Northern Iowa stuns #1 seed Kansas

A. Isaac Senior Editor

If this wasn’t the greatest upset in tourney history, then it is definitely in the conversation. The #9 seeded Northern Iowa Panthers defeated prohibitive favorite Kansas in the second round, 69-67.

I’m still at a loss for words.

Kansas, the #1 overall seed and a team that had only lost twice coming into this game was clearly stunned at the end of the game. Several players sat in shock well after regulation and some of them even in tears.

Northern Iowa will now face the winner of the Maryland/MSU game so their Cinderella run will continue next week in St. Louis. They’ll certainly be the talk of the town and the nation for the next few days. Jordan Eglseder and Ali Farokhmanesh will probably become household names. It was Farokhmanesh that delivered the nail in the coffin. With 34 seconds to play and the Panthers clinging to a 1 point lead, he pulled up for a three pointer on a fast break and buried it.

Cajones I tell ya. Not too many players in the nation dare take the shot for fear of the repercussions. But maybe that’s why the Panthers were so successful against the Jayhawks, they have nothing to lose.

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