CEDAR FALLS, Ia. — It’s just a start, yes — simply the opening tip in a long and grueling year.
But for a Northern Iowa men’s basketball team that entered the season replacing three starters while weaving various newcomers into impactful roles, the initial results reveal growth and positivity. The Panthers (3-1) — which went 2-1 in last weekend’s Tire Pros Invitational and hung tough with top-10 Xavier — say they're ahead of schedule.
“We’re further along than a lot of us thought we were,” senior guard Jeremy Morgan said. “A lot of guys being young — coming in and not really sure what everybody’s role is yet — we went down to the tournament and were confident, played together.