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Men's Basketball
Transition Basketball
Feb. 19, 2009 Just a year ago, during the 2007-2008 season, Ali Farokhmanesh was averaging 17 points, five assists and three rebounds for Kirkwood Community College. Farokhmanesh earned first-team NJCAA Division II All-American honors along with being named the conference's Most Valuable Player. A year later, after transferring from Kirkwood to UNI, Farokhmanesh has made an instant impact for the Panthers this season. The junior guard ranks third on the team in scoring, averaging more than 10 points per game. Farokhmanesh has led the scoring charge for the Panthers in four games this season, scoring a season-high 20 points against Illinois-Chicago and Indiana State. Although the junior seems to have found his rhythm on the basketball court, even he admits the transition from Kirkwood to UNI was something that took time. "Since the beginning of the season I've gotten more confidence and more comfortable with my teammates," Farokhmanesh said. "I've also gotten to know the system here and have gotten used to playing in it. It just took a little time to make the switch." Farokhmanesh also noted the differences in playing at a junior college and playing at a Division I program. "There is a lot bigger time commitment playing here," Farokhmanesh said. "Not only do you have practice, but there is weight lifting, study tables and more in-depth preparation for games. I definitely know more about the opponent going into games here than I ever did before. "The other big difference is the fans," he added. "There are a lot more people cheering and in the stands at all the games. The game is also faster, which makes it more fun for the fans." With the Panthers recent success in Missouri Valley Conference play, Farokhmanesh believes the team chemistry and the number of players that can step up and score at any time is the reason for their success. "My favorite part about this team is that anybody can step up on any night," Farokhmanesh said. "We don't have to rely on one person to have a good night, we have a lot of guys that have been our leading scorer, so anybody can step up and help the team win. That's a big advantage for us." With the Panthers sitting atop the Valley standings, the team is focused on winning the Valley title and making a return trip to the NCAA tournament. "Obviously our goal from the beginning of the season was to win the Valley title," Farokhmanesh said. "We just need to keep playing well and we know we have a shot at the title. Our big goal is to make it to the NCAA tournament as well." Even though Farokhmanesh has only been with the Panthers for a season, he's helped the Panthers to victories at Creighton, Southern Illinois, ending the Panthers 12-game losing streak to the Bluejays in Omaha, Neb. and a 11-game losing skid in Carbondale, Ill. Those two wins, along with a decisive win at Drake, are highlights in Farokhmanesh's basketball career. "Either the win at Creighton or beating Drake would have to be my favorite basketball memory," Farokhmanesh said. "Those were big wins for the program." With the final stretch of Valley play unfolding, Farokhmanesh said he believes the Panthers are up for the challenge and are hoping to make their goal of an MVC title a reality in March. "We have confidence now," Farokhmanesh said. "We're ready to keep playing." |
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