With all five starters returning from last season, the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team could break through to the top teams of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
The Huskies were 13-19 overall last season. In the MAC, Northern Illinois finished 6-12 and lost all nine conference road games.
Junior guard Eugene German, 20.6 points per game, will be the top scorer for head coach Mark Montgomery. Three seniors, Levi Bradley, 14.6 ppg; Dante Thorpe, 10.8; and Lacey James, 5.8, are ready to do their part. Sophomore Gairges Daow, 4.3, rounds out the returning starters. Ten lettermen return for Northern Illinois, plus senior forward Jaylen Key who missed last season with a shoulder injury.
Montgomery, in his eighth season as Huskies’ head coach, will seek the first winning season in the MAC since 2005-2006. Under head coach Rob Judson the Huskies were 17-11 overall that season and concluded 12-6 in the MAC. Since then, Northern Illinois has ended up .500 in conference, but, a winning conference record has eluded the program.