Diesel:

NIU's inside game is its strength? Are you kidding me. Its perhaps the greatest weakness on a team with multiple weaknesses. A lousy Ohio team repeatedly pounded the ball inside against us on our home court. Whenever Marcus Smallwood touches the ball he instantly is triple teamed because opponents have zero respect for the other big men on our team or our perimeter shooting.

The strength of this team is clearly not the inside play. Maybe next year it will be the strength, but that will depend on the players ability to gain muscle and their desire to work out during the off season. Sanders, Hughes, McKenzie all have the athletic ability and new recruits appear to have the ability to improve the overall talent level of this program.

The reason this team is only at .500 ball is because they only have one clear strength in Smallwood. The MAC has increased its talent level in basketball and football every year for the past 5-7 years on a consistent basis. When we increase our talant level, we are not only playing catch-up but the general bar is being raised at the same time. We've also increase our non-conference schedule strengh minus the two St. Francis type games.

Next years line-up includes
PG - Maestranzi, Paradise
2G - Zach Pancratz(FR), Frank Clair(FR), Mckinney
SF - Peterson, Paulsen,
PF - Sander, Byrd, Craig Rechel (FR), Cyrus Tate(FR)
Center - Hughes, McKenzie

Paradise can play some 2G, Zach and Clair can play SF, Rechel, Tate, and Sanders can play some Center. You have some flexability to play with the new recruits on the roster.

Future is for 3 guard athletic line-up. Stack this roster against the talent Judson inherited. Overall roster improvement with a shot at becoming an NCAA caliber team.