SEATTLE (AP) — Now it’s Northern Iowa’s turn to carry the flag for the Missouri Valley Conference into the NCAA Tournament. After Wichita State and Creighton got the spotlight in recent seasons, it’s the fifth-seeded Panthers getting the attention this time around as they to face No. 12 Wyoming on Friday.

The Panthers (30-3) were the beneficiaries of all the attention focused on their Missouri Valley competitors in previous years. The Panthers were ranked as high as No. 10 in The Associated Press Top 25 this season because of their performance but also the high regard the Valley has earned.

Wyoming (25-9) needed to win the Mountain West Conference tourney to reach the NCAAs, but the Cowboys’ similarities to the Panthers led Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson to say he wished for a different style matchup in the opener.