UNI's Bennett Koch and Wyatt Lohaus break down the Panthers' 77-67 loss to No. 8 Xavier Dargan Southard/Press-Citizen
CEDAR FALLS, Ia. — After pushing through a rigorous nonconference schedule en route to an 8-4 showing, the Northern Iowa men’s basketball team begins Missouri Valley Conference play Thursday, hosting Southern Illinois.
The Panthers tested themselves more than any other Valley squad and came out on the other side mostly OK. UNI’s schedule to date ranks sixth toughest in the country, according to Jeff Sagarin, and the Panthers’ four losses have been to three top-15 teams and a surging Iowa State squad.