March Madness is upon us once again, and, even though UNI is not in the tournament this year, they made quite the statement in 2016.

I remember last year UNI Men's Basketball held an auction for their gold jerseys prior to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. My parents, shortly after the tournament (knowing #4 had been my high school sports number), emailed me saying, "Hey, we almost got the #4 jersey, but your trip to the MVC tourney is your birthday gift instead."

This was before #4 on the men's basketball team had one shining moment that would go down in March Madness history.

Paul Jesperson started his basketball journey playing for the University of Virginia before transferring to the University of Northern Iowa his junior year. In the 2014-15 season Jesperson was named to the MVC All-Newcomer team and as a redshirt senior for the 2015-16 season, he started all 36 games, was the all-time leader in free throw percentage, and was the 100th UNI player to reach 500 points in the purple and gold among other career achievements.

UNI's 2016 March Madness journey started when they beat Evansville with a buzzer beater from Wes Washpun, snagging an automatic bid to the biggest dance in basketball.

Jesperson said, "When we won Arch Madness we were all so excited because we just won back to back years and knew we were heading back to the tournament. Having amazing fans stay so supportive on a year where we experienced so many ups and downs was pretty special." The Panthers had an overall record of 23-13 and conference record of 11-7. Their longest losing streak with four games, but they took down big teams: defeating #1 UNC in the McLeod Center, giving Iowa State their first loss in the Wells Fargo Arena, and snapping Wichita State's home winning streak in Koch Arena.

The period between Championship Week and Selection Sunday holds a bit of mystery to it as automatic bids are added as conference championships wrap up and bubble teams get decided. "I think my favorite part was the week leading up to our first game. It's just different than any other time of the year because you don't really know who your playing for the first couple days of practice and everyone is so excited to find out," Jesperson said.

With their goals including a Final Four appearance, UNI started out the tournament in the West section of the bracket, getting a double dose of Texas teams as they faced Texas and Texas A&M.

Looking forward to their bracket, especially the possibility of a Sweet Sixteen matchup with Oklahoma, the Panthers knew they'd be facing some pretty good teams. And as far as Texas and Texas A&M went, Jesperson said, "They both presented us with different challenges. Texas is so well coached under Coach Smart, so we knew they would be ready to play. Coming into those games we fully expected to win."

One would think that playing in such a coveted tournament, teams would be nervous, but Jesperson said, "we didn't feel any pressure. We were so excited to play and felt so loose coming into the tournament."

And both games, were close and nerve-racking, as most UNI games had been that season. But, the real question is, what was Jesperson thinking when he put up the half court heave that earned the Panthers another dancing day?

"I knew there wasn't much time left after Texas scored so I tried to make myself available to get the ball and make a play, fortunately for us it went in and allowed us to play another game. When it went in it was indescribable, to know that we were advancing and knowing that I would get a chance to lace them up again with Bo [Matt Bohannon] and Wes [Washpun] was incredible."

With UNI having past tournament experiences, both with their own big moments, one would think the team would have some big shoes to fill or great expectations. Jesperson said, "Our team in 2016 was different than 2015 and 2010. Those teams had their own identities, personalities, and things that worked for them. Coach Jacobson is great about letting each team find itself and its personality and that's why year to year they always have success. The 2010 team had a special year reaching the sweet sixteen but we didn't feel like we had to outdo that team or live up to what they accomplished. Our team in 2016 just tried to get a little better every day at the things we needed to improve on and it put us where we wanted to be at the end of the year."

And even though UNI didn't reach their season goal of the Final Four, their postseason ending earlier than hoped, Jesperson wouldn't change much of the experience. "Obviously you watch film and try to correct your mistakes and there are always plays you see and think 'I should have done this instead,' but as far as changing up our routine or anything like that I don't think I would change anything. [...] When you prepare the right way and give great effort it makes it easier to live with the outcome whether that's good or bad."

The Panthers' season ended in the second round of the tournament when Texas A&M scored several unanswered points in the last 40 seconds of the game.

With such a big season, what was Jesperson's take away? Essentially, the highs and lows of life. "Never get too high or too low and just try to stay level. I think that applies in every aspect of life because so many things pop up that are unexpected, whether it's something great, like getting a job you've always wanted or something terrible, like the passing of a loved one. You're obviously going to experience emotions with both but if you have the right mindset you can be prepared for whatever life throws at you." And those emotions, of joy and sorrow, had hit the Panthers in one weekend and handled with the utmost grace and dignity.

We could say that any team is special, that they have something that sets them apart from others. And after such a season one could say the Panthers had something that others didn't. Jesperson said, "I think one of the things that really separates our teams from other teams is the fearlessness that we have. Coach Jacobson always does a great job of instilling that in his teams by the way he schedules anyone in the country regardless if it's a home or away game."

March Madness is quite a production. With 68 participating teams, tournament locations scattered throughout the nation, all coming down to two final teams, and the monstrous media coverage (there's a lot of it, let me tell you) it may seem like something quite over the top for collegiate athletics. But from Jesperson's point of view, the "tournament is the best sporting event in my opinion. The relationships you form with people, the games, practices, it's all something that doesn't compare to any other event in sports. I was so grateful to be able to play in three NCAA tournaments and each time was better than the last."

And even a year later, Jesperson's miracle shot against Texas still circulates the Twittersphere and is even used in a March Madness commercial. Jesperson said, "I still see Ali's shot every year when March Madness starts so now seeing mine up there too is pretty cool. I'm so proud to be a Panther so anytime our school and our program can get associated with the tournament it's great!"

The miracle shot, along with Wes Washpun's buzzer beater that sealed the MVC tournament championship win, even landed a spot on the NCAA's Best of 2016: The top college basketball buzzer beaters of the year. "To be on that list was with so many other great shots was pretty special. It makes me think about everything that went into that year and to experience something that like with that group of guys was a memory I won't forget," Jesperson said.

For the current UNI Panthers upholding the tradition of UNI basketball, Jesperson's advice is to "just to fall in love with the process and trust your coaches." He said, "They are playing for a great coaching staff who want the absolute best for them. So if they continue to work hard and listen to what the coaches are telling them they will achieve everything that they want to."

Jesperson currently plays for Oviedo Baloncesto, in Spain.

If you're interested in more March Madness stories from UNI basketball alumni, check out: Seth Tuttle's 2015 experience and Ali Farokmanesh's 2010 experience.