CEDAR FALLS - It's a quantum leap from exhibitions against Central College and Southwest (Minn.) State to Nicholls State, Pepperdine and Washington.

However, thanks to those preseason victories, University of Northern Iowa basketball coach Ben Jacobson doesn't believe his Panthers will be caught flat-footed when they open their season Sunday at the Travelers Classic in Seattle, Wash.

A blowout of Division III Central Wednesday and a hard-earned win over Division II Southwest State Sunday will send UNI into its regular season far more prepared to compete than it would have been a week ago.

"I thought yesterday against Southwest State (Minn.), our guys were better than they were against Central College," Jacobson said during UNI's weekly coaches' luncheon Monday. "We saw some improvement, especially from some of the freshmen.

"When we scheduled our two exhibition games, we scheduled Central College because we knew that they had some new guys and some young guys who would give our freshmen and our new team a chance to play against a team that maybe doesn't have quite as much experience.

"Then we knew what we were going to get from Southwest State. A lot of these guys were here two years ago when we played them in an exhibition game. We knew they had the juniors and seniors, and that they have a very good basketball team. They're very well-coached. We knew they'd play hard and it would be a physical game.

"Really, it was the best type of exhibition game we could play to get ready for this coming weekend."

UNI's playing rotation will include at least four freshmen. At times Sunday, the Panthers had four rookies and junior guard Jared Josten on the floor together.

"That's going to kind of be our team this year," said Jacobson. "We've got four freshmen who have played well in practice. Those guys are an important part of our team, and they're going to play important roles on our team this year."

Josten hasn't seen much playing time the past two seasons, but he's making his presence felt this fall. He led UNI in minutes played Sunday with 30.

"He's just done a terrific job," said Jacobson. "He's really improved defensively. He's playing with a lot of confidence at the offensive end. I'm just really pleased with the way Jared is playing right now."

Jacobson said junior center Eric Coleman could also be headed for a breakout season.

"Eric Coleman was much better yesterday than he was against Central. He's coming off a little bit of a sprained ankle, but in terms of the numbers in all the practices we've had yesterday's exhibition game, Eric Coleman has made some big strides forward.

"I think Eric is ready to have what we hope is a year like Grant Stout had last year. As a sophomore, Grant was pretty good. Last year as a junior, Grant was terrific. Eric has made some of those same strides in practice."

VOLLEYBALL: UNI enjoyed a near-perfect weekend.

The Panthers (21-7 overall, 13-2 Missouri Valley) swept Drake and Creighton to retain their share of the league lead, and they paid tribute to the West Gym that has housed the program's rise to national prominence.

On the court, coach Bobbi Petersen liked the continued defensive progress she saw from her team and the offensive patience it showed against a Creighton team with a propensity for frustrating opponents' attacks.

"It was an awesome way to end what was the ceremonial good-bye to the West Gym, having an incredible crowd there," said Petersen.

"I felt like in the Creighton match there were some things that were West Gym-style that happened. I think there were three or four times that the ball hit the ceiling to our advantage, which is always fun to see when you're sending the building out."

In game three, UNI led 28-27 at a critical juncture when Petersen called timeout. When play resumed, Creighton went back to serve.

"The crowd was absolutely on fire, clapping, yelling and screaming, and Creighton missed their serve," said Petersen. "We definitely give that point to the crowd. I thought that was a very nice way to recognize the West Gym and the fans who have been a huge part of where this program has gone."

The official closing of the West Gym happens tonight when UNI hosts Western Illinois in a 7 p.m. match. It's Senior Night, and UNI will pay tribute to Stephanie May, Patricia Dietz and Trista Humpal.

"Those are three kids who have not only been huge to this season, but have been a big part of our program for the last four or five years," said Petersen.

This weekend, it's back to MVC play with road matches at Indiana State Friday and Illinois State Saturday.

CROSS COUNTRY: The Panthers didn't compete over the weekend as they prepare for the Midwest Regional Championships in Minneapolis Saturday.

On the men's side, UNI will be led by freshman Dorian Ulrey and veterans Dylan Davis and Chris Lawson. On the women's side, head coach Chris Bucknam will look to Traci Hawley, Quinn Vermie, Caedryn Schrunk and Andrea Wacker to lead the charge.

At stake are berths to the NCAA Championships Nov. 20 at Terre Haute, Ind.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING: Coach Stacey Simmer's team got a taste of big-time competition Friday and Saturday during a two-day meet at Kansas University.

"It really gave everybody on the team a chance to see a great Big 12 program, as well as a top 25 program in the nation," said Simmer. "That was the main reason I wanted to take them down there, to see what we have a chance to become if we want to.

"We had some great swims while we were there."

UNI's Amanda Firman and Ashley Hunter had strong performances in the sprints to lead the Panthers.

Next up is a meet at Brookings, S.D., Saturday where UNI will compete against South Dakota State and Northern Colorado.

WRESTLING: UNI conducted its annual preseason wrestle-offs Saturday in preparation for the Harold Nichols Open at Fort Dodge this weekend.

"I thought our guys wrestled extremely well," said coach Brad Penrith. "We still have a couple of younger guys who don't quite understand the philosophy of getting themselves mentally ready and getting themselves physically ready.

"They were so athletically above their opponents in high school, and then they come to college and they kind of went through the same warm-up."

Penrith doesn't expect to have a full lineup this weekend. Ryan Osgood and Brett Robbins won't compete as they continue to recover from surgeries, and several other Panthers are working through minor injuries.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Coach Tony DiCecco didn't like the outcome of Sunday's exhibition opener, a 68-64 loss to Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead, but he said it was a valuable experience.

"We got 75 minutes of playing opportunities for our freshmen," said DiCecco. "There were some kids who I thought did a really, really good job.

"Alexa Mennen (Hampton-Dumont High) I thought did a very good job. She's really surprised us in terms of how much strength and how well she does on the defensive side of the ball. I thought we got some really good performance out of Nicole Clausen (Denison-Schleswig) and Danielle Wubbens (Charles City).

"I think those three kids really stuck out in terms of what we were able to do with them."

A scheduling quirk will send UNI into regular-season competition Friday with a 6:05 p.m. contest at the University of Minnesota before the Panthers return home for their second and final exhibition Sunday.

The exhibitions, DiCecco explained, were scheduled before the NCAA changed the start date for the regular season to Nov. 10.

"We jump, literally, right into the fire on Friday night," said DiCecco.

Contact Doug Newhoff at (319) 291-1467 or doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com