Northern Iowa’s Eldon Miller has coached men’s basketball long enough to know not to listen to what other coaches say about their teams — even if the coach lives only a few hours away.

“If you talk to [Iowa State] coach [Tim] Floyd right now, he’d tell you they’re not very good,” Miller said at his weekly press conference last Monday. “Well, we’re not any good either — compared to our potential.”

Miller’s Panthers have shown plenty of potential in the exhibition season, defeating Pella Windows 96-75 and BC Albacomp-Hungary 84-81.

UNI has eight returning lettermen, including four starters from last season’s 16-12 team. The Panthers have been led by guards Tony Brus and Darian DeVries, who scored a combined 67 points in the Panthers’ two exhibition games.

Although ISU easily defeated the Yugoslavian select team in its exhibition opener, the Cyclones lost to World Basketball Opportunities Wednesday night, 83-78.

The Cyclones have no returning starters from last season and have been led by rookie forward, Marcus Fizer, who has combined for a team-high 44 points in the exhibition season. After ISU’s loss on Wednesday, Floyd said his team had a lot of preparation to do before it faces a talented UNI squad.

“In Northern Iowa, we’re seeing a veteran team that has four out of five starters back from last year,” Floyd said. “I’ve heard six out of eight of their top players from last year are returning.”

Floyd also mentioned junior college transfer Tyjuan Finley, who scored 15 points against Pella Windows but missed the second exhibition game because of academic reasons. “From what I understand, he is a very, very fine talent,” Floyd said.

After giving up 47 points in the second half against WBO, Floyd said defense will be the key in Sunday’s game against the Panthers.

“Obviously, our offense is way ahead of our defense right now, and if it doesn’t get ready and get better in a hurry, we are going to have serious problems with a Northern Iowa team that is a much, much better basketball team than World Basketball Opportunities,” Floyd said.

UNI finished fourth in offense in the Missouri Valley Conference last season, averaging 71.3 points a game. In exhibition play, the Panthers had six players finish in double figures against Pella Windows and three who did against BC Albacomp-Hungary.

Floyd said the Cyclone defense must prepare to take on the Panthers’ solid offense.

“Hopefully our defense can get better in three days,” Floyd said. “If it doesn’t, we’ll be giving you the same song and dance on Sunday evening.”

Floyd said Northern Iowa has a major advantage over the Cyclones and their other opponents.

“They got experience this summer over in Europe with a European tour that I think has them ready to make a run at the Missouri Valley Conference championship,” he said.

The Cyclones lead the series against UNI 28-4 and are currently on a four-game winning streak. Miller has only faced Floyd once, in 1994 and was defeated by ISU, 81-62.

Against the Cyclones, Miller is 1-8, with his only victory being a 68-62 triumph in 1990. Sunday’s 3 p.m. meeting between the two teams at Hilton Coliseum will be the first regular season game for both squads.

“You can open your season in one of two ways,” Miller said Monday. “You can open with a win, in a game your supposed to win, or you can open with one of the most talented teams in basketball.

“I can assure you Kansas would not want to go to Hilton and play them,” he continued. “I don’t care if they’re new, old or what they are. They’re extremely well coached — they’re very athletic, they’re big and strong. They can flat out play.”