some of my favorite quotes from this pre-season magazine that I just picked up which I have heard things about on here.
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"Northern Illinois lurks like a winter storm in the MAC West. A veteran team of mostly sophmores and juniors should reap the benefits of some redshirt seasons for coach Rob Judson."
"With swingman Mike Mckinney, guard Cory Sims, and center James Hughes, NIU is one of the few teams that can athletically go toe-to-toe with Ohio."
"The discovery Judson has is a basketball team that should shine like new money this season."
"Add to this mix Ben Rand, a 6-6 transfer from Iowa who brings athleticism to match Mckinney's as well as a high level of defensive toughness.
Pre-season conference awards:
Best shot blocker: James Hughes
Best strategist: Rob Judson
Wake me up when the season is nearly over so I can purchase tix to Cleveland.
Tatoo and NIU bball fans are both living on Fantasy Island.
Add the S&S prognosticators.
PLEASE see me back here in March !
Goooooooooo HUSKIES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wait one minute: Are we talking men or women's bball teams?
I imagine the ladies getting to finals before the men.
cyberdawg Wrote:Wake me up when the season is nearly over so I can purchase tix to Cleveland.
Tatoo and NIU bball fans are both living on Fantasy Island.
Add the S&S prognosticators.
PLEASE see me back here in March !
Goooooooooo HUSKIES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wait one minute: Are we talking men or women's bball teams?
I imagine the ladies getting to finals before the men.
I dont keep up with these presseason magazines but isnt Street and Smith's considered one of the more distinguised ones?
Yes it is maddawg.
Like you and i can agree on we both think this team is going to be much improved over last seasons.
We just need to use what we have. Some nice athletic players, we can't just jack up 3's this season.
Madd Dawg:
Allow me to personally congratulate you on securing post as contributing editor to Street & Smiths. Good work on your first article.
Alum
The Sporting News preseason edition has also picked NIU to win the west.
niu85alum Wrote:Madd Dawg:
Allow me to personally congratulate you on securing post as contributing editor to Street & Smiths. Good work on your first article.
Alum
And I found it interesting, no references to the Rob Judson Death March in the Street and Smith's write up. In fact he got pre-season accolades :)
I like maddawg have a faith in this team. It seems like some national publications think this team talented too. The coaching does worry me at times, but as of right now i'm excited for this season and think we will be better and make it to the DANCE!
Only problem being...Our next recruiting class may not be so great. We haven't been able to give scholarships away.
crazywilly Wrote:I like maddawg have a faith in this team. It seems like some national publications think this team talented too. The coaching does worry me at times, but as of right now i'm excited for this season and think we will be better and make it to the DANCE!
Only problem being...Our next recruiting class may not be so great. We haven't been able to give scholarships away.
I agree, I think that this team has some talent and could surprise us.
Whats our starting 5 going to be?
crazywilly Wrote:I like maddawg have a faith in this team. It seems like some national publications think this team talented too. The coaching does worry me at times, but as of right now i'm excited for this season and think we will be better and make it to the DANCE!
Only problem being...Our next recruiting class may not be so great. We haven't been able to give scholarships away.
I third that, but I'm still worried we don't have a reliable banger in the low post to play physical D and grab boards.
We'll win more than the last two seasons, but it may not be enough to win the West.
Honestly i think McKenzie will shock some people. He got Huge. He must have put on 50 to 60 pounds from when he was a freshman.
G Maestranzi
G McKinney
G Sims
C Hughes
F Peterson
Then who's next in... Rand or Pancratz?
NIU needs lots and lots of minutes from Hughes, right?
crazywilly Wrote:I like maddawg have a faith in this team. It seems like some national publications think this team talented too. The coaching does worry me at times, but as of right now i'm excited for this season and think we will be better and make it to the DANCE!
Only problem being...Our next recruiting class may not be so great. We haven't been able to give scholarships away.
Right now Judson's biggest problem is that he can't recruit. It is sad, we have a brand new facility for basketball, radio play on the Score and proximity to Chicago yet he can't get any studs in. Look at his best class recently. Clair gone, the guy from HF did not get in(I cant think of his name) only Pancrantz remains. 1 for 3 is not good. We have 5 scholarships but no takers(except for players that only have a D1A scholarship from NIU.
I think he is ok of a on court coach but you need talent.
It seems to me the last two classes have been decent or at least spark some sort of potential. The jury is out on Lipkins, who is an unknown up here, but there was some buzz over Pancratz, Clair and HF kid.
How much do their decisions to leave NIU or not come to NIU after verbaling have an affect on this class? You might as well add recent suspensions and defections of Smallwood and Paulson to that too. Do these events affect recruites decision making processes? Of course a struggling program will have it's challenges with recruiting, but the buzz of that class from two years ago really faded quickly. I just wish Judson could land one stud that could take us to a new level.
dynovinyl Wrote:It seems to me the last two classes have been decent or at least spark some sort of potential. The jury is out on Lipkins, who is an unknown up here, but there was some buzz over Pancratz, Clair and HF kid.
How much do their decisions to leave NIU or not come to NIU after verbaling have an affect on this class? You might as well add recent suspensions and defections of Smallwood and Paulson to that too. Do these events affect recruites decision making processes? Of course a struggling program will have it's challenges with recruiting, but the buzz of that class from two years ago really faded quickly. I just wish Judson could land one stud that could take us to a new level.
I don't think it's any big secret that Judson is on the hot seat. Add to that the defections, and it's not surprising that no one wants to commit to NIU this year.
The good news is that we'll have a lot of schollies to give out next year whether Judson is successful or not.....