The University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Northern Iowa is a public university in northeastern Iowa and the home of the Panthers basketball team competing in the NCAA Tournament.
The No. 12 seed Northern Iowa Panthers face No. 5 seed St. John’s Red Storm on Friday at 7:10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 4:10 p.m. Pacific, in an East Region first-round matchup. Even though the teams are competing in the East Region, the game takes place at Viejas Arena in San Diego, California.
What Is Northern Iowa’s Record Against St. John’s?
The game will mark the first-ever contest between Northern Iowa and St. John’s, making their record against each other 0-0.
Neither school has ever won an NCAA menâs basketball national championship, but St. John’s has advanced to the Final Four three times â though not since 1985.
Northern Iowa’s best NCAA tournament performance came in 2010 when the Panthers made it to the Sweet 16 before losing to Michigan State, 59-52.
The Northern Iowa Panthers come in as heavy underdogs against St. John’s, with the Rick Pitino-coached Red Storm favored by 9.5 points, according to CBS SportsLine.
Here’s what you need to know about the Panthers, who will be shooting to make NCAA history with a major upset on Friday.
Where Is the University of Northern Iowa?
Located in Cedar Falls, a city with a population of about 42,000 in Black Hawk County, Iowa, 123 miles by car northeast of Des Moines, the Iowa state capital.
A public university founded in 1876, Northern Iowa boasts a student enrollment of 9,204, including 1,404 graduate students, as of 2025, on its 900-acre suburban campus. About 90 percent of students are Iowa residents, and 64 percent are women.
Who Is Northern Iowa’s Men’s Basketball Coach?
Ben Jacobsen, 55, took over as head coach of the Northern Iowa Panthers in 2006. As of 2023, his $675,000 annual salary made him the university’s highest-paid employee, according to Open Payrolls.
By comparison, at St. John’s â a private, Catholic university in Queens, New York City â Pitino is reportedly paid $3.3 million per season, and is currently renegotiating his contract to boost his salary to a base of $6.5 million.
Jacobsen is the winningest coach in Northern Iowa menâs basketball history, with five NCAA tournament berths, including 2026, and three National Invitation Tournament (NIT) bids in his tenure.
The Panthers’ coach boasts a 397-257 overall record. Northern Iowa has won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament five times under his leadership.
Who Are Northern Iowa’s Star Players?
The Panthers are led by 6-foot-4 senior guard Trey Campbell, who scored a team-high 13.7 points, and was credited with 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals on a per-game basis. The leading Northern Iowa rebounder is 6-foot-6 senior forward Tristan Smith, grabbing 5.1 per game on average.
Northern Iowa does not have much in terms of size, outside of 6-foot-10 power forward Chase Courbat, who averaged only 3.1 minutes per game in 2025-2026.
How Can Northern Iowa Beat St. John’s Today?
On paper, the Northern Iowa vs. St. John’s first-round matchup looks like a mismatch. But the Panthers have one possible advantage â their pace of play, best described in one word: slow.
The Panthers led the nation in fewest points allowed per game at 61.3, and feature a “pack the paint” defensive style designed to deny layups and dunks, forcing their opponents into lower-percentage jump shots. They rely largely on a defense that simply keeps the opponent away from the hoop, showing little aggression in trying to force turnovers or grab offensive rebounds.
Whether the strategy of parking the bus can work against Pitino’s St. John’s powerhouse will become clear starting at 7:10 p.m. Eastern tonight.
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