We lost a game but we stayed in the rankings because our league is so good. Obviously, people understand how good Creighton is and know that a loss at Creighton isn't the end of the world.

When you mention Northern Iowa now, people equate it with a place that has a good basketball program. The thing that needed to change when I came back was the perception and it has. That's what I'm most proud of.

We've got (Iowa coach) Steve Alford and (Iowa State coach) Wayne Morgan to thank. If they were not willing to play us, we'd be sitting where Missouri State is.

I wore it, just so the guys could remember how good we are and what we've accomplished. We didn't want any self-doubt coming into this tournament.

I think they chose Iowa State for reasons other than wanting to be in Ames and wanting to be a Cyclone. Some of those pieces aren't in place anymore.

That's why I'm so proud of this particular group, because they busted down that barrier.