2009–10 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team

2009–10 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball
Conference Mid-American Conference
Division West Division
2009–10 record 10–20 (6–10 MAC)
Head coach Ricardo Patton
Assistant coach Sundance Wicks
Assistant coach Will Smith
Assistant coach Todd Townsend
Home arena Convocation Center
2009–10 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
East
Kent State13–3 .813  24–10  .706
Akron12–4 .750  24–11  .686
Miami9–7 .563  14–18  .438
Buffalo9–7 .563  18–12  .600
Ohio†7–9 .438  22–15  .595
Bowling Green6–10 .375  14–16  .467
West
Central Michigan9–7 .563  15–15  .500
Eastern Michigan8–8 .500  17–15  .531
Western Michigan8–8 .500  18–15  .545
Ball State8–8 .500  15–15  .500
Northern Illinois6–10 .375  10–20  .333
Toledo1–15 .063  4–28  .125
† Conference tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009–10 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team represented Northern Illinois University in the college basketball season of 2009–10. The team, led by head coached by Ricardo Patton, are members of the Mid-American Conference and played their homes game at the Convocation Center. They finished the season 10–20, 6–10 in MAC play and lost in the first round of the 2010 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament.

Before the season

Roster changes

The Huskies only lost one senior from last year's team. That player, Sean Smith, started in 29 of Northern Illinois' 30 games for that season (only one player had started all 30). He contributed an average 8.4 points per game. However, Northern Illinois has recruited two newcomers for their team. Xavier Silas, a transfer from Colorado, who made his Northern Illinois day-view after sitting out one year because of NCAA transfer rules. Another newcomer will be Keith Smith, who redshirted his first season.

The Huskies were predicted to finish 2nd in the MAC West.

During the season

Northern Illinois had a rough start to its 2009-10 campaign. In the opening loss to Northwestern, Xavier Silas went down with a fracture on his shooting hand, an injury that would sideline him for one month. The loss was a tough blow for NIU, because Silas was expected to be a key contributor to the team after averaging double figures in scoring during his two years at Colorado.

Without Silas, the Huskies struggled through the non-conference schedule. They were 1-5 when Silas made his come back against Minnesota. In his first two games back, Silas shot the ball poorly, showing clear signs of being rusty after sitting out for a whole month. The Huskies lost both games and dropped to 1-7.

Tough loss to #18 Temple

With Silas back in form after his injury, Northern beat Maryland Eastern Shore behind his 19 points. After winning only their second game of the season, NIU prepared to face their first ranked opponent at home in a long time. The game was expected to be a blowout, but the Huskies hung tough for most of the game, but in the end Temple was just too much, winning 70-60.

6-game winning streak

After losing to ranked Temple, Northern would go on to win their next 6 games, including their first 4 conference games. The 4-0 start in conference play marked the best start in school history.

During the 6-game winning streak, Silas averaged 22 points per contest.

6-game losing streak

Northern Illinois traveled to Central Michigan to play a veteran Chippewa squad. After battling for most of the game, the Huskies fell short, losing 81-75 and snapping their winning streak.

Crossover play began against the East Division, widely considered the best of the MAC divisions. The Huskies struggled mightily against the East, losing their next 5 games, giving up 90 points or more in three of those games.

Recruiting

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Antone Christian
'		 Nashville, TN Martin Luther King HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 189 lb (86 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Tony Nixon
SG		 South Holland, IL Seton Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Sep 22, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 86
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:

  • "Northern Illinois Commit List for 2009". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  • "Scout.com: Men's Basketball Recruiting". Scout.com. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  • "Northern Illinois Basketball Recruiting 2009". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  • "2009 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2009-10-22.

    Roster

    Roster current as of September 9, when their summer prospectus was published.[1]

    Name Number Position Height Weight Year Hometown
    Darion "Jake" Anderson 32 G 6–2 202 Junior Chicago, Illinois
    Antone Christian 3 G 6–1 189 Freshman Nashville, Tennessee
    Mike DiNunno 11 G 5–11 188 Sophomore Chicago, Illinois
    Ante Dzepina 15 C 6–8 230 Senior Kraljevica, Croatia
    Najul Ervin 2 F 6–5 219 Senior Memphis, Tennessee
    Michael Fakuade 55 C 6–7 227 Sophomore Chicago, Illinois
    Lee Fisher 30 F 6–5 210 Sophomore Dolton, Illinois
    Bryan Hall 1 G 6–1 162 Sophomore Chicago, Illinois
    Sean Kowal 41 C 6–11 248 Junior St. Louis, Missouri
    Jeremy Landers 24 G 6–2 185 Junior Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Tony Nixon 25 G 6–4 198 Freshman South Holland, Illinois
    Michael Patton 4 G 5–10 181 Junior Boulder, Colorado
    Justin Peaster 22 G 5–11 171 Sophomore Aurora, Illinois
    Xavier Silas 13 G 6–5 201 Junior Austin, Texas
    Keith Smith 10 G 5–5 135 Freshman Chicago, Illinois

    Coaching staff

    Name Position College Graduating year
    Ricardo Patton Head Coach Belmont University 1980
    Sundance Wicks Assistant Coach Northern State University 2003
    Will Smith Assistant Coach University of Colorado at Boulder 2000
    Todd Townsend Assistant Coach Marquette University 2005
    Kent Dernbach Director of Basketball Operations
    Kyle Schwan Video Coordinator Northern State University 2009

    Schedule

    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    November 1*
    7:00 p.m.    		 Aurora W 93–59
    Stats     
    		Convocation Center 
    DeKalb, Illinois
    November 6*
    7:00 p.m.    		 Marygrove College W 120–50
    Stats     
    		Convocation Center 
    DeKalb, Illinois
    Regular Season
    November 13*
    8:00 p.m.    		 at Northwestern L 77–55
    Stats         		 0–1
    		 Welsh-Ryan Arena (4,057)
    Evanston, Illinois
    November 17*
    8:00 p.m., ESPN360    		 at No. 23 Illinois L 61–80
    Stats         		 0–2
    		 Assembly Hall (14,979)
    Champaign, Illinois
    November 20*
    8:00 p.m.    		 Tennessee State W 85–57
    Stats         		 1–2
    		 Convocation Center (1,590)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    November 22
    4:30 p.m.    		 Southeast Missouri State L 64–70OT
    Stats         		 1–3
    		 Convocation Center (825)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    November 28*
    8:05 p.m.    		 at Northern Iowa L 45–52
    Stats         		 1–4
    		 McLeod Center (4,083)
    Cedar Falls, Iowa
    December 2*
    8:00 p.m.    		 Bradley L 49–63
    Stats         		 1–5
    		 Convocation Center (3,064)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    December 15*
    7:00 p.m.    		 at Minnesota L 48–89
    Stats         		 1–6
    		 Williams Arena (12,055)
    Minneapolis, Minnesota
    December 19*
    3:00 p.m.    		 at UIC L 49–69
    Stats         		 1–7
    		 UIC Pavilion (3,299)
    Chicago, Illinois
    December 22*
    2:00 p.m.    		 Maryland Eastern Shore W 87–69
    Stats         		 2–7
    		 Convocation Center (704)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    December 30*
    7:00 p.m.    		 No. 18 Temple L 60–70
    Stats         		 2–8
    		 Convocation Center (1,234)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    January 2*
    3:00 p.m.    		 North Dakota W 66–45
    Stats         		 3–8
    		 Convocation Center (1,024)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    January 6*
    7:00 p.m.    		 at Chicago State W 99–93
    Stats         		 4–8
    		 Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center (1,668)
    Chicago, Illinois
    January 9
    2:00 p.m.    		 at Ball State W 62–48
    Stats         		 5–8
    (1–0)    		 John E. Worthen Arena (2,725)
    Muncie, Indiana
    January 13
    7:00 p.m.    		 Western Michigan W 87–77
    Stats         		 6–8
    (2–0)    		 Convocation Center (1,463)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    January 16
    4:00 p.m.    		 Eastern Michigan W 77–69  7–8
    (3–0)    		 Convocation Center (2,003)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    January 20
    7:00 p.m.    		 at Toledo W 58–54  8–8
    (4–0)    		 Savage Arena (3,556)
    Toledo, Ohio
    January 23
    6:30 p.m.    		 at Central Michigan L 75–81  8–9
    (4–1)    		 Daniel P. Rose Center (2,317)
    Mount Pleasant, Michigan
    January 27
    8:00 p.m.    		 Ohio L 84–99  8–10
    (4–2)    		 Convocation Center (1,498)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    January 30
    2:00 p.m.    		 Buffalo L 83–95  8–11
    (4–3)    		 Convocation Center (3,448)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    February 1
    7:00 p.m.    		 at Kent State L 46–76  8–12
    (4–4)    		 Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (3,030)
    Kent, Ohio
    February 3
    7:00 p.m.    		 at Akron L 76–90  8–13
    (4–5)    		 James A. Rhodes Arena (2,591)
    Akron, Ohio
    February 6
    4:00 p.m.    		 Miami (OH) L 69–74  8–14
    (4–6)    		 Convocation Center (1,865)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    February 10
    7:00 p.m.    		 at Bowling Green L 69–73  8–15
    (4–7)    		 Anderson Arena (1,347)
    Bowling Green, Ohio
    February 13
    4:00 p.m.    		 Ball State L 66–71  8–16
    (4–8)    		 Convocation Center (1,537)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    February 17
    7:00 p.m.    		 at Western Michigan L 81–90  8–17
    (4–9)    		 University Arena (3,016)
    Kalamazoo, Michigan
    February 20*
    7:00 p.m., ESPNU    		 at Eastern Illinois
    ESPNU BracketBusters    		 L 73–71
    stats         		 8–18
    (4–9)    		 Lantz Arena (1787)
    Charleston, Illinois
    February 24
    8:00 p.m.    		 Central Michigan W 67–65
    stats         		 9–18
    (5–9)    		 Convocation Center (925)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    February 27
    2:00 p.m.    		 at Eastern Michigan L 66–60
    stats         		 9–19
    (5–10)    		 Convocation Center (1499)
    Ypsilanti, Michigan
    March 4
    8:00 p.m.    		 Toledo W 60–58
    stats         		 10–19
    (6–10)    		 Convocation Center (1322)
    DeKalb, Illinois
    Mid-American Conference Tournament
    March 7
    2:00 p.m.    		 Eastern Michigan
    First Round    		 L 59–65
    stats         		 10–20
    		 Convocation Center (675)
    Ypsilanti, Michigan
    *Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Eastern Time Zone.

    Statistics

    Legend
      GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
     FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
     RPG  Rebounds per game  Ast  Assists  Blk  Blocks
     Stl  Steals  PPG  Points per game
    PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAstBlkStlPPG
    Xavier Silas 252531.6.383.321.8115.341122019.7
    Darion Anderson 302827.9.399.208.7456.010463710.6
    Sean Kowal 301225.5.5421.000.5426.419252210.5
    Mike Dinunno 302123.7.312.290.6291.6910297.0
    Tony Nixon 30514.9.362.333.4401.615264.3
    Lee Fisher 282118.8.481.000.5503.9204184.0
    Michael Patton 27213.1.365.333.8180.7150113.8
    Michael Fakuade 301511.6.385.273.5163.093093.5
    Bryan Hall 20314.9.5381.000.5501.0401122.8
    Tyler Storm 2617.6.322.265.6921.29082.2
    Najul Ervin 281013.0.543.000.2862.51617111.9
    Jeremy Landers 2668.7.314.222.5711.0101121.4
    Ante Dzepina 2417.2.297.000.4212.07731.3
    Justin Peaster 201.0.000.000.5000.00000.5
    Keith Smith 702.9.000.000.0000.63000.0

    References

    1. ↑ "Huskie Basketball 2009-2010 Season Prospectus" (PDF) (Press release). Northern Illinois University. 2009-09-09. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.