roundballrecord

2013 UNI Basketball Preview

Biggest stories from

the 2012-2013 season

Why we can’t stop watching Golden State

++

10 Reasons the NBA has

changed since last seasonNovember 2013

Northern Iowa Panther Preview

Letter to the

Readers

inside thisissue

2 3The biggest stories from last season

8

Kobe Bryant: 30,000 Point

Club Member

9

inside letter to the readersRoundball Record is a publication that focuses on basketball - whether it be at the high school, collegiate, or professional level. At Roundball Record, we appreciate everything about the game of basketball, from the art of a perfected free-throw shot to the astounding power of a tomahawk dunk over a cowering denfender, we appreciate

it all. As you read through this issue, you’ll notice that everything besides the feature story is about the NBA. In this feature story, we take a close look at the University of Northern Iowa Men’s basketball team. Th is could be a breakout season for them and we wanted to be the fi rst to cover it. Th ank you for reading, enjoy!

roundballrecord

-Benjamin GippleRoundball Record Editor

Panthers

Roarwill

3

Panthers

4

UNI Panthers are “shooting” for new heights

this season

You may not know all the names, the records, or the ambitions of the team, but you know what thing for sure: it’s going to be an exciting season for Panther basketball. Th is season, the Panthers look to continue streak that has lasted 5 years so far. Th e team has had 20 wins in each of the last 5 seasons, the longest 20-win-season streak in the Missouri Valley Conference. Th e Panthers have had at least 18 wins in each of the last 10 seasons.

Another impressive record the is one that was made outside the bounds of the regular season. Th e Panthers have won postseason games in four straight seasons - a fi rst for the University. In the 2010 NCAA Tournament the UNI defeated UNLV and Kansas, in 2011 they added a win in the CIT, 2012 brought an NIT win against Saint Josephs, and in 2013 the team beat North Dakota, UIC, and Bradley in the CIT.

Although some of the big-name players from last season have graduated (Anthony James and Marc Sonnen), the Panthers returned nine letter-winners and two starters for the 2013-2014 season. Seth Tuttle, Junior, will be setting his sights on the 1,000 point mark as he currently has 735 points. Tuttle ranks as UNI’s number three all-time career fi eld goal percentage shooter.

Panther basketball fans will also have their eye on Junior point guard Dion Mitchell. Last season, Mitchell lead the team with 3.6 assists. Although his passing ability is a key strength for the team, he also has the ability to create open looks. “Anything we can do to get [Mitchell] freed up just a little, get him some daylight, he’s going to make good plays” said Panther

Coach Ben Jacobson to the Des Moines Register last season.

Although some of the big-name players from last season have graduated (Anthony James and Marc Sonnen), the Panthers returned nine letter-winners and two starters for the 2013-2014 season. Seth Tuttle, Junior, will be setting his sights on the 1,000 point mark as he currently has 735 points. Tuttle ranks as UNI’s number three all-time career fi eld goal

Panther basketball fans will also have their eye on Junior point guard Dion Mitchell. Last season, Mitchell lead the team with 3.6 assists. Although his passing ability is a key strength for the team, he also has the ability to create open looks. “Anything we can do to get [Mitchell] freed up just a little, get him some daylight, he’s going to make good plays” said Panther

Coach Ben Jacobson to the Des Moines Register last season.

CIT.

5

Seven new players were added to the Panther roster this off season. Freshmen include Klint Carlson, Ted Friendman, Robert Knar, Bennett Koch, and Jeremy Morgan. Transfers include Paul Jesperson from Virginia and Kasey Semler from Kirkwood CC.

Th e Panthers will face up against experienced, talented teams this year. UNI takes on Iowa State University on December 7th. Although the Panthers prevailed in their last matchup in 2011, UNI’s all-time record against the Cyclones is 35-12. Another aniticpated matchup will be Virginia Commonwealth on December 14th. A week later on December 21, the Panthers will take on Virgina.

Last year Creighton University left the conference. Becuase of this the Missouri Valley Conference is weaker at the top. Hopefully UNI will use this to their advantage this year and take over the #1 spot.

Th is year’s Paradise Jam Tournament will take place in the Virgin Islands in late Novemeber. Th e Panthers start off by taking on Loyola Marymount, and then most likely Maryland. Other teams in the tournament include Marist, Providence, Vanderbilt, Morgan State, and La Salle.

Panther fans have high expectations for the team this season and are confi dent that those expectations will be met or exceeded. See you at McLeod!

LAST YEAR: Saw action in 35 games and drew 32 starting assignments ... led the Panthers in assists (126) ... had 126 assists and 83 turnovers this season compared to 57 assists and 74 turn-overs as a freshman ... shot 44.0 percent this season compared to shooting 39.9 percent as a freshman ... had 13 double-fi gure scoring games as a sophomore ... ranked No. 5 on the team in scoring (9.3 ppg) ... scored 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting vs. Weber State in the CIT semifi nal (3/30) ... tied a career-high with 8 assists and added 10 points in UNI’s 90-77 CIT win over Bradley (3/26) ... tallied six assists and zero turn-overs in leading UNI to an 80-72 win vs. Illinois State (3/2) ... matched his career-high with eight assists at Southern Illinois (2/27) ... handed out a

career-high 8 assists in UNI’s 71-64 win at Drake (2/16) ... scored 12 points, including two 3-pointers, in UNI’s 61-54 win over Creighton (2/13) ... tied a career-high with 6 rebounds at Evansville (1/29) ... notched his third career 20-plus point scoring game in UNI’s 85-55 win over Drake (1/20) ... buried three 3-pointers in the win vs. the Bulldogs ... scored 15 pts and dished out 7 assists in UNI’s 84-53 win over Bradley (1/12) ... tallied the second 20-plus scoring game of his career with 23 pts vs. Iowa (12/15) ... in 13 minutes in a 76-59 win over Northern Colorado (12/5) .. sat out UNI’s 72-61 win over Milwaukee (12/1) with a bruised heel ... scored 18 points and made 8-of-9 FTs in UNI’s 52-47 loss to No. 19 Memphis (11/24) ... pulled down a season-high 4 rebounds in UNI’s 72-47 win over North Dakota (11/17).

Deon Mitchell

LAST YEAR: second-Team MVC Scholar-Athlete selection with 3.77 GPA in economics ... saw action in all 36 games ... ranked second on the team with 108 bench points as a junior ... ranked third on the squad with 34 off ensive rebounds ... his 24 made 3-pointers ranked No. 5 on the team ... tallied at least one rebound in 34 of the 36 games ... sank a pair of 3-pointers and scored 8 points in UNI’s CIT semifi nal vs. Weber State (3/30) ... his 3-pointer with 1:24 left gave UNI an eight-point lead en route to a 63-51 win over UIC (3/23) ... tied his season-high with 5 rebounds in the MVC Tournament vs. Illinois State (3/8) ... made three second-half 3-pointers and scored 11 points in UNI’s 71-64 win at Drake (2/16) ... also tied a season-high with 5 rebounds in the victory at Drake ... set a career-high with 3 assists in UNI’s 48-37 win over Missouri State (2/5) ... scored 8 points and grabbed 3 rebounds (two off ensive) in UNI’s win over Wichita State (2/2) ... grabbed 4 off ensive rebounds vs. Indiana State (1/2) ... knocked in both of his 3-point attempts in an 82-75 win over Saint Mary’s (12/23) ... tallied four rebounds in a 72-61 win over Milwaukee (12/1) ... drained two fi rst-half 3-pointers vs. No. 19-ranked Memphis (11/24) ... poured in a season-high 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting vs. North Dakota (11/17) ... averaged 7.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg in two exhibition victo-ries

Chip Rank

RecapBiggest stories from the 2012-2013 NBA

season

Lebron James is on his way to becoming a Top 5 player in NBA history. Even if James were to retire today, he would easily make the Top 15, boasting a resume that includes two NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVPs and four NBA MVPs.

Tim Duncan, the best power forward ever, didn’t look 37

for most of the NBA Finals. Unlike most

37 year old NBA players, Duncan

continues to be a driving force in San

Antonio. He out-performed everyone’s

expecations in the 2012-2013 NBA

Finals.

As the NBA style changes, so does the style of the older generation of players. Dirk Nowitzki, 35 years old, continues to become more and more of a finesse outside shooter. As Kobe Bryant, 35 years old, ages, he has transitioned from less of a scorer to more of a facilitator. Although Ray Allen, 38 years old, continues to shoot the long ball, he chose to do so in Maimi rather than Boston.

The Golden State Warriors have

become the NBA’s most dangerous

young team. As the team continues to

be led by a 3-point-shooting Stephen

Curry, Harrison Barnes and Klay

Thompason have been vital to the team’s success.

This group of guys has made Golden

State a serious Title contender.

After a unexpected and late playoffs push, the

Lakers proved everyone wrong and advanced to the playoffs. Duing the first round, against the Golden State Warriors,

Kobe Bryant tore his achilles. Bryant had been the most dominant force

in the NBA for the last 16 seasons. He is widely

accepted as the toughtest player and hardest worker

in the league. He proved this by shooting two free-

throws after his achilles tore. Although teary-eyed,

Bryant sunk both free-throws as Staples Center

erupted in applause for the star. He is anticipated

to return early next season.

Derek Rose, a top three point guard, tore his ACL late in the 2011-2012 playoffs. Due to this injury, the Chicago Bulls had to play the entire 2012-2013 season without their star. This greatly hurt them in terms of quikness, athletic ability, ball movement, and overall wins. Rose supported the team from the bench, but did not return all season, much to Chicago’s chagrin.

Jason Kidd was the New Jersey Nets’ go-to man for 7 seasons of his storied career.

Now, only days after his retirement,

he is announced to become coach

of that same team. Although the team

has since moved to Brooklyn, the

fan base remains consistent, and

Jason Kidd will be loved as a coach as he was as a player.

Davis Stern announced his retirement, after 30 faithful yeras of service as the NBA Commissioner. He will retire February 14, 2014, exactly 30 years to the day of starting. During his tenure, he has brought in $12 billion to NBA owners and has seen the likes of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and every superstar in between.

Drafted in 2009 by the Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden became an instand fan-favorite. His ferrocious beard has made an appearnce on t-shirts, mugs, and the like. As much as Oklahoma City Fans loved Harden, the Front Offi ce traded him to the Houston Rockets. Much to the dismay of Thunder fans, the team lost thier Sixth Man Of The Year. Harden signed a 5-year $80 million contract with Houston.

The Miami Heat emerge as NBA Champions after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in an epic 7-game Finals series. The Heat also won in 2012, making them back-to-back champions. Lebron James said, “Hasn’t been many people to win back-to-back championships. It’s so hard. It’s the hardest thing. I said last year it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, winning my first. Last year don’t even come close to what we’ve gone through in this postseason and in these Finals.

30,000On Wednesday, December 5, 2012, Kobe Bryant became the

youngest NBA player ever to score 30,000 points. Here’s a unique look at Kobe’s scoring throughout the years.

‘99

‘98

‘97

‘13

‘12

‘11

‘10

‘09

‘08

‘07

‘06

‘05

‘04

‘03

‘02

‘01

‘00

538

2,832

1,220996

1,485

1,938

2,019

2,4611,557

1,819

2,430

2,323

2,201

1,970

2,078

1,616

532

Kobe Bryant has scored 30 or more in 33 percent of his games played30+Point�Games

60+50+40+30+

5 GAMES

26 GAMES

114 GAMES

388 GAMES

30,000�Club38,387

30,016

31,419

32,292

36,928

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR

KARL MALONE

MICHAEL JORDAN

WILT CHAMBERLAIN

KOBEBRYANT

AgeBreakdown

19,860

8,397

1,759TEENS

20’s

30’s

30,000�Club38,387

30,016

31,419

32,292

36,928

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR

KARL MALONE

MICHAEL JORDAN

WILT CHAMBERLAIN

KOBEBRYANT

AgeBreakdownAgeBreakdownAge

19,860

8,397

1,759TEENS

20’s

30’s