U-N-I tries to keep their 13-game home winning streak alive tonight (Wednesday) against Creighton. Panther coach Greg McDermott says Creighton will be tough, even after losing Iowa native Nate Funk to an injury. He says Creighton has done a “remarkable” job in finding ways to win without their best player. McDermott says Dana Altman is a coach who can find a way to win without his star player and says he expects a great game.
McDermott says the Blue Jays shooting has kept them in games. He says Creighton is shooting 48-percent from three point range in their five conference games — something McDermott says is unheard of. Not only would a win extend the Panther’s home win streak — but it would also help them to stay on top of the Valley. McDermott says, “This is an important game ’cause it allows us to get a two-game separation with them.” McDermott says the two wins last week at Wichita State and Missouri State gives U-N-I a leg up on them if they can control their home floor. U-N-I is now 14-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference. Southern Illinois is the only conference team without a loss at 4-0.
Altman says U-N-I’s success is due to their experience. He says he’s impressed with the way the Panthers are playing and says the six guys playing have been together a long time and have real good timing.
Altman says a key will be keeping M-V-C Player of the Week Ben Jacobson from getting out of hand. Altman says Jacobson is really good at getting his own shots and confident enough to keep shooting if he misses a few shots. Altman says, “You don’t stop him, you just try to slow him down a little bit and it’ll be a problem for us.” Creighton is 9-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference. The game starts at 7:05 in the UNI-Dome.