CEDAR FALLS, Ia. — A smile slid onto Ben Jacobson’s chiseled face as he got another opportunity to bring the conversation back to the fundamentals. Northern Iowa’s head man could talk practice intricacies all day long.
Jacobson unsurprisingly starts there when dissecting how these Panthers (10-1) have growled during this nonconference slate.
“The only thing I talk about is get up and work hard,” Jacobson said. “These guys have done a great job of that.”
Individual analysis reveals numerous improvements. One could point to a more focused Trae Berhow; welcomed senior surges from Justin Dahl and Spencer Haldeman; healthy bodies for Tywhon Pickford and Austin Phyfe; and increased leadership from AJ Green.