This is everybodies favorite halftime show as the Kings Firecrackers will be performing. I even hear Sackman will be bringing his whole family from Columbus on a school night just to see the show.
NIU basketball is a sad result of just how much the transfer portal has damaged some programs. They have a good coach in Rashon Burno (who probably gets fired at the end of the season). Every year his team has been decimated at the end of the season as most of his returning starters transfer. Last year they lost 4 to transfer including a guard who averaged 20ppg and now plays for Kansas and a forward who was on the first team all MAC team and is averaging 15 ppg the last time I looked for Detroit. You will remember that our leading scorer last year, Darwishii Hunter transferred to us from NIU.
So Burno brought in 11 transfers this year and then the team has had a bunch of injuries and their record is 5-22 (1-13). They are eliminated from the MAC tournament all ready. We beat them 84 to 69 in DeKalb back in January so you would think this is going to be easy. They are 0-14 in road games. Well, maybe, maybe not. They have been getting better and are coming closer and closer. Their last 3 road games they lost by 10 at Akron, lost in OT at Ball State, lost by 7 at BG. Saturday at home they led EMU by 10 at halftime after hitting 11 threes in the first half and still led by 7 with 1:29 to go, but lost when Eastern’s red hot Jason Terry hit a three from 40 feet at the buzzer. So this is not a team to take lightly.
Their best players are 6-5 sophomore guard Quentin Jones 20 points Saturday, 6-5 SR forward transfer from Western Illinois who had19, and 6-9 redshirt freshman transfer from St.Louis who had 17 and hit 5 out of 6 on threes.
We will be OK if we take the game as seriously as we should, but I am not sure we are mature enough to do that.
We won by 15 in the 1st meeting, but were only up 6 with 10 minutes left. We were great at the foul line and shot the ball well, but we let them make 11 3s and turned it over 19 times.
We are gonna win more this year and when we cross 20 D-1 wins, that’s gonna be a pretty cool deal. There are good players on every D1 team, they get scholarships and are all competent players so those wins matter more. And, that moment will be a real high mark for how far we’ve come as it wasn’t that many year ago it might take us 3 seasons to get 20 D1 wins. This is so much more enjoyable to follow.
I usually say I don’t care about style points at this juncture of the season, but I really want to see us cover the spread, whatever it may be. I’m thinking around 17.5. Possible trap game coming off the huge win Friday and Ohio looming on Saturday. Play like we’re capable of, and this should be an easy W.
This would be a good game to come out focused on the defensive end, trying to force tempo while tightening up those switches and rotations that seemed to leave folks out of position at times during the Kent game. If they play fast and smart on the defensive end, they should get more transition opportunities and the offense will flow.
IF…you don’t go to YouTube and watch the KINGS FIRECRACKERS you’re making a huge mistake. Dick, as usual is right. (btw keep those game noted coming…FAB) I’m in with Blackbird though not to curse you MuHawk…thanks! I’ve never seen them before and they brought a smile. They’re almost as fab and Dicks game notes though they are a lot more fun. They need to bring them in on a Saturday game next year and blow up the pub for them. Gotta be one of the best halftimes ever. Beats the hell out of dogs catching frisbees. 4th -8th graders and they were a blast to watch. Look 'em up and enjoy.
They’re almost as fab and Dicks game notes though they are a lot more fun. They need to bring them in on a Saturday game next year and blow up the pub for them. Gotta be one of the best halftimes ever. Beats the hell out of dogs catching frisbees. 4th -8th graders and they were a blast to watch. Look 'em up and enjoy.