CEDAR FALLS (KWWL) -
There's one word that really describes this year's UNI basketball squad: experienced.
UNI Head Coach Ben Jacobson said, "I think that's one of the major differences with our team when we get started this year is the experience that we've got that we did not have a year ago."
Johnny Moran is gone -- but still the Panthers return 4 seniors, their top 4 scorers in Anthony James, Seth Tuttle, Marc Sonnen, and Jake Koch, and come in with 14 years of more combined experience than a season ago.
Panther Guard Marc Sonnen said, "I feel like we've got some guys on this team that are going to be really good, and I think we're going to be really deep as a team."
"With the 4 seniors we have now and all the returning guys , and even the redshirts that are going to have to step up this year," UNI Guard Anthony James said. " It's important to have that experience back, and especially with the NIT tournament from last year, we played a couple games and gained more experience.
UNI will once again be relying on some young guys as well. Deon Mitchell returns for his sophomore season, meanwhile Tuttle, last season's freshman of the year, is back bigger and stronger.
UNI Forward Jake Koch said, "I'm up to 225, trying to get to 230 before the season starts. Just being able to physically uphold my end of the block here every night that we have to play against another opponent."
With a better conditioned, more experienced team, confidence is obviously high among the Panthers.
UNI Forward Seth Tuttle said, "We want to go the big dance, and we want to play in the NCAA tournament. We want to play the big teams.and this year we have a great opportunity to do that."
