CEDAR FALLS – UNI men’s basketball has been picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) in 2024-25 according to the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
Senior forward Tytan Anderson was also selected as one of five players named to Blue Ribbon’s Preseason All-MVC Team.
A native of Eldridge, Iowa, Anderson started all 33 games for the Panthers last season averaging 11.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game with a team-high 42 steals and 21 blocks. Shooting 49.2% from the floor, he posted a team-high five double-doubles and scored in double figures 21 times, including in eight of UNI’s final nine games of the season.
Anderson notably set a new program single-game postseason record with 19 rebounds against Belmont in the MVC Tournament quarterfinals in St. Louis, and extended his scoring streak to 65 consecutive games dating back to 2022. He also kicked off last season by scoring his 500th career point in UNI’s home opener against Loras.
The 2024-25 Panthers return three starters from a year ago in Anderson, Trey Campbell and Jacob Hutson. Northern Iowa also returns sophomores RJ Taylor and Kyle Pock, who both saw playing time as true freshmen last season. UNI also brings in four transfers in Cael Schmitt (Coe), Max Weisbrod (Northern Michigan), Ben Schwieger (Loyola-Chicago) and Leon Bond III (Virginia), as well as three new freshmen in Redek Born, Will Hornseth and Cade Courbat.
The 2024-25 UNI men’s basketball schedule will be announced at a later date. New season tickets for the upcoming season meanwhile can be purchased by contacting the UNI Ticket Office at 319-273-4849 or by email at tickets@uni.edu.
BLUE RIBBON MVC FORECAST
1. Bradley
2. UNI
3. Drake
4. Illinois State
5. Belmont
6. Murray State
7. Southern Illinois
8. Valparaiso
9. Evansville
10. Indiana State
11. UIC
12. Missouri State
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
F – Darius Hannah | Sr. – Bradley
F – Tytan Anderson | Sr. – UNI
F – Cooper Schwieger | So. – Valparaiso
G – Duke Deen | Sr. – Bradley
G – Johnny Kinziger | So. – Illinois State
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Duke Deen | Sr. – Bradley
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Bennett Stirtz | Jr. – Drake