Wow! Who would have picked the Huskies to be 2-1 in conference

(01-15-2022 06:48 PM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  Wow! Who would have picked the Huskies to be 2-1 in conference

Definitely not the same experts who picked the football team to finish last.

(01-15-2022 06:48 PM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  Wow! Who would have picked the Huskies to be 2-1 in conference

Also, and I should really temper this, but they've got a very winnable game on Tuesday at home against Bowling Green.

They should be 3-1 after Tuesday before heading out on the road with two tough ones at Miami and at Ohio.

Hard to not get excited. Not saying they will win conference but team looking better each game and fun to watch

Congrats! It will be interesting game when EMU has Monty Scott available to play.

Great job Huskies!

Kaleb Thorton did a great job the last 2.5 mins by drawing fouls, making shots, and even a really good pass in the lane for an easy slam.

This team still isn't good and we're still playing guys major chunks of minutes I'm not comfortable with, but this team is starting to play like a team. They're taking better shots, seeing the floor better and playing good defense.

Today, something I think would have been thought impossible when the season began, NIU had 5 players in double digits (Williams - 18, Thornton - 15, Hankerson - 12, Makuoi - 11, and Crump - 10).

They still turn the ball over way too much, which is why games like this one was close. Also, we're playing a ton of guys right now. We had 11 guys in the game where EMU had only 8, which led to their foul trouble.

Another observation. Free throws. We shot 71.4% today, which isn't stellar but a marked improvement from earlier in the year. Thornton was 7 of 9 (clutch down the stretch), Crump was 3 of 5 (which is huge for him), Hankerson was 2 of 2, Okanu and Makuou both shot 1 of 2, and Williams was 1 of 1.

One last observation. Rebounds. NIU out-rebounded EMU today 37 to 26 and got 14 offensive rebounds. They controlled the inside all game and kept Farrakhan sealed off on the outside (and he still scored 27...this kid is really good).

Had a great time at the game today. The team and the coaching staff were fired all all game. Playing better defense has been the key the past two games. They really got after it. Burno is real entertaining to watch on the sidelines.

Home attendance:
EIU 1,153
EMU 1,035

BGSU Jan. 18 Tues. 7 p.m. Classes begin same day (17th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NIU closed)

Wonder is NIU plans anything to promote the day classes start up again, like "great way to restart" or something? Northern Star Online? Local radio? Ride around indoor track in STF's golf cart? How about "Yes, we WILL have hot dogs?"

I'll take 2-1 in conference!

Classes remote next week



quote='pvk75' pid='18012887' dateline='1642302461']
Home attendance:
EIU 1,153
EMU 1,035

BGSU Jan. 18 Tues. 7 p.m. Classes begin same day (17th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NIU closed)

Wonder is NIU plans anything to promote the day classes start up again, like "great way to restart" or something? Northern Star Online? Local radio? Ride around indoor track in STF's golf cart? How about "Yes, we WILL have hot dogs?"
[/quote]

Via NIU.edu, NIU published online classes notice Jan 7. IMO, Jan. 18 is still a refocus on NIU from holiday break/vacation when, presumably, students pay little attention to NIU.

Not aware students living in apartments, elsewhere cannot attend games if they comply with the same attendance protocol as other fans. Or that some kind of press release/notice/invite in Star Online is a bad idea, perhaps including reminder of restrictions.

(The golf cart, hot dog thing was just a possibly poor joke. Hope no one took it personally. Gee whiz.)

(01-15-2022 06:57 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(01-15-2022 06:48 PM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  Wow! Who would have picked the Huskies to be 2-1 in conference

Also, and I should really temper this, but they've got a very winnable game on Tuesday at home against Bowling Green.

They should be 3-1 after Tuesday before heading out on the road with two tough ones at Miami and at Ohio.

BGSU is 1-4 MAC but take a look at who they lost to! Top 3 teams in the MAC. And they didn't lose to Toledo by 32 points, uhhmmmm!
ESPN doesn't have a point spread yet but the Matchup Predicator has BGSU at 72% win when we were 51% win against EMU!
It will be a tough game to win. My own odds are 50/50.

EMU was a fun game to watch. Clearly could have gone either way (68-68 with 2:20 left). If Monty was coaching we would have lost, no doubt. There is a different vibe to this team from past few years.

(01-15-2022 04:53 PM)Big Red Wrote:  We have a Nate Scott sighting!

Who? Did he once play for NIU? Talk about forgettable players!!!

Now Tyler Cochran will haunt us. 28 points yesterday.

(01-16-2022 10:37 AM)El Duderino Wrote:  

(01-15-2022 04:53 PM)Big Red Wrote:  We have a Nate Scott sighting!

Who? Did he once play for NIU? Talk about forgettable players!!!

Now Tyler Cochran will haunt us. 28 points yesterday.

Scott played the last two seasons for NIU.

Elduderino, actually ifMonty was coaching yesterday they probably would’ve also won. Monty’s teams won often at home but were horrible on the road.

(01-16-2022 11:29 AM)dc1 Wrote:  Elduderino, actually ifMonty was coaching yesterday they probably would’ve also won. Monty’s teams won often at home but were horrible on the road.

They also had a knack for coming back from deficits (especially at home, as you mentioned). Say what you (obviously not you dc1) will but Monty's teams played hard. Effort was not why they often weren't very good.

(01-16-2022 02:37 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(01-16-2022 11:29 AM)dc1 Wrote:  Elduderino, actually ifMonty was coaching yesterday they probably would’ve also won. Monty’s teams won often at home but were horrible on the road.

They also had a knack for coming back from deficits (especially at home, as you mentioned). Say what you (obviously not you dc1) will but Monty's teams played hard. Effort was not why they often weren't very good.

However...

Monty's team most likely wouldn't have had Keshawn Williams. But it would probably still have Beane and Cochran, which...might be a wash.

As much as I have a strong disdain for Crump, I do kinda like how Burno has been using him lately (more as a swingman/inside player) even using him as the tallest guy on the floor (for the Huskies) at times.

I think it limits his chances (in other words, I don't see him trying to create plays as much) and allows him to do things (like rebound) where he can use his height and athleticism to his advantage. He's not super strong (but he did get stronger in this offseason) but he's way more athletic than most post players and with as long as he is, he can out-jump them. He's got confidence and he's really athletic and I think Burno might be using him the best way possible.

I’m anxious to see more of Zion Russell. I think we would have yesterday except he picked up 3 quick fouls. He plays without fear and finishes well at the basket and has a good outside shot. He also plays hard on defense.

(01-16-2022 04:04 PM)Growler83 Wrote:  I’m anxious to see more of Zion Russell. I think we would have yesterday except he picked up 3 quick fouls. He plays without fear and finishes well at the basket and has a good outside shot. He also plays hard on defense.

I agree. Going in to this season, I wanted to see Noah Kon play a lot but he's on the pathway to red shirt. I think he was hurt awhile back (and he still could be). I know I saw him on the bench yesterday so it's not covid.

But yes, I've become more and more intrigued by Russell. I actually keep forgetting he's a freshman. I don't know why, but his name screams JUCO transfer to me, like we had a guy a few years ago with a similar name (Zaire Mateen comes to mind but I think we also had a Zion but I'm drawing a blank...I know full well I'm about to look it up...okay...it's not Alize Travis...omg...I had completely removed Andrew Zelis from my memory...oh well...nothing is coming up). Either way, I keep going...oh yeah...he's another freshman and I like how comfortable he looks and his assertiveness on the floor. He's not scared or doesn't look overmatched.

I'm definitely intrigued by him.