It is going to be a long season.

http://www.niuhuskies.com/sports/m-baskb...l-mtt.html

Well at least they are playing a tough non-Conference schedule:
http://www.niuhuskies.com/sports/m-baskb...sched.html

Purdue
Milwaukee
Iowa
DePaul

Wow. A lot of shirnkage going on there.

(09-22-2011 11:55 AM)Zao123 Wrote:  It is going to be a long season.

http://www.niuhuskies.com/sports/m-baskb...l-mtt.html

It's a very young roster; but even with the loss of Dre Henley, a very talented one. Now it's up to Monty to develop their skills and make them a team.

We need to show up at the Convo and support this team EVERY GAME. The future is very bright; keep the faith!

"In Monty we trust!"

I haven't been following the roster that closely, did we lose more than Rucker and Henley?

I agree with Huskiebob, roster looks (on paper) loaded with young talent. Will enjoy watching them grow together.

It will be very interesting. Storm, Toler and and Nixon are going have to take a leadership role. Just hope that a couple of the kids step up quickly. Maybe Nader will be even better than advertised.

Let us all pray that there are no injuries.

I was fairly excited about this season a couple of months ago. Now when you look at the roster and see so many true freshman it is scary. They will have to grow up fast.

The program has nowhere to go but up. Strategy? Play the kids, take your lumps, recruit like a banshee and hope by next season the future shows good optimism. No, do not waste time on the upper classman flotsam left on this roster. Glue them to the bench.

The 2011-12 season is gonig to be tough. But I think Montgomery and crew are worthy of the best possible fan support. Problem is very, very few people have interest in NIU hoops right now. It may take this team taking two steps forward in a year or so before fan interest starts to trickle.

(09-22-2011 02:41 PM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  The program has nowhere to go but up. Strategy? Play the kids, take your lumps, recruit like a banshee and hope by next season the future shows good optimism. No, do not waste time on the upper classman flotsam left on this roster. Glue them to the bench.

Mmhmm.

Toler, Keith Gray, Nader, Nixon and either Ford, Christian or Miller could be starting 5....Toler can score inside or out, KG will be a pleasant surprise and will get 8 and 8 methinks....Nader could be big time scorer and TN is ready bust out with a big shooting year...MM will get nixon shots he hasn't seen before and he will knock them down. Ford and Christian are really combo guys that can both score but will be serviceable at the point--Zach is small but very heady and won't turn the ball over and should get 15 minutes a game and hopefully will drain a three once in a while...

Barnett will be a pleasant surprise, very athletic and can score from the wing and rebounds quite well for his size....I think Bolin will have some big games but may struggle with monty's defensive in-your-face scheme. The other gray will get quality minutes off the bench as first post sub and storm's experience and big body will help the front line....the way TY shoots it, he may help stretch the defense but he will also have trouble guarding on the perimiter...

This will be a fun team to watch but will obviously have growing pains....can be very quick but lack size...However, they will play HARD every possession as I hear monty is a taskmaster who demands ultimate effort and won't cotton to half assing it ever.

Even though I have no interest in basketball (NCAA or NBA) I will do my best to show up for a few games this year.

Definitely going to be a growing pains/take your lumps kind of year, but that was a given. More about watching the players than the score. At least the new regime gives the hope that things could be headed up in the long run.

Toler is not that good and if he is our BIG! thats gonna be a tough time

(09-22-2011 03:29 PM)cagy cager Wrote:  Toler, Keith Gray, Nader, Nixon and either Ford, Christian or Miller could be starting 5....Toler can score inside or out, KG will be a pleasant surprise and will get 8 and 8 methinks....Nader could be big time scorer and TN is ready bust out with a big shooting year...MM will get nixon shots he hasn't seen before and he will knock them down. Ford and Christian are really combo guys that can both score but will be serviceable at the point--Zach is small but very heady and won't turn the ball over and should get 15 minutes a game and hopefully will drain a three once in a while...

Barnett will be a pleasant surprise, very athletic and can score from the wing and rebounds quite well for his size....I think Bolin will have some big games but may struggle with monty's defensive in-your-face scheme. The other gray will get quality minutes off the bench as first post sub and storm's experience and big body will help the front line....the way TY shoots it, he may help stretch the defense but he will also have trouble guarding on the perimiter...

This will be a fun team to watch but will obviously have growing pains....can be very quick but lack size...However, they will play HARD every possession as I hear monty is a taskmaster who demands ultimate effort and won't cotton to half assing it ever.

I saw Zach Miller play twice last year and I'm doubtful he has the size and athleticism to play D1 basketball. Like you say, he is very smart; but I don't think that will be enough at this level.

They need to pick up a JUCO TRANSFER

Monterale Clark is from ILLINOIS and is a 6'10 top 150 JUCO player and hasnt picked a school and has no offers.

(09-22-2011 04:56 PM)yesman815 Wrote:  They need to pick up a JUCO TRANSFER

Monterale Clark is from ILLINOIS and is a 6'10 top 150 JUCO player and hasnt picked a school and has no offers.

he committed to marquette then got arrested.

Take a chance on him!!!

NOman, Toler is an above average MAC player...he may well average a double double and be all MAC. He was 16th in the league in rebounding last year and scored 10 a game and I have no doubt this staff will have him in considerably better shape. As with last year, the huskies don't really have a typical big man post....will rely on dribble drive motion offense, get in gaps, kick to shooters or dump inside when the help comes...there are guys that can, once they adjust to D1 basketball, make plays and with Toler, Nixon, Bolin, Nader, Christian and Storm there are alot of guys are above average shooters. I doubt they will have too much trouble scoring but the defensive end and rebounding will determine whether the record is 10-20 or 15-15

I will be at every game and I hope many others will join me. Bball teams can be influenced by the crowd, so I hope we can get atleast 3000 to attend most games. I cannot see many wins from this group, but maybe as fans we can help the guys steal a couple games. Niu's bball future depends on montys ability to add some quality size to the roster in a hurry! When did storm become 6'5, zach miller 5'8 and the gray twinns shrink to 6'6?

Cagy, I am a huge niu bball and monty fan but this team will struggle to win 5-8 games. Size and experience matters and the mac conference is loaded with it this year!