Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball

Northern Illinois Huskies
2024–25 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team
UniversityNorthern Illinois University
Head coachRashon Burno (4th season)
ConferenceMid-American
LocationDeKalb, Illinois
ArenaNIU Convocation Center
(capacity: 10,000)
NicknameHuskies
ColorsCardinal and black[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament appearances
1958*, 1982, 1991, 1996
*at Division II level
Conference tournament champions
IIAC: 1932
MAC: 1982
MCC: 1996
Conference regular season champions
IIAC: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1941, 1945
Midwestern: 1972
MAC: 1981
Mid-Con: 1991
Conference division season champions
MAC: 2006, 2020

The Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 1996.

History

Conference affiliations

Notes
  1. ^ Now known as the Summit League since 2007–08.
  2. ^ Now known as the Horizon League since 2001–02.

The All-Century Team

Best of Northern Illinois Men’s Basketball (1900-2000)

The Northern Illinois University athletic department celebrated 100 years of Huskies basketball in the 2000–01 season. A panel of 29 Administrators, NIU Staff/Faculty, NIU Alumni, Media and NIU Media Services were given the opportunity to cast votes for the greatest players to ever don the cardinal and black of Northern Illinois University, resulting in a total of 46 players. Eighty-six different Huskie players received at least one vote, including 33 Northern Illinois Hall of Famers, plus 12 performers either drafted or signed as free agents by the National Basketball Association. Members of the All-Century Team were acknowledged at halftime of the NIU-Ball State Cardinals men's basketball game on Saturday February 17, 2001 in Chick Evans Field House.[2][3]

No. Player Pos. Career Height Hometown Votes All-American Player of the Year MAC/Midwestern/IICA All-Conference Career Points Note
33 Kenny Battle F 1984-86 6-6 Aurora, IL 29 Green tickY   Green tickY 1,072 Jersey in College Basketball HOF
24 Jim Bradley F/C 1971-73 6-10 East Chicago, IN 29 Green tickY   Green tickY 1,134 NIU Player of the Century
35 T.J. Lux F/C 1995-2000 6-9 Merrillville, IN 29 Green tickY   Green tickY 1,996 NIU All-Time leading scorer
40 Allen Rayhorn C 1978-82 6-9 Rock City, IL 29 Green tickY   Green tickY 1,848 NIU All-Time leader in FT and FTA
10 Donald Whiteside PG 1987-91 5-10 Chicago, IL 28     Green tickY 1,155 Played in the CBA, ABA & NBA
34 Matt Hicks F 1974-77 6-4 Aurora, IL 27 Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 1,513 MAC Player of the Year 1976-77
44 Donnell Thomas F 1987-91 6-4 Chicago, IL 27     Green tickY 1,853 Lead NIU in rebounding four consecutive seasons
13 Larry Wyllie G 1956-59 6-1 Westmont, IL 27     Green tickY 970 Inducted into IBCA Hall of Fame (1987)
44 Paul Dawkins F 1975-79 6-5 Saginaw, MI 26 Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 1,749 Fifth in the nation in scoring in 1979
50 Tim Dillon F/C 1980-84 6-9 Franklin Grove, IL 26 Green tickY   Green tickY 1,559 NIU's First Academic All-American
40 Larry Gentry F 1956-60 6-4 Clinton, IL 26     Green tickY 1,306 Four-Time All-IIAC
44 Jerry Zielinski F 1968-72 6-4 Hennepin, IL 25     Green tickY 1,402 Drafted by ABA Dallas Chaparrals in April, 1972
44 Jim Smith C 1967-69 6-7 Des Plaines, IL 24       967 First Huskie drafted by the NBA (Lakers)[4]
12 Billy Harris G 1969-73 6-2 Chicago, IL 24 Green tickY     1,331 Titled: "The Best Playground Baller Ever"
10 George Bork G 1960-63 6-1 Mt. Prospect, IL 23 Green tickY   Green tickY 1,114 First NIU football-basketball All-America pick.
12 Willie Hanson G 1963-67 5-10 Mendota, IL 23     Green tickY 1,063 Best Free Throw Shooter in NIU History
32 Rodney Davis G 1984-88 6-3 Aurora, IL 22     Green tickY 1,175 Called "complete package" by Northern Illinois Hall of Fame coach John McDougal.
NA Reino Nori F 1932-36 5-6 DeKalb, IL 22     Green tickY NA Greatest NIU athlete during school's first 50 years.
52 Abe Booker C 1958-61 6-5 Chicago, IL 21       595 Set NIU single-game (32) and season (331) rebound records
NA Tuck Huntzicker F 1925-28 5-10 DeKalb, IL 21       NA Two-time team Captain
21 John Olson F 1953-57 6-3 Chicago, IL 21     Green tickY 1,192 First NIU player to reach 1,000-point career points
32 Bill Terwilliger F 1938-41 6-2 DeKalb, IL 21       NA Dubbed "Fastest Man on Campus"
21 Bobby Wood G/F 1945-49 5-11 Rockford, IL 21       983 First NIU cager to play in the NBA.
NA Charles "Wix" Garner F 1916-21 5-9 DeKalb, IL 20     Green tickY NA Two-sport All-IIAC Athlete
NA Leland Strombom G 1927-31 6-0 Sycamore, IL 20     Green tickY NA Namesake of long-running Sycamore High School boys' basketball holiday tournament.
NA Wes Concidine F 1925-28 6-1 DeKalb, IL 19       NA Earned 11 varsity letters in three sports
NA Jim McKinzie G 1950-53 6-0 DeKalb, IL 17     Green tickY 579 Inducted into IBCA HOF in 2004
NA John "Red" Pace F 1929-33 6-3 Woodstock, IL 17     Green tickY NA NBA official (1949-52) and NFL referee and crew chief (1953-70)
25 Dick Williams F/C 1944-49 6-0 Kirkland, IL 17   Green tickY Green tickY NA Competed in two collegiate spring sports literally at same time (baseball/track).
NA Clarence "Boots" Cannon G 1916-21 5-9 Shabonna Grove, IL 16       NA Lettered in football, basketball, and baseball
25 Chris Coleman G/F 1994-97 6-3 Buffalo Grove, IL 16     Green tickY 1,080 MCC Tournament Most Valuable Player (1996)
34 Brad Waller G/F 1982-85 6-4 Lombard, IL 16     Green tickY 787 IBCA Hall-of-Fame (1991)
NA Benny Westlake F 1931-35 6-1 Elburn, IL 16     Green tickY NA Mr. Northern Illinois Basketball in 1930s
NA Roy "Flip" Allen G/F 1935-39 6-0 Mount Morris, IL 15     Green tickY NA Nicknamed "Flip" for his radical one-handed basketball jump shot
24 Harry Henigan G 1942-49 5-11 Sycamore, IL 15     Green tickY NA Known as "Harry The Horse" to Northern Illinois fans
16 Ollie Krahenbuhl G 1939-42 5-7 Rochelle, IL 15     Green tickY NA Described by George "Chick" Evans as "...the greatest punter I ever saw."

[5][6]

Season-by-season records

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
John Keith (Independent) (1900–1902)
1900–01 John Keith 0–2
1901–02 John Keith 6–2
John Keith: 6–4
Fred Charles (Independent) (1902–1903)
1902–03 Fred Charles 2–1
Fred Charles: 2–1
William Crocker (Independent) (1903–1904)
1903–04 William Crocker 3–7
William Crocker: 3–7
John Keith (Independent) (1904–1905)
1904–05 John Keith 7–3
John Keith: 13–7
Harry Sauthoff (Independent) (1905–1906)
1905–06 Harry Sauthoff 7–2
Harry Sauthoff: 7–2
Nelson A. Kellogg (Independent) (1906–1910)
1906–07 Nelson A. Kellogg 2–6
1907–08 Nelson A. Kellogg 7–6
1908–09 Nelson A. Kellogg 5–5
1909–10 Nelson A. Kellogg 3–10
Nelson A. Kellogg: 17–27
William Wirtz (Independent) (1910–1918)
1910–11 William Wirtz 4–5
1911–12 William Wirtz 6–4
1912–13 William Wirtz 12–3
1913–14 William Wirtz 9–4
1914–15 William Wirtz 6–6
1915–16 William Wirtz 7–3
1916–17 William Wirtz 5–4
1917–18 William Wirtz 8–2
William Wirtz: 57–31
Ralph Wagner (Independent) (1918–1920)
1918–19 Ralph Wagner 2–3
1919–20 Ralph Wagner 11–7
Ralph Wagner: 13–10
Milo Oakland (IIAC) (1920–1923)
1920–21 Milo Oakland 13–4 2-2
1921–22 Milo Oakland 6–6 4-3
1922–23 Milo Oakland 6–8 5-6
Milo Oakland: 25–18 11-11
William Muir (IIAC) (1923–1926)
1923–24 William Muir 6–5 2-4
1924–25 William Muir 13–4 2-2
1925–26 William Muir 15–2 2-0
William Muir: 34–11 6-6
Roland Cowell (IIAC) (1926–1929)
1926–27 Roland Cowell 18–1
1927–28 Roland Cowell 12–4 5-2
1928–29 Roland Cowell 10–9 5-6
Roland Cowell: 40–14 10-8
Chick Evans (IIAC) (1929–1940)
1929–30 Chick Evans 11–6 7-4
1930–31 Chick Evans 8–8 4-7
1931–32 Chick Evans 13–6 7-5
1932–33 Chick Evans 15–3 12-1 1st
1933–34 Chick Evans 16–2 12-2 1st
1934–35 Chick Evans 12–9 8-6 1st
1935–36 Chick Evans 4–19 3-11
1936–37 Chick Evans 12–9 7-7
1937–38 Chick Evans 10–13 5-7
1938–39 Chick Evans 12–6 8-3
1939–40 Chick Evans 12–12 6-6
Chick Evans: 125–93 79-59
Ralph McKinzie (IIAC) (1940–1948)
1940–41 Ralph McKinzie 16–3 7-2 1st
1941–42 Ralph McKinzie 11–9 3-4
1942–43 Ralph McKinzie 9–8 4-4
1943–44 Ralph McKinzie 7–7 3-4
1944–45 Ralph McKinzie 15–1 7-1 1st
1945–46 Ralph McKinzie 11–8 4-4
1946–47 Ralph McKinzie 11–8 3-5
1947–48 Ralph McKinzie 14–12 3-5
Ralph McKinzie: 94–56 34-29
Gene Fekete (IIAC) (1948–1949)
1948–49 Gene Fekete 10–11 2-6
Gene Fekete: 10-11 2-6
Gilbert Wilson (IIAC) (1949–1950)
1949–50 Gilbert Wilson 4–17 0-8 5th
Gilbert Wilson: 4-17 0-8
Gilman Hertz (IIAC) (1950–1954)
1950–51 Gilman Hertz 12–7 8-4 T-2nd
1951–52 Gilman Hertz 5–16 1-11 6th
1952–53 Gilman Hertz 13–7 6-6 4th
1953–54 Gilman Hertz 5–14 2-10
Gilman Hertz: 35-44 17-31
William Healey (IIAC) (1954–1963)
1954–55 William Healey 9–11 4-8 T-6th
1955–56 William Healey 5–14 3-9 6th
1956–57 William Healey 7–13 6-6 T-2nd
1957–58 William Healey 10–12 6-6
1958–59 William Healey 11–11 4-8
1959–60 William Healey 14–7 7-5 T-3rd
1960–61 William Healey 14–8 7-5 T-3rd
1961–62 William Healey 11–10 4-8 T-5th
1962–63 William Healey 15–8 4-4 T-2nd
William Healey: 96-94 45-59
Ev Cochrane (IIAC) (1963–1966)
1963–64 Ev Cochrane 11–11 5-3 2nd
1964–65 Ev Cochrane 12–10 5-3 T-2nd
1965–66 Ev Cochrane 10–13 4-4 4th
Ev Cochrane: 33-34 14-10
Tom Jorgensen (Independent) (1966–1970)
1966–67 Tom Jorgensen 8–12
1967–68 Tom Jorgensen 10–14
1968–69 Tom Jorgensen 13–11
1969–70 Tom Jorgensen 13–12
Tom Jorgensen (Midwestern Conference) (1970–1972)
1970–71 Tom Jorgensen 13–10 4–4 3rd
1971–72 Tom Jorgensen 21–4 7–1 1st
Tom Jorgensen (Independent) (1973–1973)
1972–73 Tom Jorgensen 17–8
Tom Jorgensen: 95–71 11-5
Emory Luck (Independent) (1973–1975)
1973–74 Emory Luck 8–17
1974–75 Emory Luck 8–15
Emory Luck (MAC) (1975–1976)
1975–76 Emory Luck 5–21 2–14 9th
Emory Luck: 21–53 2-14
John McDougal (MAC) (1976–1986)
1976–77 John McDougal 13–14 10–6 4th
1977–78 John McDougal 11–16 9–7 5th
1978–79 John McDougal 14–13 8–8 5th
1979–80 John McDougal 16–13 9–7 3rd
1980–81 John McDougal 17–12 10–6 T–1st
1981–82 John McDougal 16–14 9–7 3rd NCAA Round of 48
1982–83 John McDougal 11–16 8–10 T-5th
1983–84 John McDougal 12–15 9–9 5th
1984–85 John McDougal 11–16 7–11 T–7th
1985–86 John McDougal 15–12 10–8 4th
John McDougal: 136–141 89-79
Jim Rosborough (Independent) (1986–1989)
1986–87 Jim Rosborough 9–19
1987–88 Jim Rosborough 8–20
1988–89 Jim Rosborough 11–17
Jim Rosborough: 28–56
Jim Molinari (Independent) (1989–1990)
1989–90 Jim Molinari 17–11
Jim Molinari (Mid-Con) (1990–1991)
1990–91 Jim Molinari 25–6 14–2 1st NCAA Round of 64
Jim Molinari: 42–17 14-2
Brian Hammel (Mid-Con) (1991–1994)
1991–92 Brian Hammel 11–17 7–9 T–6th
1992–93 Brian Hammel 15–12 10–6 T–2nd
1993–94 Brian Hammel 10–17 7–11 T–6th
Brian Hammel (MCC) (1994–1997)
1994–95 Brian Hammel 19–10 7–8 7th
1995–96 Brian Hammel 20–10 10–6 3rd NCAA Round of 64
1996–97 Brian Hammel 12–15 6–10 T–6th
Brian Hammel (MAC) (1997–2000)
1997–98 Brian Hammel 10–16 6–12 5th (West)
1998–99 Brian Hammel 6–20 2–16 6th (West)
1999–00 Brian Hammel 13–15 7–11 4th (West)
2000–01 Brian Hammel 1–6 0–0
Brian Hammel: 117–138 62-89
Andy Greer (MAC) (2000–2001)
2000–01 Andy Greer 4–17 4–14 5th (West)
Andy Greer: 4–17 4–14
Rob Judson (MAC) (2001–2007)
2001–02 Rob Judson 12–16 8–10 4th (West)
2002–03 Rob Judson 17–14 11–7 2nd (West)
2003–04 Rob Judson 10–20 5–13 6th (West)
2004–05 Rob Judson 11–17 7–11 5th (West)
2005–06 Rob Judson 17–11 12–6 1st (West)
2006–07 Rob Judson 7–23 4–12 6th (West)
Rob Judson: 74–101 47-59
Ricardo Patton (MAC) (2007–2011)
2007–08 Ricardo Patton 6–22 3–12 6th (West)
2008–09 Ricardo Patton 10–20 5–11 5th (West)
2009–10 Ricardo Patton 10–20 6–10 5th (West)
2010–11 Ricardo Patton 9–21 5–11 4th (West)
Ricardo Patton: 35–83 19–44
Mark Montgomery (MAC) (2011–2021)
2011–12 Mark Montgomery 5–26 3–13 6th (West)
2012–13 Mark Montgomery 5–25 3–13 6th (West)
2013–14 Mark Montgomery 15–17 8–10 4th (West)
2014–15 Mark Montgomery 14–16 8–10 T–4th (West)
2015–16 Mark Montgomery 21–13 9–9 T–3rd (West) Vegas 16 Quarterfinals
2016–17 Mark Montgomery 15–17 7–11 T–4th (West)
2017–18 Mark Montgomery 13–19 6–12 6th (West)
2018–19 Mark Montgomery 17–17 8–10 4th (West)
2019–20 Mark Montgomery 18–13 11–7 T-1st (West)
Mark Montgomery: 123–163 (.430) 63–95 (.399)
2020–21 Lamar Chapman 3–16 2–12
2021–22 Rashon Burno 9–21 6–14 T-9th
2022–23 Rashon Burno 13–19 9–9 T-6th
Total: 1283–1317

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Conference Tournament results

MAC tournament

The Huskies have won the MAC tournament once in 1982.

Year Seed Location Round Opponent Result NIU Head Coach
1980 3rd DeKalb, IL
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Consolation
(6) Miami
(2) Bowling Green
(5) Ball State
W 58–53
L 54–49
W 71–58
John McDougal
1981 5th Bowling Green, OH
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Championship
(4) Bowling Green
(1) Western Michigan
(2) Ball State
W 79–72
W 78–73
L 79–66
John McDougal
1982 3rd DeKalb, IL
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Championship
(6) Ohio
(2) Bowling Green
(1) Ball State
W 70–68
W 67–66
W 79–75 (OT)
John McDougal
1984 5th Rockford, IL Quarterfinal (4) Toledo L 73–68 John McDougal
1986 4th Rockford, IL Quarterfinal (5) Toledo L 82–79 John McDougal
2000 10th Toledo, OH First round (7) Toledo L 68–64 Brian Hammel
2001 11th Muncie, IN First round (6) Ball State L 89–57 Andy Greer
2002 9th Huntington, WV First round (8) Marshall L 97–93 Rob Judson
2003 4th DeKalb, IL
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland, OH
First round
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
(13) Buffalo
(5) Western Michigan
(1) Central Michigan
W 81–64
W 75–63
L 94–72
Rob Judson
2004 12th Buffalo, NY First round (5) Buffalo L 90–73 Rob Judson
2005 10th Buffalo, NY First round (7) Buffalo L 73–66 Rob Judson
2006 2nd Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal (7) Toledo L 78–77 Rob Judson
2007 11th Cleveland, OH First round (6) Western Michigan L 67–62 Rob Judson
2008 11th Cleveland, OH First round (6) Central Michigan L 83–71 Ricardo Patton
2009 11th Cleveland, OH First round (6) Kent State L 64–61 Ricardo Patton
2010 11th Cleveland, OH First round (6) Eastern Michigan L 65–59 Ricardo Patton
2011 10th Bowling Green, OH First round (7) Bowling Green L 74–54 Ricardo Patton
2012 12th Ypsilanti, MI
Cleveland, OH
First round
Second Round
(5) Eastern Michigan
(8) Western Michigan
W 52–55
L 71-54
Mark Montgomery
2013 10th Ypsilanti, MI First round (7) Eastern Michigan L 45–44 Mark Montgomery
2014 7th DeKalb, IL
Cleveland, OH
First round
Second Round
(10) Bowling Green
(6) Eastern Michigan
W 54–51
L 58–43
Mark Montgomery
2015 10th Akron, OH First round (7) Akron L 76–52 Mark Montgomery
2016 7th DeKalb, IL
Cleveland, OH
First round
Second Round
(10) Western Michigan
(2) Ohio
W 56–50
L 79–62
Mark Montgomery
2017 9th Ypsilanti, MI First round (8) Eastern Michigan L 72-69 Mark Montgomery

The Summit League tournament

Year Seed Location Round Opponent Result NIU Head Coach
1991 1st Green Bay, WI Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Championship
(8) Illinois-Chicago
(5) Northern Iowa
(2) UW-Green Bay
W 77–52
W 76–63 (OT)
L 56–39
Jim Molinari
1992 6th Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal (3) Illinois-Chicago L 80–66 Brian Hammel
1993 2nd Dayton, OH Quarterfinal (7) Valparaiso L 83–75 Brian Hammel
1994 7th Rosemont, IL Quarterfinal (2) Illinois-Chicago L 87–77 Brian Hammel

Horizon League tournament

The Huskies have won the Horizon League tournament once in 1996.

Year Seed Location Round Opponent Result NIU Head Coach
1995 7th Dayton, OH First round
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
(10) Loyola
(2) Illinois-Chicago
(3) Green Bay
W 62–57
W 87–83
L 68–65
Brian Hammel
1996 3rd Dayton, OH Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Championship
(6) Milwaukee
(7) Illinois-Chicago
(5) Detroit
W 80–60
W 95–60
W 84–60
Brian Hammel
1997 6th Dayton, OH Quarterfinal (3) Illinois-Chicago L 76–65 Brian Hammel

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Huskies have appeared in the NCAA tournament three times. Their overall record is 0–3.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1982 #12 Round of 48 #5 Kansas State L 77–68
1991 #13 Round of 64 #4 St. John's L 75–68
1996 #14 Round of 64 #3 Texas Tech L 74–73

NCAA Division II Tournament results

The Huskies appeared in one NCAA Division II tournament. Their record is 0–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
1958 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Hope
St. Norbert
L 101–95
L 76–70

Vegas 16 results

The Huskies appeared in one Vegas 16. Their record is 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
2016 Quarterfinals UC Santa Barbara L 70–63

[7]

  • Rashon Burno – Head Coach
  • Steve Christiansen – Assistant Coach
  • Drew Gladstone - Assistant Coach
  • Branden McDonald – Assistant Coach
  • Matt Fleming – Director of Basketball Operations
  • TBA – Assistant Director of Basketball Operations

See also

References

  1. ^ "NIU Athletic Marks Standards Guide" (PDF). 12 July 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  2. ^ The First Century Northern Illinois Men's Basketball
  3. ^ 2019-20 NIU Men's Basketball Record Book
  4. ^ Basketball-Reference.com
  5. ^ NIU Huskies Hall of Fame
  6. ^ 100 years of memories, basketball at NIU
  7. ^ "Rashon Burno Finalizes Men's Basketball Staff". niuhuskies.com.