Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball
Basketball team representing Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois Huskies University Northern Illinois University Head coach Rashon Burno (4th season)Conference Mid-American Location DeKalb, Illinois Arena NIU Convocation Center (capacity: 10,000)Nickname Huskies Colors Cardinal and black[ 1]
1958*, 1982, 1991, 1996 *at Division II level IIAC : 1932 MAC : 1982 MCC : 1996IIAC : 1933, 1934, 1935, 1941, 1945 Midwestern : 1972 MAC : 1981 Mid-Con : 1991MAC : 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
^ Now known as the Summit League since 2007–08.
^ 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
Y
Y
1,072
Jersey in College Basketball HOF
24
Jim Bradley
F /C
1971-73
6-10
East Chicago, IN
29
Y
Y
1,134
NIU Player of the Century
35
T.J. Lux
F /C
1995-2000
6-9
Merrillville, IN
29
Y
Y
1,996
NIU All-Time leading scorer
40
Allen Rayhorn
C
1978-82
6-9
Rock City, IL
29
Y
Y
1,848
NIU All-Time leader in FT and FTA
10
Donald Whiteside
PG
1987-91
5-10
Chicago, IL
28
Y
1,155
Played in the CBA , ABA & NBA
34
Matt Hicks
F
1974-77
6-4
Aurora, IL
27
Y
Y
Y
1,513
MAC Player of the Year 1976-77
44
Donnell Thomas
F
1987-91
6-4
Chicago, IL
27
Y
1,853
Lead NIU in rebounding four consecutive seasons
13
Larry Wyllie
G
1956-59
6-1
Westmont, IL
27
Y
970
Inducted into IBCA Hall of Fame (1987)
44
Paul Dawkins
F
1975-79
6-5
Saginaw, MI
26
Y
Y
Y
1,749
Fifth in the nation in scoring in 1979
50
Tim Dillon
F /C
1980-84
6-9
Franklin Grove, IL
26
Y
Y
1,559
NIU's First Academic All-American
40
Larry Gentry
F
1956-60
6-4
Clinton, IL
26
Y
1,306
Four-Time All-IIAC
44
Jerry Zielinski
F
1968-72
6-4
Hennepin, IL
25
Y
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
Y
1,331
Titled: "The Best Playground Baller Ever"
10
George Bork
G
1960-63
6-1
Mt. Prospect, IL
23
Y
Y
1,114
First NIU football-basketball All-America pick.
12
Willie Hanson
G
1963-67
5-10
Mendota, IL
23
Y
1,063
Best Free Throw Shooter in NIU History
32
Rodney Davis
G
1984-88
6-3
Aurora, IL
22
Y
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
Y
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
Y
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
Y
NA
Two-sport All-IIAC Athlete
NA
Leland Strombom
G
1927-31
6-0
Sycamore, IL
20
Y
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
Y
579
Inducted into IBCA HOF in 2004
NA
John "Red" Pace
F
1929-33
6-3
Woodstock, IL
17
Y
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
Y
Y
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
Y
1,080
MCC Tournament Most Valuable Player (1996)
34
Brad Waller
G /F
1982-85
6-4
Lombard, IL
16
Y
787
IBCA Hall-of-Fame (1991)
NA
Benny Westlake
F
1931-35
6-1
Elburn, IL
16
Y
NA
Mr. Northern Illinois Basketball in 1930s
NA
Roy "Flip" Allen
G /F
1935-39
6-0
Mount Morris, IL
15
Y
NA
Nicknamed "Flip" for his radical one-handed basketball jump shot
24
Harry Henigan
G
1942-49
5-11
Sycamore, IL
15
Y
NA
Known as "Harry The Horse" to Northern Illinois fans
16
Ollie Krahenbuhl
G
1939-42
5-7
Rochelle, IL
15
Y
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, ILCleveland, 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
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.
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.
[ 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
External links
Teams Future teams Championships & awards Seasons