Sign up to receive Northern Star headlines in your inbox, delivered weekdays at 6 a.m.
Feedback? E-mail us.
 |
Are you staying in DeKalb over the summer? |
Huskies have high hopes entering EMU match-up
With the basketball season winding down, the NIU Huskies are just heating up.
Though the team’s record places them at the bottom of the MAC West, the Huskies will enter their match-up against the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Sunday with high spirits.
“We have to play well, we have play better than we have played in the last few games,” NIU head coach Ricardo Patton said. “We have to have solid contributions from all the key players.”
The Huskies have already finished their last home game on the losing end, but the team will look to knock off the Eagles in their last road contest of the season.
Seniors Ben Rand, Egan Grafel, Shaun Logan, and Michael Hart will be playing their last career conference game, and coach Patton said he hopes to see them play with tough basketball filled with passion.
“Shaun Logan has got to get more attempts and be more productive on the offensive end,” Patton said. “Egan Grafel can’t have a game where he doesn’t rebound the ball at all, like the last game.”
The Eagles soared over the Huskies earlier this season, winning 65-61 in DeKalb. However, the Huskies are hoping to snap a three-game losing streak, before heading into the MAC Tournament.
“I think the tournament is a totally different atmosphere,” Patton said. “Anything can happen is you mentally prepare yourself to do more than you have done, and be more than you have been.”
Starting March 12, it will be ‘one or done’ for the Huskies. NIU will either have to win, or go home, Patton said.
The MAC Tournament is held in Cleveland, OH, forcing the Huskies to travel farther than any other team in the conference to compete. The distance may put a damper on fan support, but Patton said his team has yet to show fans how good NIU basketball is.
“When your team is good, fans will travel a distance to come and see you,” Patton said. “Unfortunately we haven’t give our fans enough reason to travel to come see us. That’s something we hope to change in the future.”
Tournament play begins March 12 and goes through the finals on March 15.
Western Michigan, Kent State, and Akron have all secured first day byes, leaving the lower seeds to match-up on March 12.
Patton said his team is ready for the tournament and hopes his key players can stay consistent. Most of the players have already experieced the tournament atmoshere, but the pressure will be a first for the team;s freshman. Still, Patton expects the team will do well.
“I think the seniors are hungry for their season to continue and there is only one way to do that which is to go out there and play extremely hard,” Patton said.
“In order for their season to continue, they have to fight for that to happen.
NIU hopes to go all the way to the championship, which airs on ESPN2. It won’t be an easy road to victory, but Patton hopes his team can stay focused and consistent.
» Next Sports Article: Softball team sees changeup