team climbed to #10 in the AP rankings and #9 in the Coaches Poll. This season also marked the most wins in the school's history, with a total of 31 victories. Jacobson's team defeated notable opponents such as his alma mater, the University of North Dakota, and #1 North Carolina, which was one of the biggest wins in program history. Jacobson's accomplishments earned him the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year award in 2015.
2009-10 Season:
The 2009-10 season was highlighted by Jacobson's tactical prowess as the Panthers made a remarkable run in the NCAA tournament. They advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, pulling off an upset victory over the top national seed, Kansas. ESPN.com columnist Pat Forde hailed the win as "the biggest tourney upset in years," specifically praising the gutsy performance of Panthers guard Ali Farokhmanesh. Jacobson's achievements during this season were recognized with the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year award in 2010.
Overall, the Northern Iowa Panthers have made eight appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, with their most recent appearance being in 2016. They have a record of 5-8 in the NCAA tournament and have also made three appearances in the NIT, with a record of 2-3. The team's success in basketball has brought recognition to the University of Northern Iowa located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and has established a strong basketball program within the Missouri Valley Conference.
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Northern Iowa's recent results
The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team has had a rich history in college basketball, with several notable wins and appearances in national tournaments. The team's recent results indicate a strong performance, consistently ranking well and making appearances in the NIT and NCAA tournaments.
In their most recent game, the Northern Iowa Panthers suffered a defeat to SMU, with a final score of 73-63. B.J. Edwards stood out for the Panthers, putting up impressive numbers with 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. This loss comes on the back of a close 64-63 defeat to Valparaiso, where the 11th-seeded Beacons were led by All Wright's 29 points.
The Northern Iowa Panthers have also faced recent setbacks against Bradley and Drake. The team lost to Bradley with a score of 73-56, with Zek Montgomery leading Bradley's offense with 13 points. In a tight contest against Drake, the Panthers fell short 64-58, despite a strong performance by Bennett Stirtz, who scored 26 points, including five crucial points in overtime.
Despite these recent losses, the Northern Iowa Panthers have had some remarkable achievements in recent years. In the 2014-15 season, the team achieved its highest ranking in school history, reaching #10 in the AP Poll and #9 in the Coaches Poll. During that season, the Panthers accumulated an impressive 31 wins, marking the most victorious season in the school's history. Jacobson, the head coach, played a pivotal role in the team's success, earning the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year award in 2015.
The Northern Iowa Panthers have consistently performed well in national tournaments. They have appeared in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament eight times, most recently in 2016, and hold a record of 5-8. Additionally, the team has made it to the NIT three times, with a record of 2-3. Their overall record since 1980-81 stands at 721-636, showcasing their long-term competitiveness.
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Northern Iowa's performance in the NIT
The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team has made it to the NIT three times, with a record of 2-3. The team is based at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and is currently a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
In 2025, the UNI men's basketball team played in the National Invitation Tournament, travelling to Dallas for a first-round contest against SMU. The Panthers lost this game 73-63, despite a strong performance by B.J. Edwards, who scored 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. This loss came after the team was defeated in the Missouri Valley Tournament quarterfinals, finishing the season with a 20-12 overall record.
The Panthers' highest ranking in school history was in the 2014-15 season, where they ranked #10 in the AP and #9 in the Coaches Poll. This was also the season that the team achieved the most wins in school history, with 31. The coach, Jacobson, has led the team to several notable victories, including over #1 North Carolina in 2015, and against top national seed Kansas in the 2009-10 season, where the Panthers made it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, the Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team has a strong history in the NIT, with several notable victories and a record of 2-3 in their three appearances.
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Northern Iowa's performance in the NCAA tournament
The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team has had several notable performances in the NCAA Tournament over the years. The team represents the University of Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and competes in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Panthers have appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament eight times, most recently in 2016. Their overall record in the NCAA tournament stands at 5-8. However, their most successful season came in 2009-10 when they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. This run was highlighted by an upset victory over the top national seed, Kansas. ESPN columnist Pat Forde hailed the win as "the biggest tourney upset in years," crediting Panthers guard Ali Farokhmanesh for his clutch performance.
In addition to their NCAA tournament appearances, the Panthers have also achieved success in other competitions. They have made the NIT (National Invitation Tournament) three times, with a record of 2-3. The team also participated in the NAIA National Tournament in 1946, 1948, 1949, and 1953, combining for a 2-4 record in those appearances.
The Panthers have had several notable coaching achievements as well. Jacobson, the head coach, led the team to its highest ranking in school history during the 2014-15 season, reaching #10 in the AP poll and #9 in the Coaches Poll. That same season, UNI achieved the most wins in school history with 31. Jacobson has also been recognised as the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year on three occasions: 2009, 2010, and 2015.
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Frequently asked questions
The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team achieved their highest ranking in school history in the 2014-15 season, when they were ranked #10 in the AP Poll and #9 in the Coaches Poll.
The Northern Iowa Panthers have made the NCAA tournament eight times, with a record of 5-8.
The Northern Iowa Panthers have made the NIT three times, with a record of 2-3.
The University of Northern Iowa is currently a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
