** Blurb about future content moving forward, I will finish out the season preview series on the forum. **
Forum Friends,
Over the past year, I've enjoyed contributing Valpo basketball content to the forum. At times, I've wondered if my longer posts and articles may be taking up more space than a discussion forum is really intended for. At the same time, I know many of us are hungry for Valpo basketball coverage, especially during the offseason when there are limited sources covering the program.
Outside of official University channels, there isn't a great deal of consistent coverage available. The Valpo Vault (also on Substack) has been relatively quiet this offseason, though hopefully they'll be back soon, and Paul does an excellent job with The Victory Bell and its subscription model while covering Valpo athletics more broadly.
With that in mind, I'd like to invite you to check out The Beacon Brief, my completely free Substack dedicated to all things Valpo Basketball. You'll find my season previews series already over there, and I will transition roster analysis, recruiting updates, and other in-depth coverage that doesn't always fit naturally within forum discussions. Additionally, I would like to provide even more in-depth coverage of the program if access can be obtained to bring it to our fanbase.
Going forward, I'll likely post full articles on The Beacon Brief and share links here within the discussion threads, allowing the forum to remain focused on discussion while still giving interested readers access to longer-form content.
If you'd like to follow along, you can subscribe here: https://substack.com/@thebeaconbrief
Thank you to everyone who has read, commented on, and engaged with my posts. I hope you've found the content valuable, and I look forward to continuing to cover Valpo Basketball and discussing it with all of you.
Go Beacons!
Northern Iowa Panthers 2026–2027 Season Preview
Up Next: Northern Iowa
2025–2026 Recap
Northern Iowa once again proved that writing off Ben Jacobson is usually a bad idea.
The Panthers finished 23-13 overall and 11-9 in MVC play, good for a sixth-place finish during the regular season. They started the season winning 12 of 15 games before losing 5 straight in the heart of Valley play. While UNI's offense was often a grind, the Panthers leaned on one of the nation's best defenses, allowing just 61.8 points per game and finishing among the top defensive teams in Division I. Their season peaked at just the right time in St. Louis, where they captured the MVC Tournament championship from day 1 winning 4 games in 4 days and earned an NCAA Tournament berth before receiving a beat down via St. John's in the first round.
UNI's formula was familiar: defend at a high level, play at a controlled pace, limit mistakes, and win close games. Trey Campbell served as the offensive catalyst, while other veterans Leon Bond, Ben Schwieger, Tristan Smith, and Will Hornseth provided experience and consistency throughout the season. Campbell was named all Valley second team and all defensive team, Bond was also named all defensive team, and Hornseth was named to the most improved team.
Offseason Turnover
As is often the case following a successful season, Northern Iowa lost a significant portion of its veteran core.
Gone are several key contributors from the MVC Tournament championship team. Replacing their production and leadership will be the biggest challenge facing new first year head coach Kyle Green this season.
Departures
Ben Jacobson – New Head Coach at Utah State
Trey Campbell - Graduation
Will Hornseth – Transferred to Utah State
Leon Bond – Transferred to Iowa State
Tristan Smith – Graduation
Ben Schwieger – Graduation
Max Weisbrod – Graduation
Ismael Diouf – Unknown
RJ Taylor – Transferred to Oakland
Chase Courbat – Graduation
Hunter Jacobson - Graduation
Marino Dunravcic – Transferred to Hawaii Pacific
Returning Core
Cade Courbat (6-8, G, Jr.) Did not play last season due to injury
Levi Valdo (6-3, G, So.) – Did not play last season
Redek Born (6-3, G, Jr.) Redshirted last season
Jalen Wilson (6-8, F, So.) Redshirted last season
Kyle Pock (6-6, F, Sr.)
Pock has developed within the Panther system and will be expected to take on increased responsibilities on both ends of the floor. His experience should help anchor a younger roster. While not the star, he might be the best returning player with minutes and will be a key reserve or a standard core type of player.
Geon Hutchins (6-4, G, So.)
After gaining valuable minutes as a freshman, Hutchins enters the season as one of UNI's most important breakout candidates. The Panthers will need him to provide backcourt production and defensive versatility.
Returning Positional Minutes based on the last 5 games played:
PG 0%
SG 10%
SF 0%
PF 0%
C 0%
Key Additions
Greyson Uelmen (6-3, G, Jr.) – North Dakota
Uelmen arrives with Division I experience and gives the Panthers another capable backcourt option. His ability to handle the ball and provide a scoring punch should help fill some of the void left by Campbell's departure. He was an all-Summit League selection a season ago and will likely be the main scorer.
Tate McCubbin (6-8, G/F, Jr.) – Austin Peay
McCubbin fits the prototype of a UNI wing. He brings size, versatility, and positional flexibility that should allow him to contribute immediately.
Jules Isebaert (6-5, F, Jr.) - International
An intriguing international addition, Isebaert adds athleticism and versatility to the wing rotation. His adjustment to MVC play will be worth monitoring.
Carson Vis (6-4, G, So.) – Western Michigan
Vis gives UNI another young perimeter option with upside. He should compete for meaningful backcourt minutes early.
Isaiah Johnson-Arifu (6-7, F, Jr.) - St. Thomas
Isaiah Johnson-Arigu is a versatile 6-foot-7 combo forward who brings athleticism, defensive versatility, and efficient scoring to the floor. After beginning his career at Miami (FL) and spending time at Iowa, the Minnesota native emerged as a key contributor for St. Thomas.
Ian Smikle (6-9, F, Jr.) – Tulsa
Ian Smikle is a physical 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward who provides interior toughness, rebounding, rim protection, and high-level energy. A former AAC All-Freshman Team selection, Smikle developed into one of Tulsa's foundational frontcourt pieces thanks to his size, motor, and defensive impact, he hopes to bring this energy to UNI.
Incoming Freshmen
Northern Iowa continues to recruit and develop at a high level, bringing in another freshman class that fits the program's long-term approach.
- Jaydon Kimbrough (6-3, G)
- Will Gerdes (6-8, F)
As always at UNI, immediate freshman production is a bonus. The Panthers' success has historically been built on player development rather than relying heavily on first-year contributors.
Key Questions
- Who replaces Trey Campbell's offensive production and leadership?
- Is UNI’s lack of size and length going to be a problem in the Valley?
- How quickly will the new transfers adjust to UNI's system?
- Will the Panthers maintain their elite defensive identity under Kyle Green?
- Does this squad have enough offensive fire power?
- Is there enough talent in the backcourt?
Outlook
On one hand, the Panthers lost much of the veteran core that helped deliver a surprise MVC Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. There is considerably less proven production on this roster than what Ben Jacobson enjoyed a season ago.
On the other hand, UNI has consistently been one of the league's most stable programs. The Panthers rarely beat themselves, they defend at a high level, and bring in a new head coach who is very familiar with Jacobsons style. That track record matters, or does it?
The ceiling of this team will likely depend on whether players like Born, Hutchins, Wilson, and Uelmen can step into larger offensive roles. The defense should remain strong but replacing Campbell's shot creation and late-game scoring may be easier said than done.
Biggest Strengths
- Retained players from last season’s team (albeit not a ton of minutes)
- Defensive identity
- Player development
- New head coach with multiple years of program experience
Biggest Concerns
- Replacing veteran leadership
- Offensive firepower
- Limited returning star power
- Integrating new contributors
- Loss of their long-time head coach
Projection
MVC Finish: 5th–9th
The Panthers feel like a classic Northern Iowa team: tough, disciplined, and unlikely to beat themselves.
The floor remains relatively high because of the program's culture and defensive foundation. However, unlike some recent UNI teams, this roster lacks a proven star entering the season. If several young players make significant jumps, the Panthers could challenge the upper tier of the MVC. If not, they may find themselves fighting in the middle of a crowded conference race. I personally think UNI is going to be in the back half of the standing this year.
Final Thought
Betting against Northern Iowa has rarely been a profitable strategy.
The Panthers lost a substantial amount of production, and their head coach. While this year's roster may not have the proven star power of recent UNI teams, it has enough depth, and versatility they shouldn’t be overlooked in conversation. The question isn't whether Northern Iowa will be competitive—it's whether the next wave of Panthers is ready to take the next step or will this be a rebuilding year.