Great expectations

Seemingly every college basketball publication agrees: the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team is the preseason favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference.

With five out of five starters and nine out of 10 players returning from last season's MVC championship and NCAA Tournament-qualifying squad, that is no surprise.

However, head coach Ben Jacobson and his 2009-10 Panthers are not focusing on fulfilling others' expectations. They have their own.

"The goals that our team sets each year are no different this year than they were last year when we were picked to finish in the middle of our league," said Jacobson.

"Our expectation each year is that we get better."

This simple goal has been nailed into the heads of Jacobson's players since he took the head coaching position four seasons ago.

"It has been the theme. That is true," said sophomore guard Johnny Moran.

"That's what we work on every day, getting better. We can only control how much effort we put forth," said senior forward Adam Rodenberg.

Coach Jacobson noted his team's effort and focus on conditioning this past summer and fall as one thing that has in fact gotten better. That improvement, he hopes, will benefit the transition offense that became a major contributor to their success last season.

"We feel like playing in transition is going to be awful important again this year. That was one of the things this past year that we feel like made a real difference in the way we play on the offensive side of the ball," said Jacobson.

The speed of guards like Moran, senior Ali Farokhmanesh and junior Kwadzo Ahelegbe will play a factor in transition play. The Panthers could also find "big" contributions in transition from what, last season, would be considered an unexpected source.

"Jordan (Eglseder) is in much better shape. His conditioning is much better. He's ready to be an even bigger part of our offense," said Jacobson.

The seven-foot-tall senior slimmed his frame nearly 12 pounds since the 2008-09 campaign.

"(Being in better shape) means I can stay in longer and make a bigger impact at the end of the game," said Eglseder.

Senior Adam Koch will also look to make his presence felt in the Panther frontcourt. The returning first-team all-MVC selection, like Eglseder, used the off-season to develop another skill for his arsenal.

"At the end of the year last year, he was shooting the three-point shot very well, and he worked hard on that this summer. I think adding that to his game is going to make him an even more difficult match-up," said Jacobson.

Koch and Eglseder will play large roles for UNI this season, but Jacobson expects individual scoring contributions to remain fairly balanced. The Panthers' five top returning scorers last season averaged eight to 12 points per contest.

"I think a real key with that is that within those five…players is that any of them have the ability to jump up and get 18-20 points on a given night," said Jacobson.

Jacobson pointed to success at their home arena, the McLeod Center, as another key for a successful year.

"I think winning on your home court is the road to postseason play. You've got enough opportunities, and if you take care of your home floor and find a way to split on the road you're going to find yourself in postseason play."

Last season the Panthers were 10-4 at home. All of those four losses were single-digit point differences, and two of those outcomes were decided in overtime.

UNI will have their first opportunity to defend their home court this Saturday as they take on the Upper Iowa University Peacocks at 12:05 p.m.

Students and faculty are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes to the game as TC will select his three favorite wardrobes for cash prizes.