(03-10-2016 11:37 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  NIU questions for next year, who is the team leader or leaders with Baker gone. Will Aaric Armstead take a step up. He seems to be the same player he was last year. Will Highsmith stay healthy. If he can he will be a big contributor. If he can't they won't have enough offense. Also a playing Highsmith would be a good leader. It's hard to lead if your not playing.

Highsmith being a big contributor is probably the difference in NIU being that 4 to 6 seed or NIU being a top 2 seed

He played 10 games 2 years ago and he's had 2 knee surgeries. I wouldn't expect a whole helluva lot.

(03-10-2016 11:37 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  NIU questions for next year, who is the team leader or leaders with Baker gone. Will Aaric Armstead take a step up. He seems to be the same player he was last year. Will Highsmith stay healthy. If he can he will be a big contributor. If he can't they won't have enough offense. Also a playing Highsmith would be a good leader. It's hard to lead if your not playing.

A couple more questions. Will the team learn how to win away games? Will the team learn how to shoot the ball and actually get it in the basket?

Dog fan, the team had a pretty good shooting season. Shooting 423%fg and 352% from 3 pt. and just under 700%ft.

There is a nice opportunity to improve in shooting next year with just taking care of the easy shots at a much higher rate. It is encouraging to have a decent overall shooting season even with the chronic yips within 3 ft of the basket. I actually cringed every time we had a breakaway this year. Our conversion rate on break outs was alarmingly bad. We will get better

(03-11-2016 08:43 AM)dekalb222 Wrote:  Dog fan, the team had a pretty good shooting season. Shooting 423%fg and 352% from 3 pt. and just under 700%ft.

I dunno. I sure saw a heck of a lot of missed shots at or near the basket that my grandmother could make - and she's been dead for over 20 years.

(03-10-2016 06:34 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  I'll be arriving shortly to cheer the boys on, hopefully the place has a good contingent of NIU fans!

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Oh so you were one of the 7 fans there?

(03-11-2016 09:20 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-10-2016 06:34 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  I'll be arriving shortly to cheer the boys on, hopefully the place has a good contingent of NIU fans!

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Oh so you were one of the 7 fans there?

I was there, yes

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There are a few things I noticed about yesterdays game.
1. we seem to rush the offense. If you watched Ohio (drain 3 after 3) their spacing and ball movement was fairly good. We seemed to take more difficult and rushed shots .
2. We can't make a short shot for our life. I cannot remember how many 3-7 footers we missed yesterday. It was brutal.

Other things that bothered me include the inability to get quality shots in the paint. I realize that Maric was playing hurt, but still we lack a real presence in the paint on offense. Maybe its me, but I agree with one of the other posters that said in 2 more years, this team will be tough to beat.

I like Bradley and the other young players. Next year's question will be who will be the leader. We need a penetrating Point Guard and another strong forward to help take the pressure off of Maric.

I am not a b-ball player, but I love sports. I believe if this team gets physically stronger and continues to play tough defense, they will improve. Floor spacing and movement without the ball will improve over time and more easier shots will open up. It just takes time.

Players tend to improve the most from their freshman to their sophomore years, so if that is true with this team should play a lot better next year. Bradley really seemed to figure it out at the end of the season so if he can carry that forward with his size he could cause match up problems. Porter played well in stretches but he still has a tendency to force passes at times. If he can become a 10 point, 6-7 assist per game guy next year that would be fine. As mentioned previously, Wilson has a real chance to become the go to scorer next year. He just needs to become more consistent and that comes with age and experience. Key seems like he can grow into a solid contributor at the power forward position. Pauga seems like he has a solid stroke so if he can remain healthy and confident, a 6'6" 3 point shooter is another tough match up.
As far as the sophomores, increased improvement by Maric as he will probably average a double double next year can only be a good thing. If Zelis ever figures it out and gives Monty the ability to rest Maric more frequently or even play the two together, that is pretty good size for the MAC.

Can we lose the weave. We never look at the basket or cut toward the basket.

(03-11-2016 07:37 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote:  Can we lose the weave. We never look at the basket or cut toward the basket.

Yes please!!! I think part of it is that NIU doesn't really have anyone to take the ball to the basket and thus difficult to run a real offense

(03-11-2016 07:37 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote:  Can we lose the weave. We never look at the basket or cut toward the basket.

Whenever we do the weave it reminds of what the Harlem Globetrotters would do before some wacky entertaining skit to make a basket....

(03-11-2016 10:07 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(03-11-2016 07:37 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote:  Can we lose the weave. We never look at the basket or cut toward the basket.

Whenever we do the weave it reminds of what the Harlem Globetrotters would do before some wacky entertaining skit to make a basket....

+1000
I think the same thing. Where is the bucket fall of confetti or the ball on a string.

(03-11-2016 10:18 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote:  

(03-11-2016 10:07 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(03-11-2016 07:37 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote:  Can we lose the weave. We never look at the basket or cut toward the basket.

Whenever we do the weave it reminds of what the Harlem Globetrotters would do before some wacky entertaining skit to make a basket....

+1000
I think the same thing. Where is the bucket fall of confetti or the ball on a string.

Thanks...was hoping someone would understand the dated reference.

Meadowlark Lemon....Curly Neal....

On the broadcast of Ohio vs Buffalo they said the MAC team with the best record outside of MACC gets the NIT. Championship is 26-7 Akron vs 19-14 Buffalo. Ohio is 21-11 and NIU is 21-12. I thought the loser of championship game went to NIT?

(03-11-2016 11:19 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  On the broadcast of Ohio vs Buffalo they said the MAC team with the best record outside of MACC gets the NIT. Championship is 26-7 Akron vs 19-14 Buffalo. Ohio is 21-11 and NIU is 21-12. I thought the loser of championship game went to NIT?

I don't think that's accurate. My understanding is that the regular season champ (Akron) is the only team guaranteed a spot in the NIT. If Akron goes to the NCAA then the NIT will fill their spot with the next best available, regardless of conference.

(03-12-2016 08:36 AM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(03-11-2016 11:19 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  On the broadcast of Ohio vs Buffalo they said the MAC team with the best record outside of MACC gets the NIT. Championship is 26-7 Akron vs 19-14 Buffalo. Ohio is 21-11 and NIU is 21-12. I thought the loser of championship game went to NIT?

I don't think that's accurate. My understanding is that the regular season champ (Akron) is the only team guaranteed a spot in the NIT. If Akron goes to the NCAA then the NIT will fill their spot with the next best available, regardless of conference.

That is corrrect. Regular season conference champ is guaranteed an invite from the NIT if they don't win the postseason tourney and are not an NCAA at large selection. There are no conference guarantees after that.