Two Missouri Valley contenders, but Belmont has opened league play at 3-2 and NIU at 4-0. For what it's worth, the Bruins were picked to finish sixth in the league and the Panthers second. UNI leads all Division I in scoring defense at 57.3 PPG, giving up 70 points just once this season. The Panthers are 9-0 when holding opponents to 60 or fewer points. It also leads the nation three-point percentage defense, limiting opponents to just 24% from beyond the arc. The Panthers have held six straight opponents under 20% from deep. They have won four straight in this series.

Navigating the Missouri Valley, especially on the road , looks like it's going to be tough this season. Belmont knows after a couple of struggles at lower-tier Evansville and Indiana State, losing the latter in OT. Now the Bruins must travel to Cedar Falls, arguably the toughest alligator pit in the Valley, as Ben Jacobson seems to have created his perfect team in a hoops laboratory. The Panthers have experience with several multi-year starters, practice patience, and work every possession on both ends of the court, which is one reason why UNI leads the nation in scoring defense (57.3 ppg). The extension of Jacobson on the floor is fourth-year PG Trey Campbell, enjoying his best season yet (13.1 ppg and 3.7 apg). Play UNI