With March Madness approaching, the Northern Iowa Panthers and Seth Tuttle are demanding the nation’s resepct.
Northern Iowa is sitting just inside the top-10 of the most recent AP polls, and have been projected by many as a four seed in the NCAA Tournament. Yet, they have seemed to go under the radar.
Northern Iowa is a very versatile team and can’t be taken lightly. The same can be said for the play of Tuttle. His per game averages of 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds make him one of the most lethal players in the collegiate ranks.
Going into this season, Tuttle wasn’t considered a favorite for the Wooden Award, which is given to college basketball’s best overly player. In fact, Tuttle wasn’t even regarded as the best player in his own conference, as the Wichita State Shockers duo of Fred Van Vleet and Ron Baker were considered the impact prospects of the Missouri Valley.
The 6’8 senior has become the talk of college basketball as of late, and has drawn the attention of ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, who tweeted the following.
“I’d put Northern Iowa’s Seth Tuttle up with any big man in the country. Skilled, savvy, and know how to play. Tuttle is the real deal.”
That’s quite a bit of praise coming from Bilas, whom is becoming one of the latest in a line of supporters for the Northern Iowa big man.
Tuttle isn’t an overnight sensation, he has increased his production every year. Going from a 2011-12 freshman season where he averaged a modest 9.4 scoring average to 11.4 and 15.4 points per game his junior and senior year.
The advancements to his overall game is something Tuttle has focused on since he first stepped foot on the Northern Iowa campus.
“Obviously, team goals are more important, “ Tuttle said. “I want to win conference and I want to make the NCAA Tournament and stuff, but you have to set individual goals, too. My freshman year, I told myself that before I was done I wanted to be the player of the year.”
Tuttle has rounded into form nicely over the last four years. He is well on his way to becoming the best player in college basketball, and as a result Northern Iowa needs your respect.