Huskies

General Team Information:

NCAA Division: Division I

Conference: Mid-American Conference 

Past Conferences: MW Coll, Mid-Cont, MAC, and Ind

City: DeKalb, Illinois

Stadium: NIU Convocation Center

NCAA Tournaments:1982, 1991, 1996

Championships:

National Championships: 0

Conference Titles: 2

Team History

Since its first season in 1900-01, the Northern Illinois men’s basketball team has been around for over 120 years. The school has been a part of a few conferences, which is more than some of the other programs that compete in the Mid-American Conference have achieved. 

The Northern Illinois Huskies would compete as an independent program for two more decades before making the transition to the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1921. The school would stay put for a little over four decades before becoming an independent Division I school from the Division II level. 

Over the next couple of seasons, they would go back and forth from the Midwestern Conference to a Division I independent. During the 1971-72 season, the school was ranked 19th before joining the MAC. This would be the only time in the program’s history when the team got nods for a top 25 ranking.

The school committed to join the MAC in the 1975-76 season but didn’t stay there the whole way through as we know it today. Despite having a record a bit over .500 in 1982, the Huskies would play in their first NCAA Tournament under coach John McDougal. As a 12th seed, they would lose to the third-seeded Kansas State Wildcats in the opening round.

Transition to the Mid-Cont

Once again, the program was on the move a few years later. After competing as an independent, the school would make the transition to the Mid-Cont in the 1990-91 season. 

This was a welcoming sight, as the team compiled 25 wins in the regular season with 14 wins in conference play. As the program’s highest win total in its history, the odds were the highest they’ve ever been since 1982. Unfortunately, the team was knocked out in the opening round against the fifth-seeded Saint John’s Red Storm.

The Huskies would punch their ticket to the dance one last time with Brian Hammel leading the charge in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. As a 14th seed, the Northern Illinois team stats showed that the squad gave it their all; they lost by one point against the third-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders. 

Northern Illinois hoped to turn the tide as they hired Rashon Burno to lead the team. They will face some overwhelming NCAAB odds as the season is about to begin. 

All-Time Records

Points Scored

• • Eugene German 2,203
  • T.J. Lux 1,996
  • Donnell Thomas 1,853

Rebounds

• • T.J. Lux 1,110
  • Allen Rayhorn 1,077
  • Donnell Thomas 984

Assists

• • Travon Baker 356
  • Ronald Minter 353
  • Rodney Davis 332

Blocks 

• • James Hughes 210
  • T.J. Lux 156
  • Marcus Smallwood 146

FAQs