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| Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 https://www.ramblermania.net:443/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3359 |
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| Author: | JCT [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:02 am ] |
| Post subject: | Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
Sunday, February 13, 2022 3:00 p.m. Gentile Arena, Chicago, Illinois The Ramblers face off with Northern Iowa on Super Bowl Sunday for a nationally-televised game on ESPN2 that will determine the top spot in the MVC standings. The Panthers have won 10 of their last 12 games and five in a row to take the top spot in the MVC by a fraction of a game. Loyola is looking to rebound from a 68-61 rock-fight loss at Bradley and re-assert their hold on the top seed for their final Arch Madness. UNI was originally thought to be one of the top teams headed into the 2021-22 season. The Panthers were picked to finish third in the MVC preseason poll, and had nearly as many first-place picks (6) as the defending-champion Ramblers (8). But UNI had some terrible losses to open the season-- dropping their home season opener to Nicholls State and a not-even-close loss at home to Vermont-- and looked badly out of sorts as they limped to a 4-7 start to the season. Since the start of the new year, it's been a whole new UNI team. The dean of MVC Coaches, Ben Jacobson, totally re-fitted his lineup and his approach. The Panthers began the season with a two forward, three guard lineup, and went through several starting combinations. By the third game of the conference season, Jacobson settled on a winning starting combo: one forward and four guards. But instead of the forward you might think (*cough* Phyfe *cough*), 6'6" sophomore forward Noah Carter became the lone starting frontcourt man. Most MVC fans know that 6'4" junior guard AJ Green is a fantastic player-- the Larry Bird Player of the Year in 2019-20 as a sophomore-- who missed most of 20-21 with a hip injury. Yes, he's back and playing great for the Panthers, leading the team in ppg (18.3), assists (45), free throws (98), free throw percentage (89.9%), and made threes (66). But the most interesting wrinkle this year is the addition of Noah Carter to the starting five, and going with four guards. Carter started the first game of the season and didn't play well, and was relegated to sixth man. He was restored to the starting five in the third conference game, and since then has averaged 17.0 ppg, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and shooting 62.8% inside the arc and 88.1% on freebies. Six-foot-four senior guard Tywhon Pickford, 6'5" guard Trae Berhow, and 6'4" freshman Nate Heise round out the starting lineup. Pickford starts and contributes 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, but 5'11" freshman Bowen Born gets more minutes and makes more of an offensive contribution. Born averages 6.2 points and 1.8 assists, and is fantastic from the free throw line (88.9%). Berhow averages 9.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and shoots threes at a 38.2% clip. Nate Heise is the most fascinating of the guards, though, as he leads the team in rebounding (5.2 per game) and adds 9.3 points, a good outside stroke (39.3% on threes), and shot-blocking ability (third on the team with 9). At 6'4", Heise's small forward/power forward skill set creates a lot of mismatches. Super senior Austin Phyfe's playing time is reduces to about 14 minutes per game, but he continues to contribute (5.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game). Six-foot sophomore guard Antwan Kimmons (who's given Loyola fits in the past), 6'9" redshirt freshman forward Cole Henry, and 6'6" freshman forward Tytan Anderson also get considerable playing time. If you're thinking of UNI as they were several years ago-- a conventional team with big, lumbering forwards and three-point-shooting Midwestern gym rats-- there's still some of that. It's in UNI's DNA. This new-look UNI, however, is a very different animal. They are able to play and win games scoring 85+ points in regulation, or slow things down to beat SIU while scoring only 53. They have four guards who can rebound, a mobile front court player who can shoot outside or drive and finish. They're built for MVC mis-matches, and aside from a two point loss at Bradley (prior to their re-tooling), a three-point OT loss at Valpo, and an OT home loss to Drake, they're on target to win the league. Loyola and UNI usually have fierce matchups. The Ramblers lead the series, 13-11, and eight of the last 12 games between the two have gone to OT or have been decided by six points or less. This one is for first place and a leg-up on a tie-breaker, yes, but also to get the Ramblers back on track and focused on the MVC title race. Loyola game notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... _13_22.pdf UNI game notes: https://unipanthers.com/documents/2022/ ... Loyola.pdf TV/Streaming video: ESPN2 https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=01 ... af89ec103e Radio/Streaming audio: https://loyolaramblers.com/watch/?Live=106&type=Live Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=369450 Vegas odds: Loyola by 8.5 |
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| Author: | brot4britu [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 9:11 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
8.5 faves !!! Too much but I like it just the same GO RAMBLERS |
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| Author: | ahunte1 [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 9:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
Concerned about the Phyfe vs Hutty matchup, but overall it does seem like we should have a lot of advantages. We have defenders who should be able to handle their versatile guys like Berhow and Carter. The bigger lineups from Bradley gave us a lot of trouble. UNI can't really play that game. |
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| Author: | GoRamblers [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 10:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
We need this game badly. And we have to do it without Kennedy |
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| Author: | JCT [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
brot4britu wrote: 8.5 faves !!! Too much but I like it just the same GO RAMBLERS Opened at 8.5, but it's down to 6 or 5.5 at some places. |
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| Author: | Rambler88 [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
8.5 is too high. If there is one thing that this season has shown us is that the difference between the Ramblers and the other MVC teams is not that great. Most of the MVC teams are good. Every MVC game I have seen between the top half of the league comes down to a few possessions. |
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| Author: | JArsy_22 [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
I’m feeling good about this one. Let’s get Gentile rocking and get a W. Huge huge huge game. |
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| Author: | Blers42 [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 1:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
Looking at those FT percentages from UNI really makes me hope this game isn’t a nail biter down the stretch. |
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| Author: | goramblers2011 [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 3:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
Oh boy. Looks like we are going to get ticky tack BS calls today. I didn't think Braden or Hall fouled. Crowd is pretty disappointing, especially for a "sellout". If this thing started at 11 or 1, likely closer to 90% full. |
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| Author: | ahunte1 [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 3:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread -- 2-13-2022 |
Jake really didn't like that charge call. Looked obvious to me. How did it look on TV? |
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