2015–16 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team

2015–16 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball
Vegas 16, Quarterfinals
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record21–13 (9–9 MAC)
Head coach
Assistant coachJon Borovich
Lou Dawkins
Jason Larson
Home arenaConvocation Center
Seasons
2015–16 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
Akron 13 – 5   .722 26 – 9   .743
Ohio 11 – 7   .611 23 – 12   .657
Kent State 10 – 8   .556 19 – 13   .594
Buffalo † 10 – 8   .556 20 – 15   .571
Miami (OH) 6 – 12   .333 13 – 20   .394
Bowling Green 5 – 13   .278 16 – 18   .471
West
Ball State 10 – 8   .556 21 – 14   .600
Central Michigan 10 – 8   .556 17 – 16   .515
Northern Illinois 9 – 9   .500 21 – 13   .618
Eastern Michigan 9 – 9   .500 18 – 15   .545
Toledo 8 – 10   .444 17 – 15   .531
Western Michigan 7 – 11   .389 13 – 19   .406
† 2016 MAC tournament winner

The 2015–16 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team represented Northern Illinois University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Huskies, led by fifth year head coach Mark Montgomery, played their home games at the Convocation Center as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 21–13, 9–9 in MAC play to finish in a tie for third place in the West Division. They defeated Western Michigan in the first round of the MAC tournament to advance to the quarterfinals where they lost to Ohio. They were invited to the inaugural Vegas 16, which only had eight teams, where they lost in the quarterfinals to UC Santa Barbara.

Previous season

The Huskies finished the season 14–16, 8–10 in MAC play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the West Division. They lost in the first round of the MAC tournament to Akron.[1]

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Pete Rakocevic 0 C 6'11" 245 RS Senior Chicago, IL Graduated
Aaron Armstead 2 G 6'4" 195 Senior Chicago, IL Graduated
Kevin Gray 13 F 6'8" 225 Senior Chicago, IL Graduated & transferred to Minnesota State
Keith Gray 21 F 6'8" 225 RS Junior Chicago, IL Graduated & transferred to Flagler College
Anthony Johnson 33 G 6'3" 190 RS Senior Chicago, IL Graduated
Jordan Threloff 42 F 6'9" 255 RS Senior DeKalb, IL Graduated

Incoming Transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Andrew Zelis 32 C 7'0" 245 Junior Wheaton, IL Junior college transferred from Kaskaskia College

Recruiting class of 2015

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Marshawn Wilson
#27 PG 		Oakdale, MN Hill-Murray School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Mar 31, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Jaylen Key
#39 PF 		Milwaukee, WI Homestead High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 7, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Levi Bradley
SF 		Milwaukee, WI Pius XI High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sep 7, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Laytwan Porter
PG 		Rockford, IL Auburn High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sep 8, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Austin Pauga
SG 		Naperville, IL IMG Academy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Oct 14, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 20, 2015.

Recruiting class of 2016

College recruiting information (2016)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Eugene German
PG 		Gary, IN 21st Century Charter School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Jun 21, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Noah McCarty
PF 		Sterling, IL Newman Central Catholic High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Aug 9, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Nick Wagner
PG 		Galesville, WI Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sep 6, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

2015–16 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Marshawn Wilson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Hill-Murray Oakdale, MN
G 2 Laytwan Porter 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Auburn Rockford, IL
G 3 Dontel Highsmith 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Dowagiac Dowagiac, MI
G 5 Travon Baker 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sr Detroit Consortium Detroit, MI
G/F 10 Darrell Bowie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr La Jolla Prep Milwaukee, WI
G/F 11 Chuks Iroegbu 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Sr Franklin HS
Washington State 		Elk Grove, CA
G 12 Jordan Thomas (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Menomonee Falls (WI) Northfield, IL
F 15 Jaylen Key 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Homestead Mequon, WI
G 23 Aaric Armstead 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr La Jolla Prep Chicago, IL
G 24 Michael Orris 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Jr Crete-Monee
Kansas State 		Crete, IL
G 25 Jay DeHaan (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Waubonsie Valley Naperville, IL
G 31 Austin Pauga 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr IMG Academy Naperville, IL
C 32 Andrew Zelis 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Jr Wheaton North
Kaskaskia College 		Wheaton, IL
G 33 Jon Siu (W) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Fr Middlesex School Hong Kong
C 34 Marin Maric 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Jr La Lumiere School Split, Croatia
G/F 42 Levi Bradley 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Pius XI Milwaukee, WI
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule

Date
time, TV 		Opponent Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
11/13/2015*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Cal State Northridge
NIU Showcase 		W 83–71  1–0
 Convocation Center (995)
DeKalb, IL
11/14/2015*
3:30 pm 		South Dakota
NIU Showcase 		W 72–65  2–0
 Convocation Center (913)
DeKalb, IL
11/15/2015*
3:30 pm, ESPN3 		Wright State
NIU Showcase 		W 65–59  3–0
 Convocation Center (888)
DeKalb, IL
11/21/2015*
1:00 pm 		Eureka W 100–52  4–0
 Convocation Center (457)
DeKalb, IL
11/25/2015*
7:00 pm 		Indiana Northwest W 87–55  5–0
 Convocation Center (578)
DeKalb, IL
11/28/2015*
9:00 pm 		at Idaho W 66–59  6–0
 Memorial Gym (571)
Moscow, ID
12/02/2015*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Chicago State W 80–58  7–0
 Convocation Center (1,047)
DeKalb, IL
12/04/2015*
7:00 pm 		at Missouri L 71–78  7–1
 Mizzou Arena (6,214)
Columbia, MO
12/16/2015*
6:00 pm, BTN 		at Ohio State L 54–67  7–2
 Value City Arena (12,880)
Columbus, OH
12/19/2015*
2:00 pm 		FIU W 78–75 2OT 8–2
 Convocation Center (959)
DeKalb, IL
12/22/2015*
7:00 pm 		Roosevelt W 85–52  9–2
 Convocation Center (823)
DeKalb, IL
12/29/2015*
7:00 pm 		at UIC W 70–65  10–2
 UIC Pavilion (2,349)
Chicago, IL
01/02/2016*
1:00 pm 		Judson W 91–48  11–2
 Convocation Center (1,073)
DeKalb, IL
MAC Regular season
01/06/2016
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Ohio W 80–69  12–2
(1–0) 		Convocation Center (1,038)
DeKalb, IL
01/09/2016
7:30 pm, ESPN3 		Eastern Michigan W 80–63  13–2
(2–0) 		Convocation Center (1,349)
DeKalb, IL
01/12/2016
6:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Toledo W 71–66  14–2
(3–0) 		Savage Arena (4,271)
Toledo, OH
01/16/2016
6:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Western Michigan L 69–83  14–3
(3–1) 		University Arena (2,649)
Kalamazoo, MI
01/19/2016
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Central Michigan W 75–70  15–3
(4–1) 		Convocation Center (1,497)
DeKalb, IL
01/22/2016
5:30 pm, CBSSN 		Toledo W 58–49  16–3
(5–1) 		Convocation Center (3,166)
DeKalb, IL
01/26/2016
6:00 pm 		at Akron L 66–76  16–4
(5–2) 		James A. Rhodes Arena (3,205)
Akron, OH
01/30/2016
2:30 pm, ESPN3 		at Miami (OH) L 59–72  16–5
(5–3) 		Millett Hall (1,297)
Oxford, OH
02/02/2016
8:00 pm, ASN 		Buffalo L 78–90  16–6
(5–4) 		Convocation Center (1,494)
DeKalb, IL
02/06/2016
1:00 pm 		at Ohio L 69–80  16–7
(5–5) 		Convocation Center (8,773)
Athens, OH
02/09/2016
6:00 pm 		at Kent State L 74–75  16–8
(5–6) 		MAC Center (2,764)
Kent, OH
02/13/2016
4:45 pm, ESPN3 		Akron W 80–79  17–8
(6–6) 		Convocation Center (3,457)
DeKalb, IL
02/16/2016
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Bowling Green W 71–60  18–8
(7–6) 		Convocation Center (1,148)
DeKalb, IL
02/19/2016
5:30 pm, CBSSN 		at Ball State L 59–63  18–9
(7–7) 		John E. Worthen Arena (5,160)
Muncie, IN
02/23/2016
6:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Central Michigan L 64–76  18–10
(7–8) 		McGuirk Arena (2,371)
Mount Pleasant, MI
02/27/2016
3:30 pm, ESPN3 		Western Michigan W 76–67  19–10
(8–8) 		Convocation Center (3,019)
DeKalb, IL
03/01/2016
6:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Eastern Michigan L 71–75  19–11
(8–9) 		Convocation Center (993)
Ypsilanti, MI
03/04/2016
6:00 pm, CBSSN 		Ball State W 80–69  20–11
(9–9) 		Convocation Center (2,102)
DeKalb, IL
MAC tournament
03/07/2016
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Western Michigan
First round 		W 56–50  21–11
 Convocation Center (1,594)
DeKalb, IL
03/10/2016
5:30 pm, ESPN3 		vs. Ohio
Quarterfinals 		L 62–79  21–12
 Quicken Loans Arena (2,311)
Cleveland, OH
Vegas 16
03/28/2016*
4:30 pm, CBSSN 		vs. UC Santa Barbara
Quarterfinals 		L 63–70  21–13
 Mandalay Bay Events Center 
Paradise, NV
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

  1. ^ "Akron throttles Northern Illinois 76-52 in first round of Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament". Akron Beacon Journal. March 9, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2024.