Northern Iowa Panthers NCAA Basketball News

Iowa's Jarryd Cole applies some defensive pressure on Northern Iowa's Jordan Eglseder last night during a Prime Time League game in North Liberty.

UNI big man Jordan Eglseder rebounds over former Augustana player Dain Swetalla while Iowa's Brennan Cougill, left, looks on during PrimeTime League action at the North Liberty Community Center on Monday, June 22, 2009.

Brennan Cougill got a lesson in his second night of playing in the Prime Time League.

There wasn't much doubt about who would be the first player selected in the Prime Time League draft, not with the reigning MVP among the candidates.

Hoops, hoops and more hoops. Ali Farokhmanesh lives and breathes basketball, savoring the way he can completely control his practices, his gym schedule a ' every factor that helps him compete at the top.

So with March Madness well under way, here are a few thoughts on this year's NCAA field.

Adam Koch wasn't so sure he saw this coming - for himself or for his team. Perhaps they went hand in hand, Koch's development into one of the best players in one of the best mid-major conferences in the country and the University of Northern Iowa's run to the NCAA Tournament.

Northern Iowa's Johnny Moran made a 3-pointer. His teammate Kwadzo Ahelegbe hit a fadeaway jumper.

The UNI Panthers basketball team is now in Portland, Oregon ahead of Thursday's NCAA tournament game against Purdue.

Des Moines Register sports columnist Sean Keeler caught up with University of Northern Iowa redshirt sophomore Kerwin Dunham on Wednesday in Portland, Ore.

Jacobs graduate and Northern Iowa freshman guard Johnny Moran will be playing in the NCAA men's basketball tournament when the 12th seeded Panthers play No.

PORTLAND, Ore. _ Did you think it would be easy? Were you on the edge of your seat when Purdue 's seemingly in-the-bag West Region first-round victory over Northern Iowa became white-knuckle thriller? Then chill out and step into Boiler guard Chris Kramer's world, where pressure is left for others to fret over and drama becomes, on a Thursday ...

Drenched in sweat, engulfed by teammates and fans, a screaming Jordan Eglseder raised an index finger to the rafters.

Michigan 62, Clemson 59 - Shot after shot clanged off the rim, if they hit anything at all.

It's not on the same scale as Super Bowl Media Day, but one of my favorite things about covering the NCAA men's basketball tournament is press conference before the opening-round games.

Northern Iowa's most-recent shots at a clinched "one shining moment" in an NCAA tournament have fallen five points short of glitter.

Northern Iowa's Kwadzo Ahelegbe loses the ball against Purdue's Keaton Grant, left, and Marcus Green during the first half of a first-round men's NCAA College basketball tournament game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, March 19, 2009.

Competing in his first NCAA Tournament, Johnny Moran needs no added motivation. But that's exactly what the Northern Iowa freshman was provided when the brackets were revealed Sunday.

As a public service to Purdue coach Matt Painter , the following comes directly from Northern Iowa's media guide.

Ka-boom! My wallet! Priceline.com? $719. Book 'em, Danno! Wait. Maybe not. Travelocity.com? $768. Oh, baby, I love this team! But I hate these airfares! 'Yeah, I was going to go to Kansas City or Minneapolis, ...