As the Wyoming Cowboys prepare for their first NCAA tournament game in 13 years on Friday, let's take a look at their opponent, the Northern Iowa Panthers.

Like Wyoming, Northern Iowa plays in a mid-major conference, the Missouri Valley Conference. Unlike the Cowboys, the Panthers have been ranked in the Top 25 for most of the season, peaking at #10 after a 16 game winning streak earlier this month.

Northern Iowa finished the season with a 30-3 record, winning both the Missouri Valley regular season and conference tournament titles. All three of their losses came on the road against tough teams, Midwest Region 7th seed Wichita State, West Region 7th seed Virginia Commonwealth and Evansville.

Although Northern Iowa is the favorite, both teams have similar styles. They each play a deliberate half court offense and rely on defense to win low scoring games. Northern Iowa averaged 65 points per game this season compared to 62 for Wyoming. They both shoot well from the field, over 48 percent for the Panthers versus a 46 percent field goal percentage for the Cowboys. Both teams also pride themselves on protecting the ball, with Northern Iowa averaging only 10 turnovers a game, while Wyoming averaged only 11.

The similarities don't end there.  Each team is led by their senior forwards. The Panthers are paced by 6'8" senior forward Seth Tuttle, who averaged over 15 points and nearly 7 rebounds a game. Tuttle was a first team All Missouri Conference selection. Northern Iowa's leader will be matched up against Wyoming's best player, Larry Nance, Jr,. who averaged just over 16 points and 7 rebounds was named to the All Mountain West Conference team.

The biggest difference between the two teams is depth. Northern Iowa has a deep bench, with 9 players in regular rotation and a balanced scoring attack. Wyoming, on the other hand, has three starters who average over 30 minutes per game.

So what can we expect to see on Friday?

First and foremost, it will be a low scoring, close game. Neither team will run their opponent off the court. It will be a hard fought affair that will likely come down to the wire.

The team that controls the paint will advance. Points will be hard to come by and the match up between Larry Nance, Jr. and Seth Tuttle could determine the outcome.

Josh Adams is the X factor for the Cowboys. If he gets hot, Northern Iowa doesn't have a backcourt scorer who can keep up with him. However, when Adams isn't able to penetrate, he can be careless with the ball.

If Wyoming wants to spring the upset, their bench will need to step up. Northern Iowa is the deeper team. The Cowboys will have to stay out of foul trouble and get points from someone other than Nance, Jr. and Adams if they hope to advance.

Prediction:  Wyoming 66 - Northern Iowa 65. Nance, Jr. and Tuttle will both put up 20. Adams will add another 15 and the Pokes will pull off the upset on a last second three pointer by Jason McManamen.

Either way, it will be exciting. And we all know that when March Madness starts, you can throw the records out of the window. The game is scheduled for tip off Friday at 11:40 a.m. and will be broadcast on the TBS network.  Can't watch the game?  Listen to the broadcast live on AM 1030, K2 Radio.  The pregame show begins at 11 a.m.

 

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