Four newcomers to Northern Iowa’s men’s basketball team—Greyson Uelmen, Tate McCubbin, Isaiah Johnson-Arigu and Ian Smikle—made the Missouri Valley Conference’s 2026-27 preseason watchlist. The juniors bring experience from other Division I programs, including All-Conference honors and strong scoring and shooting numbers. UNI opens its regular season at home against Cornell on Nov. 3.

By the Numbers
  • 4 UNI newcomers named to the watchlist, which includes 33 players.
  • Uelmen averaged 16.8 points per game last season, including a career-high 41-point performance.
  • McCubbin averaged 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game across 62 games at Austin Peay.
  • Johnson-Arigu shot 54.4% from the field for St. Thomas; Smikle shot 53.3% for Tulsa last season.
What’s Next

UNI hosts Upper Iowa in a free, public exhibition on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. CT, then opens the regular season against Cornell on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. CT. Both games are at the McLeod Center.

Bottom Line

UNI’s four watchlist selections bring proven college experience to a roster looking to make an impact in the Missouri Valley Conference.