Northern Iowa may have to cut sports

Northern Iowa became the darlings of college basketball last season, making a memorable run to the Sweet 16, capped off by an unforgettable shot by The Sultan of Swish, Ali Farokhmanesh, that helped the Panthers eliminate Kansas.

But according to an article from Friday's Des Moines Register, the Panthers may be forced to drop their status as a member of Division I athletics.

The recession has hit a lot of schools hard. The University of New Orleans, for example, will be dropping all of their athletic programs from the D-I level to D-III. UNI is getting hurt as well, as they have already cut their century old baseball team, and that could just be the beginning.

This is one of the lasting images of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
(photo credit: ESPN)

Right now, the UNI athletics program receives $4.45 million of their $11.6 million -- or 38% -- budget from the University's general fund, a number that the school wants reduced to 30-35% by 2015. If the contributions the athletics department receives from the general fund dips much lower than it is right now, the results could be disappointing for athletes at the school. Colleges and Universities, at their core, are businesses, and business can only operate for so long in the red.

What's interesting, however, is that this article comes out just a month and a half after Dana O'Neil wrote this splendid piece on how beneficial the Farokhmanesh shot and the Panther's upset was for the University.

Look, going to college is not about partying or going to sporting events or trying to bring home as many sorority girls as possible. Its about getting an education, and getting the best one possible given your circumstances, monetary and academic. I get that.

But, when everything else is equal, for a very large population of high school seniors, the determining factor for picking a institution of higher learning will be the place with the more desirable extra-curriculars. Perfect example is a friend of mine who was picking law schools. His choices came down to Georgetown and Texas. The two schools both have very good law schools, and tuition for law school is never cheap. He picked Texas because of the nightlife in Austin and the Longhorn football and basketball games. And I guarantee he's not the only kid whose decision is made based on something as inconsequential to the real world as a school's athletics program.

I have no clue how to run a college or university, but that's the point that the UNI folks seem to be missing.

Farokhmanesh hit his game-winner on a Saturday night. How many students do you think had their best night on the semester on that Saturday? How many of those students do you think told all their friends about how great that night was? How many younger brothers and younger sisters, and the friends of those younger brothers and younger sisters, heard about how much fun that night was and immediately considered Northern Iowa as a school to get an education and to, for lack of a better term, party your ass off?

As O'Neil's article indicated, Farokhmanesh's shot and UNI's run to the Sweet 16 piqued interest in the school. In all likelihood, it will increase the number of kids that want to go to the school. Simply put, athletics that are competitive on a national level, especially for sports like basketball and football, are a way to increase the number and quality of students that want to enroll in your university.

Northern Iowa has one of the better basketball programs in the Missouri Valley, which is routinely one of the most competitive mid-major leagues. They also have a football program that is routinely one of the best in the country at the I-AA level.

It would be a shame to see them lose their sports programs.

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Ali Farokhmanesh surfaces in Switzerland

If anyone became the darling of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, it was Northern Iowa. More specifically, it was Ali "The Sultan of Swish" Farokhmanesh, a six-foot-nothing Iranian-American with a jumper.

It was Farokhmanesh who hit the game-winner against UNLV that sent UNI into a second round match-up with Kansas. And it was Farokhmanesh who hit the shot heard round the world, a clutch, terribly ill-advised three with 36 seconds left to put the Panthers up four and help seal a trip to the Sweet 16.


It was one of those moments that make the NCAA Tournament so great. Not just because it was an upset, or because it was a clutch shot, but because UNI was a team with no pros knocking off a Kansas team with four or five draft picks on it.

Well, let me rephrase that.

UNI had no NBA players.

Because two former Panthers -- MVC player of the year Adam Koch and Farokhmanesh -- signed contracts to play overseas. Koch will be heading to Nymburk, a town right outside of Prague, to play professionally in the Czech League.

As for Farokhmanesh?

He's headed to Switzerland, where he will play for a team in Massagano.

Now, this may not be as glorious as the NBA. Neither player will likely make as much money as Cole Aldrich or Xavier Henry, two Jayhawks that went in the lottery. But it is a professional career. And I don't think anyone would complain about making a living playing the sport they love.


We'll always have March 20th, 2010.

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Ali Farokhmanesh, aka The Sultan of Swish, helps Northern Iowa upset Kansas

I don't think that I was the only one that assumed Kansas was going to win this game.

I'm not talking about in the pregame either.

I'm talking about after Northern Iowa had controlled the first 30 minutes of the game. I'm talking about after the Panthers had built a lead that grew as big as 12. I'm talking about after a Johnny Moran three with 4:07 left in this game put an end to a Jayhawk run and pushed the Panther lead back to 59-53. I'm talking about after an Adam Koch dunk in traffic made the score 63-56 with 1:17 left on the clock.

The biggest shot of Ali Farokhmanesh's life.
(photo credit: Gazette Online)

The Panthers, for 30 minutes, looked so poised and so composed, immune to the pressures of playing the No. 1 team in the country in March.

They controlled the pace of the game, calmly running their offense and protecting the ball. They routinely found the open man and, more importantly, hit shots when they were there. Defensively, they took the Jayhawks out of everything they wanted to do, stymieing an offense that was as efficient as any in the country this season.

That all changed in the last 10 minutes.

Kansas, clearly the more athletic team (and its not even close), threw on a press that rattled the Panthers. Instead of a slow-paced battle based on the ability to execute on both ends, the game turned into a haggard, up-and-down, glorified AAU game.

UNI lost their ability to play with the poise that allowed them to build the lead.

And the Jayhawks took full advantage.

The Panthers were unable to get the ball over half court. Every pass seemed destined to end up in the Jayhawks hands. There was no chance UNI was going to be able to hang on to this game.

That all changed thanks to the "Sultan of Swish".

Before I go any further, let me rewind to Thursday. UNI and UNLV were locked in a great game that was overshadowed by a day's worth of fantastic finishes. UNI had blown a late nine point lead against the Rebels, allowing UNLV to tie the game on an Oscar Bellfield three. On the ensuing possession, the Panthers didn't call a timeout, instead working the ball around UNLV's pressure before Ali Farokhmanesh found himself open 28 feet from the basket.

Yes, he was 28 feet from the hoop. Yes, he was open.

So he fired.

Swish.

Farokhmanesh buried the three with 4.9 seconds left and UNI would hold on to beat the Rebels and advance to face Kansas.

Fast-forwarding back to today, Kansas had scored six points in the blink of an eye to trim a 63-56 deficit to 63-62 on a Sherron Collins floater with just 42 seconds left on the clock. Following a Bill Self timeout, Kansas put their press back on. If you don't call Cedar Falls home, you probably expected the worst.

But Northern Iowa broke the press. Jake Koch inbounded the ball to Adam Koch, who avoided a trap sending the ball right back to his brother. Jake nearly threw the ball away as he hit Kwadzo Ahelegbe who then found Farokhmanesh up the sideline. Farokhmanesh was wide open on the three point line and, well, as they say, the rest is history:



Now lets call a spade, a spade.

That shot was idiotic.

Up one, 35 seconds left in the game, 28 on the shot clock, no offensive rebounders.

Simply put, you DO NOT take that shot.

But the "Sultan of Swish" did. And he swished it.

It takes stones to take that shot. It takes stones to make that shot. Shots like that are the reason that March Madness is called March "Madness". Shots like that are what makes this month the best month of the year. Shots like that are what makes legends out of Iranian-Americans playing for a mid-major team in a state known for their corn, not their hoops.

Farokhmanesh is not going to be on an NBA roster. Ever. A six-foot-nothing guard that can't do much other than shoot it is not a pro prospect. He doesn't have agents knocking down his door. Draft Express not only doesn't have a profile for Farokhmanesh, they probably have never heard of him.

Ten years down the road, there may be 30 guys playing in this tournament that will be cashing NBA checks.

But Farokhmanesh's shot -- well, shots -- are going to be what people remember from this tournament.

And if they're not, then we all have something to look forward too.
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2009-2010 Team Preview: Northern Iowa

2008-2009 Record: 23-11, 14-4 MVC (t-1st)

Key Losses: Travis Brown (5.1 ppg)

Key Returners: Adam Koch (12.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Kwadzo Ahelegbe (11.8 ppg, 3.1 apg), Jordan Egsleder (10.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg)

Newcomers: Tyler Land, Matt Morrison, Marc Sonnen, Antonio Jones

Northern Iowa, the defending MVC champs, return their entire team.
(photo credit: Rush the Court)

Northern Iowa came into last season with tempered expectations. They had a young roster, starting three guys under 6'2". But they went on to earn a share of the MVC regular season title, win the league's conference tournament, and give Purdue everything they could handle in the first round of the dance. The best news? They return everyone from last year's team.

The Panther's strength is going to be on the interior. Seven foot senior Jordan Eglseder will anchor the front line. He only managed 19 mpg last season, but was so effective when he was on the court, averaging 10.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg. His biggest issue is conditioning (he is listed at 280 lb), as he got tired during last season (hence the limited number of minutes). Blessed with a soft touch around the rim, if Eglseder can get his body into shape, he should be able to hold his own against any center in the country. Joining him up front is 6'8" senior forward Adam Koch. Koch is your stereotypical MVC big man. He has a solid face-up game, can knock down a three, and despite being an under-whelming athlete, Koch is able to hold his own on the glass and in the post. Koch was the Panthers leading scorer last season, and given the mismatch he presents on the offensive end, there is no reason to suspect that will change.

The Panthers will have plenty of depth up front. Lucas O'Rear, a 6'6" junior forward built like a linebacker, is as tough as they come. The reigning MVC sixth man of the year, O'Rear provides Ben Jacobson's team with defense, hustle, and grit on the interior. Given the Panthers defensive and deliberate style of play, O'Rear is the perfect glue guy. Kerwin Dunham is another 6'6" junior. Dunham is mure of a perimeter player than O'Rear and can play either the three or the four spot. His versatility provides Jacobson with the ability to play small. When Dunham shares the front court with Koch, it creates match-up problems all over the court and a ton of spacing inside as both players are threats from deep. Against bigger teams, Dunham can join Koch and Eglseder on the court and slide out to the perimeter. Also expect 6'6" Tyler Lange (a true freshman), 6'10" Austin Pehl, and 6'9" Jake Koch (both redshirt freshmen) to see time as well.

With Illinois State and Creighton both losing their leading scorer from last season, UNI may now have the best back court in the conference. The reason? All three starters are able to score. Kwadzo Ahlegbe will be running the point for Jacobson. Ahlegbe is much more of a penetrator than either of his back court mates. The biggest issue with Ahlegbe at the point is he is not the best creator. When he does drive, he has a tendency to make some poor decisions passing the ball (3.1 apg vs. 2.7 t/o's). Joining Ahlegbe in the back court is 6'0" senior Ali Farokhmanesh and 6'1" sophomore Jonny Moran. Farokhmanesh is the team's best perimeter shooter, knocking down 37.9% of his three's last season. Moran is a shooter as well, but he struggled to consistently find his stroke as a freshman. I expect a pretty big season out of Moran. Where Faroknmanesh is mostly a spot-up shooter, Moran is a bit more of an all-around player. He hits the boards, he plays defense, he is a better passer. If Moran can find consistency with his perimeter stroke, he could end up being one of the best perimeter players in the league.

Jacobson will add three more guards to the rotation this season. Anthony James was expected to be a contributor last season, but after battling mono for the year, decided to sit out and redshirt. Matt Morrison is a tough kid (decorated high school football QB) that should be able to play a role for the Panthers. He will bring some defense and hustle to the back court. The best of the bunch, however, is probably Marc Sonnen. At 6'3", Sonnen is the biggest guard Jacobson will have at his disposal. A good athlete, Sonnen is the kind of point guard coaches love. He can get to the rim where he is big and strong enough to finish through contact, but he is at his best when he is running a team and creating for others. He should get some minutes behind Ahlegbe, giving the Panthers a nice change of pace.

Outlook: It would be tough to say that the Panthers are not the favorite in the MVC as they get their top six scorers back. What makes the Panthers so good is the style they play. It all starts on the defensive end, where they pressure the ball on the perimeter. Offensively, they are one of the best in the country at executing their offense. Jacobson has an experienced and smart group here. They set excellent screens, and their shooters know how to set up those screens and get open. What would normally be a detriment to a mid-major team - lacking a true go-to scorer - actually plays to UNI's advantage. You can't take a break on the defensive end against them, because everyone on the floor is going to be a threat to score and to knock down a three. In a nutshell, UNI is a poor man's Purdue.
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