The fondest memory for many UNI fans will be brought to the forefront again as the 2009-10 men’s basketball team that took down the No. 1-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will be inducted into the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 21. Nearly a decade later, the team will be back in Cedar Falls to be enshrined in UNI history, as well as being honored during halftime of the football game when the Panthers host Idaho State at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Panther Nation went wild when Ali Farorkhmanesh hit the biggest shot in UNI’s history. Farokhmanesh’s risky three-point shot paid off big for the Panthers as they took a 4-point lead at 66-62 with 35 seconds remaining. Tensions were relieved for UNI when the final buzzer hit with the score of 69-67 to clinch the first Sweet 16 berth in the school’s history.

The historic upset put UNI on the map as Farokhmanesh graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, decorated in purple and gold. Not only were the Jayhawks the No. 1 seed, but they also had current NBA veterans Marcus and Markieff Morris on the team.  Following the exhilaration of taking down the top dogs, UNI faced Michigan State led by Draymond Green. The Panthers couldn’t advance to the Elite Eight as they fell to the Spartans, 59-52.

Nonetheless, the magical Sweet 16 run will always be one of, if not the biggest moment in UNI sports history.

The question all these years later is, “Where are they now?”

After a four-year basketball career overseas, Farokhmanesh made a couple coaching stops with Nebraska and Drake. The Iowa City native is now out west as an assistant coach for the Colorado State men’s basketball team.

Adam Koch, the oldest of three Koch brothers that played for UNI (Adam, Jake and Bennett), spent a few years with stints on NBA summer league and developmental league teams. Koch personified UNI’s fight best against Kansas by stealing a rebound from the Jayhawks followed by a two-handed jam to put the Panthers up seven with just over a minute left. Following his professional career, Koch followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps to become a dentist.  The Wisconsin native now practices in Green Bay.

If you happen to catch a Timberwolves game just three hours north of Cedar Falls in Minneapolis, you may recognize a familiar face in former Panther point guard and current Timberwolves video coordinator Kwadzo Ahelegbe. The Oakdale, Minn., native played high school ball just a few miles east of Minneapolis, and returned to his hometown team after making history with UNI.

These are just some of their stories, but Johnny Moran, Lucas O’Rear, Jordan Eglseder and company will join the aforementioned Panthers to reunite with coach Jacobson and the coaching staff to celebrate a historic moment in UNI history.