McLeod Center hosts history Saturday

Albert Chen of Sports Illustrated called it “the best-kept secret in college basketball” and a “program that should be taken seriously come tournament time.” Andrew Logue of The Des Moines Register called it “the state’s team of the decade.”
   
The team has set multiple school records including highest Division I national ranking (No. 18 in ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll), consecutive wins (15) and wins in a season (24). Pending the outcome of the final home game Saturday, they can also set a program-best mark for consecutive home victories (currently at 13; the record is 14).
Last week they became the first team in their program’s history to clinch an outright Missouri Valley Conference regular season title as they defeated Creighton University at the McLeod Center for the first time ever.
   
The 2009-2010 University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball squad could very well be the best basketball team that has called Cedar Falls ‘home.’ And you, unless you’re willing to travel out of state, only have one more chance to see them in person.
   
Following its Saturday night game, UNI will begin preparation for “Arch Madness,” the MVC tournament that will take place in St. Louis, Mo., March 4-7.
   
The MVC tournament champion is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament. However, some MVC teams, most notably UNI, have made considerable cases to earn at-large bids.
   
The Panthers are not only a virtual shoe-in for the NCAA Tournament, but are very likely to qualify with a seed as high as any other UNI men’s basketball squad ever. ESPN “Bracketology” analyst Joe Lunardi last projected the Panthers to qualify as a No. 6 seed. That spot will rise if UNI can win its second straight MVC Tournament and insure its spot in the tourney for the fifth time in seven seasons.
   
UNI’s stock may also rise if they win Saturday as they host the hottest team in the conference. Illinois State University has won five-straight games and feature last season’s MVC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, Osiris Eldridge.
   
Saturday night, five Panther seniors will be honored in the final game of their careers at the McLeod Center. In the last four seasons, these players have helped UNI men’s basketball earn more than 80 wins, two MVC championships and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
   
Since this year’s senior class helped open the McLeod Center in 2006, UNI has won 44 games. A win Saturday will not only make it 45 but will help propel the current Panther dynasty that looks to prove elite status among the storied eras of UNI men’s basketball.