The new roster is on NIU Athletics. If someone knows how to post it here I would appreciate it. Couple new names JayDehaan/Naperville and Jordan Thomas/Northfield.

I clicked your link...and it took me to the Oakland Athletics webpage, that was kind of funny...not sure if you meant to do it or not..

BBall Roster linkage

Honestly was afraid Highsmith might leave after he blew out his knee. Glad that wasn't the case.

(09-18-2014 11:27 AM)7 Wrote:  Honestly was afraid Highsmith might leave after he blew out his knee. Glad that wasn't the case.

....seems like the worst time to leave.

I agree that would be the worst time to leave. Also after missing all those games he probably wouldn't leave in the future. Highsmith, Orris, Bowie, Aaric Armstead, Maric all back next year. We could be on a nice little run,

(09-18-2014 12:10 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  I agree that would be the worst time to leave. Also after missing all those games he probably wouldn't leave in the future. Highsmith, Orris, Bowie, Aaric Armstead, Maric all back next year. We could be on a nice little run,

For some reason I thought Johnson has 2 years left, forgot he had only one. Going forward, the development and effectiveness of Maric might be pretty huge in how long of sustained success NIU can have. I hope he turns out to be serviceable/above serviceable.

(09-18-2014 12:10 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  I agree that would be the worst time to leave. Also after missing all those games he probably wouldn't leave in the future. Highsmith, Orris, Bowie, Aaric Armstead, Maric all back next year. We could be on a nice little run,

Don't forget Baker. and the two new studs from Milwaukee

I forgot Baker and Keith Gray and you guys will like Chuks. Marin will be very good and I am sure Monty will get another 6'9 guy. I was just mentioning the guys that would be back. Orris, Highsmith, Aaric Armstead and Maric all have 3 seasons left and actually Maric has 4. That is a very solid foundation.

(09-18-2014 12:34 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  I forgot Baker and Keith Gray and you guys will like Chuks. Marin will be very good and I am sure Monty will get another 6'9 guy. I was just mentioning the guys that would be back. Orris, Highsmith, Aaric Armstead and Maric all have 3 seasons left and actually Maric has 4. That is a very solid foundation.

Monty is going to be gone isn't he? We better enjoy him this year.

(09-18-2014 01:17 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 12:34 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  I forgot Baker and Keith Gray and you guys will like Chuks. Marin will be very good and I am sure Monty will get another 6'9 guy. I was just mentioning the guys that would be back. Orris, Highsmith, Aaric Armstead and Maric all have 3 seasons left and actually Maric has 4. That is a very solid foundation.

Monty is going to be gone isn't he? We better enjoy him this year.

LOL...you never cease to amaze me.

You are the most "glass half-empty" guy I've never met.

One good year usually doesn't get you a new big gig. A few good years and maybe. I could see Monty at DePaul sometime down the road. You never know but I expect him to be at NIU for awhile longer.

Monty to DePaul is a good bet. He has to have a couple of 20 win seasons though. With our BBall program, one good season is not enough

Basketball coaches don't genereally get as hired as quickly as football coaches do.

The team will be good this year. Solid depth throughout. Ive never been more excited about a team in my life (except for maybe the Bulls this year)

I think towards the end of the year the rotation will look something like this...

PG - Orris / Baker / DeHann or Thomas
SG - Highsmith / Older Armstead
SF - Younger Armstead / Johnson / Chuks / Bowie in some situations
PF - Bowie / Threloff when Pete or Maric is at Center / Gray's
C - Threloff / Maric / Pete Rock

This team has great depth, and I think that not knowing the minutes is a good problem to have (But still a problem!)

PG
I think that the PG will be split between Baker and Orris at the start of the year, and the guy who comes to play will start with the other seeing their time drop off. The new kids, maybe they will be RS'ed, will probably not get a lot of time unless they have a breakout game.

SG
I hope to see Highsmith healthy enough to take a crack at the starting job otherwise Aaric (Younger) Armstead will probably start. Hopefully they both can at SG and SF for Armstead. Aaron Armstead will probably see his minutes stay the same this year, and he will be a good backup. Chuks or Anthony Johnson can play the two as well but I see them in the 3 more, we will find out.

SF
Aaric Armstead will hopefully be able to start at the 3 this year, I think he has the right size and he is built for the position instead of SG. I see Johnson taking the reigns as the backup for this position (Unless they want Bowie to play the wing) with Chuks coming in as a reserve/minutes guy, but time will tell. Aaron Armstead can also play here, but to me he is more natural at the SG position. Bowie can also play the 3, but I see him more in the position for the PF, but I am not the coach obviously.

PF
Speaking of Bowie, he should get the start at the Power Forward. Nobody else really is tall enough, or coordinated enough to play the kind of stretch forward that Monty is looking for (at least from last year). The centers can play the position but I don't see them taking the starting job, unless Monty wants to change his offensive philosophy. The Gray twins(?) are going to play sparse minutes just as breath catchers for the other guys. They are not D1 material.

C
Threloff will start at the Center, and the main battle at the position will be for his backup. Based off last year it will be Pete Rock, but I see more potential and higher enthusiasm/team spirit in Marin Maric. He is only getting better, and will be the starter next year. We can hopefully use this guy a lot to make him the dominant center for the future that Monty needs. Threloff is a beast right now, but only for this year. Playing Maric more will make him better for the future and only help the greater good.

(09-18-2014 01:25 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 01:17 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 12:34 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  I forgot Baker and Keith Gray and you guys will like Chuks. Marin will be very good and I am sure Monty will get another 6'9 guy. I was just mentioning the guys that would be back. Orris, Highsmith, Aaric Armstead and Maric all have 3 seasons left and actually Maric has 4. That is a very solid foundation.

Monty is going to be gone isn't he? We better enjoy him this year.

LOL...you never cease to amaze me.

You are the most "glass half-empty" guy I've never met.

No not at all! Thats complete optimism, what Im saying is NIU basketball is going to be good! I would gladly trade a MACC if it means a coaching change. I just wanted to see NIU in the tourney once more before I die.

(09-18-2014 03:00 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 01:25 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 01:17 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 12:34 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  I forgot Baker and Keith Gray and you guys will like Chuks. Marin will be very good and I am sure Monty will get another 6'9 guy. I was just mentioning the guys that would be back. Orris, Highsmith, Aaric Armstead and Maric all have 3 seasons left and actually Maric has 4. That is a very solid foundation.

Monty is going to be gone isn't he? We better enjoy him this year.

LOL...you never cease to amaze me.

You are the most "glass half-empty" guy I've never met.

No not at all! Thats complete optimism, what Im saying is NIU basketball is going to be good! I would gladly trade a MACC if it means a coaching change. I just wanted to see NIU in the tourney once more before I die.

MD is one of the few strong bball supporters on here actually!

(09-18-2014 03:06 PM)Michael James Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 03:00 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 01:25 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 01:17 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 12:34 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  I forgot Baker and Keith Gray and you guys will like Chuks. Marin will be very good and I am sure Monty will get another 6'9 guy. I was just mentioning the guys that would be back. Orris, Highsmith, Aaric Armstead and Maric all have 3 seasons left and actually Maric has 4. That is a very solid foundation.

Monty is going to be gone isn't he? We better enjoy him this year.

LOL...you never cease to amaze me.

You are the most "glass half-empty" guy I've never met.

No not at all! Thats complete optimism, what Im saying is NIU basketball is going to be good! I would gladly trade a MACC if it means a coaching change. I just wanted to see NIU in the tourney once more before I die.

MD is one of the few strong bball supporters on here actually!

I understand where he is coming from, I tend to flip out too easily sometimes

(09-18-2014 01:42 PM)7 Wrote:  Basketball coaches don't genereally get as hired as quickly as football coaches do.

Unless you make noise in the tourney.

(09-18-2014 03:12 PM)niusfactuary Wrote:  

(09-18-2014 01:42 PM)7 Wrote:  Basketball coaches don't genereally get as hired as quickly as football coaches do.

Unless you make noise in the tourney.

It depends how much noise. Groce didn't get hired away until Ohio's second run.