I'm not drinking the cool-aid...but I may be starting to take small sips.

We've obviously taken a step forward this year, although I'm not sure how impressive that really is considering how abysmal the past 2 seasons have been. Still, it seems like we've got a young team with a good amount of talent. Is it possible?

The only part of your statement I disagree with is where you say the past two seasons have been abysmal. It was the last NINE seasons.

This team could be in the hunt next year. I think 20 wins is a reasonable goal, why the heck not?

Yes.

(02-12-2014 10:43 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The only part of your statement I disagree with is where you say the past two seasons have been abysmal. It was the last NINE seasons.

This team could be in the hunt next year. I think 20 wins is a reasonable goal, why the heck not?

Very true, but back to back 5 win seasons stand out amongst all the other disappointing ones.

Being a top 4 seed next season is my expectation.

I will wait to see what the roster officially looks like. Things are looking up.

(02-12-2014 10:19 PM)niu_1087 Wrote:  I'm not drinking the cool-aid...but I may be starting to take small sips.

We've obviously taken a step forward this year, although I'm not sure how impressive that really is considering how abysmal the past 2 seasons have been. Still, it seems like we've got a young team with a good amount of talent. Is it possible?

I would say yes and I think it could happen as soon as next year if things fall right. Toledo loses Pearson, Akron loses their top 3 scorers, Kent is not Kent, WMU loses their dominating center Whittington, Ohio has a couple of key losses. The West could really be a 3-team fight between NIU/Toledo/WMU for supremacy. I have this vision of a Saturday night home game in February next year in which the Convocation center is rocking vs Toledo. I sure hope UT is played on a Saturday.

There will not be anyone leaving unless Monty tells them its in their best interest(lack of playing time). I will say it again, if we win 14 games, I will believe we could've won 20 with Highsmith!

WMU will be a step below NIU and Toledo. Winnington will be as big a loss as David Brown and any MAC team will have! Brown also would be taking the scholly from Winnington.

(02-12-2014 11:36 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  There will not be anyone leaving unless Monty tells them its in their best interest(lack of playing time). I will say it again, if we win 14 games, I will believe we could've won 20 with Highsmith!

Luckily he's a freshman. Can/will he be red shirted because of this year?

(02-12-2014 11:36 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  There will not be anyone leaving unless Monty tells them its in their best interest(lack of playing time). I will say it again, if we win 14 games, I will believe we could've won 20 with Highsmith!

Exactly, Highsmith was the real deal and the main reason we won our OOC schedule, with him Id say a few more wins would have happened. Like 4 or so to this point.

From what I heard he has to play in only 30% of the games.

Ive come to realize that THIS is the time to enjoy gentlemen, this is the funnest time as a fan. We can see the turnaround on the horizon, the pieces are falling into place. It is almost as fun as a fan to be at this point than it is at the top. Moral of the story, enjoy this!

For the last time, the coaches said Highsmith was denied another year. He will be a soph, next year. Orris and Johnson and another year for our guys will be enough, regardless of Highsmith. Highsmith if healthy will be icing on the cake, the dagger! NIU bball turned the corner in the second half of the LOYOLA game. NIU and Toledo will battle for the MACC, next year!

(02-13-2014 12:06 AM)dekalb222 Wrote:  For the last time, the coaches said Highsmith was denied another year. He will be a soph, next year. Orris and Johnson and another year for our guys will be enough, regardless of Highsmith. Highsmith if healthy will be icing on the cake, the dagger! NIU bball turned the corner in the second half of the LOYOLA game. NIU and Toledo will battle for the MACC, next year!

>For the last time

That was my first time hearing it.

(02-13-2014 12:06 AM)dekalb222 Wrote:  For the last time, the coaches said Highsmith was denied another year. He will be a soph, next year. Orris and Johnson and another year for our guys will be enough, regardless of Highsmith. Highsmith if healthy will be icing on the cake, the dagger! NIU bball turned the corner in the second half of the LOYOLA game. NIU and Toledo will battle for the MACC, next year!

I hate to look ahead too far but I have to agree with you, our old "rivals" look like they will be the ones standing in the Huskies' way next season. Should be so exciting to see how this unfolds next season.

(02-12-2014 11:21 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Being a top 4 seed next season is my expectation.

Top 4 seed in the NCAA tournament you meant obviously?

I could be wrong, but he couldn't have been denied. You can use a redshirt as long as you didn't play in 30% of the games, that's a regular redshirt.

However, you can't file for a medical redshirt until after your last year of eligibility. He may not be granted a normal redshirt, but he could petition the NCAA when he's a Sr.

See Venric Mark at Northwestern.

If Toledo were to get to championship game and lose, don't you have to start thinking about looking at them as at at-large and potentially the MAC getting 2 bids this year?

(02-13-2014 09:34 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  If Toledo were to get to championship game and lose, don't you have to start thinking about looking at them as at at-large and potentially the MAC getting 2 bids this year?

Probably not. What quality wins does Toledo have? None.