The Panthers faced the tougher task.

They had never played a No. 1-ranked team and no one from their conference had beaten one since 1962. UNI also seemed to be overmatched against KU’s lineup of pros-in-waiting. When asked if any of their players could start for Kansas, Farokhmanesh and Adam Koch gave an uncomfortable laugh.

The thing about the Panthers is they know defensive positioning as well as any team in the country, moving in a symphonic dance of denial. Northern Iowa has become the most consistent team in its state, too, reaching the NCAA tournament five of the past seven years, good enough that Kansas coach Bill Self said there’s no way Cinderella’s shoe fits anymore.

He was right.

UNI went right at the Jayhawks, opening with a 10-2 run that had Self burning an early timeout against a mid-major for the second straight game.

The Panthers kept attacking, leading all but 56 seconds of the first half, by as much as eight. Farokhmanesh was at his quick-shooting best, hitting all four of his shots — three 3s — for 11 points to put UNI in the upset position, up 36-28 at halftime.

“There were some things that happened during the game that I felt like wasn’t poor play by us, more so Northern Iowa making plays,” Kansas coach Bill Self said.

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Northern Iowa's Kerwin Dunham, center, is hugged by teammate Jordan Eglseder after making a big play against No. 1 Kansas on Saturday.

Northern Iowa kept forcing Kansas into mistakes, didn’t stop making shots and built the lead to 47-35 with 12½ minutes left.

That’s when Kansas starting inching back.

Turning up their defensive pressure, the Jayhawks clipped the lead down to 56-53 with just 4½ minutes left as their fans made the Ford Center feel like Allen Fieldhouse.

The Panthers didn’t blink, answering every challenge for the monster upset.

“We knew they were going to turn up the pressure,” Adam Koch said. “In this kind of environment, where this could be your last game, you’re going to come at it with everything.”

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