Let's not automatically assume that younger players will get better. You can shoot or you can't, it doesn't come with age.

(02-27-2013 11:12 PM)niu2222 Wrote:  7huskie6, the score isn't much different. The difference is Chicago St. has 8 of the 9 guys that played for them were juniors or seniors. NIU had 2 of the 11 guys that played for them were juniors and 0 seniors. EIU also had several juniors and seniors. I still felt NIU did not play hard and deserved to lose.

Many of these guys are nearly done with two full seasons in the program. Let's stop with the we are too young excuse. They have not improved and some have regressed. I really have doubts that Highsmith shows up to be a part of this mess.

(02-28-2013 05:53 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  Many of these guys are nearly done with two full seasons in the program. Let's stop with the we are too young excuse. They have not improved and some have regressed.

One hundred percent agreement with this summary.
When you get major minutes game after game, that playing time should help you tremendously; unless you're not that good or not receiving coaching. Statistically or simply based on the record, the improvement is not there and the fact that some of these guys continue to make the same errors indicates they're not learning the game or the system.
I've talked to several former players, coaches from various levels (prep to juco to college) and none of them can figure out what kind of offense or defense this team is relying on. Almost all note that various players turn it off just as often as they turn it on when it comes to their effort. It's hard to believe that adding one, two or even three good players to this mix is going to vault NIU to the top of the division. Yes, many of the other teams are graduating players, but they're also recruiting and have underclassmen ready and eager to move up.
After last night's NIU loss, read an article on Penn State's upset of Michigan and it referred to the BTN color guy's noticing the players' attitudes at shoot-around, saying they were embarrassed and angry to be 0-14. IF the Huskies can get that mad, and an opponent has a frigid night shooting, maybe another win is possible.