Courier sports writer Matt Coss sat down with UNI head basketball coach Ben Jacobson to assess each player on his roster going into the 2009-10 season:

Seniors

Jordan Eglseder, 7-1, 290 lbs.

• 2008-09 recap: After being slowed by injuries in the summer and fall that led to an inconsistent first half of the season, Eglseder reached double figures in seven of UNI's last 10 games - including 20 points and 13 rebounds against Evansville.
• Jake's take: "His path to being maybe the best center to ever play here is through the weight room and conditioning. He needs to work harder than he's ever worked in the weight room, specifically with his lower body. With the injuries last summer and fall, he didn't make the strides in the weight room he needed to. He has that chance now this spring, summer and fall."

Ali Farokhmanesh, 6-0, 190

• 2008-09 recap: The juco transfer was much better in conference play after a sluggish November and December. He came up particularly big in overtime against Illinois State in the MVC tournament championship. The guard, part of the league's all-newcomer team, finished the year with 75 made 3-pointers.
• Jake's take: "We need to have flexibility to play him at the point, so he needs to work on his ballhandling and he really has to work on his footwork. He's worked on it to this point and I don't know if there's a little bit more left in there or not, but he has to try and find it. … And he'll continue to work on that jump shot."

Brian Haak, 6-1, 180

• 2008-09 recap: The Spencer native saw considerable minutes in the non-conference when UNI was still defining its roles. Once league play started his minutes diminished, but Jacobson was encouraged by his practice habits.
• Jake's take: "He's a senior now and his confidence should be at the highest level. Open 3-point shots have to be automatic for him. And if he's got to handle the basketball, he's got to do it confidently. … I've been really pleased with his approach. He wants to play and he wants our team to get better."

Adam Koch, 6-8, 240

• 2008-09 recap: The team's leading scorer and first-team all-conference player had 10 games of 17 points or more, including 25 points and the game-winning basket at Illinois State in late February. Koch made eight 3-pointers in the last six games after making just six in the first 28. With the 3-point shot in his arsenal, he becomes a much more difficult matchup for defenses.
• Jake's take: "He needs to continue to expand his game offensively. He needs to involve the 3-point shot more. It's a key for our team and a key for him to take one more step forward. … We'd like to see him play 10 or 12 pounds heavier next year. With that, I think that's where he can grab another two or three rebounds per game."

Adam Rodenberg, 6-6, 235

• 2008-09 recap: After sitting out the first half of the season because of NCAA transfer rules, Rodenberg saw his minutes fluctuate in conference play. His best performances came at home against Southern Illinois and in the opening half of the Valley tournament title game.
• Jake's take: "He has to really work offensively. He has to be able to make 15- to 17-foot jump shots, and the ability to drive it and come to a stop when somebody gets in his way. He's got a great chance to play a significant role for us next year on game night. It starts with getting better offensively."

Juniors

Kwadzo Ahelegbe, 6-2, 205

• 2008-09 recap: After missing the previous season with a torn labrum, the team's floor leader was named the league's most improved player and second team all-conference. His ability to get to the rim gave UNI's offense more versatility. Defensively, he matched up many nights against the other team's top perimeter player.
• Jake's take: "We asked a lot of him this year, and we're going to ask more out of him next year. He has to be better. It needs to start with his conditioning. His ballhandling has to improve, and he has to make jump shots more consistently. … I think he can be a better defender. He was great at times defensively, but other times he was average. As he goes into his fourth year now, that's not acceptable. He needs to be great defensively all the time."

Kerwin Dunham, 6-6, 205

• 2008-09 recap: Dunham reached double figures in only one game this season, but the Bondurant-Farrar native improved his 3-point shooting by nearly 17 percent and delivered timely 3s against Iowa State, at Southern Illinois and in the Valley tournament.
• Jake's take: "I think Kerwin will have an expanded role next year. We have to be able to get more offense out of him, and a lot of that goes back to his ability to handle the ball. He shot the 3-point shot much better this year, and he needs to continue to make strides there. … He had the quietest year of the group, but he enjoyed the year personally and for our team the same way the rest of us did without as much fanfare."

Lucas O'Rear, 6-6, 255

• 2008-09 recap: The league's sixth man of the year thrived as the "garbage man." Whether it was grabbing an offensive rebound, diving on the floor or being involved in scrums, O'Rear's toughness rubbed off on the rest of the team. He had 19 games with five or more rebounds, including a career-high 11 at home against Bradley.
• Jake's take: "He has to become better offensively. He has such a good feel for how to play that we need to find ways to incorporate that more into our offense. He has to work tirelessly on that 3-point shot. He has to be enough of a threat that teams will guard him all the time."

Sophomores

Johnny Moran, 6-1, 185

• 2008-09 recap: Moran surprised many early on with his offensive efficiency, particularly from the 3-point line. He cooled off considerably in the second half of the season, but he continued to make hustle plays like taking charges, diving for loose balls and getting pivotal steals.
• Jake's take: "Coming out of a freshman year, he's got so many things he has to get better at. He has to become a better ballhandler. We need that flexibility of him playing the point for us at times. Also, he's got to find ways to make plays against defenses that are played at this level. When he drives it in there, you can't leave your feet all the time."

Redshirt freshmen

Anthony James, 5-10, 175

• 2008-09 recap: Jacobson was pleased with how James practiced early and late in the season. The head coach believes the guard learned a lot about the intensity it takes to be successful at this level on each possession.
• Jake's take: "There are two areas where he's got a great chance to help us next year - his ability to guard the ball and he's got a knack for scoring. He can really move his feet and is long enough that he can bother a ballhandler."

Jake Koch, 6-7, 230

• 2008-09 recap: By recovering from ankle surgery much quicker than Jacobson anticipated, it allowed Koch to get adequate practice time. Jacobson believes his toughness improved from being around players like O'Rear, Moran and Rodenberg.
• Jake's take: "He's got to get a lot stronger. Until he gets a couple years in the weight room, that's going to be an issue. That said, he's long enough he can bother guys on the block. Offensively, he can make 3-point shots and has great passing skills. He's got an opportunity to provide some things that we don't have right now."

Austin Pehl, 6-10, 230

• 2008-09 recap: The Cedar Falls alum's work ethic made a strong impression with the coaching staff. Going against Adam Koch, Eglseder and O'Rear in practice gave him a sense of what it takes to be successful at this level.
• Jake's take: "His best chance to impact us is at the defensive end and with his rebounding. Offensively, he made strides, but he has to become a better low-block scorer. He has to work hard to become a better passer and playing at a better pace when there's a second and third defender around him."

Incoming freshmen

Matt Morrison, 6-1, 170

• 2008-09 recap: The first-team all-state selection from Solon helped lead the Spartans to an undefeated season and a Class 2A state championship. He averaged 21 points and shot 45.5 percent from 3-point range at the state tournament, including 34 points against Western Christian in a double-overtime semifinal.
• Jake's take: "He's a guy I do see playing the point at this level. Ballhandling and footwork are going to be important for him, and he has to get a lot stronger. If we're healthy next year, I've talked to Matt about redshirting. More than anything, he's almost a full year age-wise younger than his classmates."

Marc Sonnen, 6-3, 180

• 2008-09 recap: The Tartan High School (Minn.) senior can handle the ball and score in a variety of ways. He can get to the rim in transition as well as in the half court. Sonnen, who can shoot the mid-range jumper and knock down the occasional 3, scored 16 points for the Titans in their sectional final contest.
• Jake's take: "I really like his versatility on offense. He needs to become a more consistent 3-point shooter. … Some guys lift in high school, but they don't really lift. Between now and the first week of June, he's got to lift at a higher level. Otherwise when he gets here, the first three to five weeks, he can't do anything from a basketball skill standpoint because he'll be too sore."