2013–14 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team

2013–14 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball
Conference Mid-American Conference
West Division
2013–14 record 15–17 (8–10 MAC)
Head coach Mark Montgomery (3rd year)
Assistant coach Jon Borovich
Assistant coach Lou Dawkins
Assistant coach Jason Larson
Home arena Convocation Center
2013–14 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
East
Buffalo 13 – 5   .722     19 – 10   .655
Akron 12 – 6   .667     21 – 13   .618
Ohio 11 – 7   .611     25 – 12   .676
Miami 8 – 10   .444     13 – 18   .419
Kent State 7 – 11   .389     16 – 16   .500
Bowling Green 6 – 12   .333     12 – 20   .375
West
Toledo 14 – 4   .778     27 – 7   .794
Western Michigan † 14 – 4   .778     23 – 10   .697
Eastern Michigan 10 – 8   .556     22 – 15   .595
Northern Illinois 8 – 10   .444     15 – 17   .469
Central Michigan 3 – 15   .167     10 – 21   .323
Ball State 2 – 16   .111     5 – 25   .167
† 2014 MAC Tournament winner

The 2012–13 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team represented Northern Illinois University during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Huskies, led by third year head coach Mark Montgomery, played their home games at the Convocation Center as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 15–17, 8–10 in MAC play to finish in fourth place in the West Division. They advanced to the second round of the MAC Tournament where they lost to Eastern Michigan.

Season

Preseason

The Huskies announced their complete season schedule on September 3, 2013.[1] Highlighted by an early November tournament at home featuring San Jose State, James Madison, and Milwaukee, the Huskies schedule included 16 home games. The Huskies also scheduled to make trips to Nebraska, UMass, and Iowa State. For the conference schedule, the Huskies schedule home-and-home series with Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Western Michigan, Buffalo, and Kent State, while hosting Ohio and Miami and visiting Akron and Bowling Green.

Roster

2013–14 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year High School/Junior College Home town
C 0 Rakocevic, PetePete Rakocevic style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 245 lb (111 kg) RS Jr Wilbraham & Monson Academy
Sacramento State		 Chicago, IL
G 2 Armstead, AaronAaron Armstead style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Hales Franciscan HS
San Jose City College		 Chicago, IL
G 3 Christian, AntoneAntone Christian style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 205 lb (93 kg) RS Sr Martin Luther King HS Nashville, TN
G 4 Highsmith, DontelDontel Highsmith style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Dowagiac HS Dowagiac, MI
G 5 Baker, TravonTravon Baker style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 160 lb (73 kg) So Detroit Consortium Detroit, MI
F 10 Bowie, DarrellDarrell Bowie style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 220 lb (100 kg) So La Jolla Prep Milwaukee, WI
G 11 Balls, DaveonDaveon Balls style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 170 lb (77 kg) So Lawrence North HS Indianapolis, IN
F 13 Gray, KevinKevin Gray style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Brooks Academy Chicago, IL
G 15 Cravatta, J. J.J. J. Cravatta style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 185 lb (84 kg) So Streator Township HS Streator, IL
F 21 Gray, KeithKeith Gray style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Brooks Academy Chicago, IL
G 23 Armstead, AaricAaric Armstead style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 190 lb (86 kg) Fr La Jolla Prep Chicago, IL
G/F 32 Bolin, AkselAksel Bolin style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Asker HS Asker, Norway
G 33 Johnson, AnthonyAnthony Johnson style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Whitney Young HS
Purdue		 Chicago, IL
C 34 Maric, MarinMarin Maric style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 240 lb (109 kg) Fr La Lumiere School Split, Croatia
C 42 Threloff, JordanJordan Threloff style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 255 lb (116 kg) RS Jr DeKalb HS
Illinois State		 DeKalb, IL
G 55 Orris, MichaelMichael Orris style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 195 lb (88 kg) So Crete-Monee HS
Kansas State		 Crete, IL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Abdel Nader 23 F 6'7" 225 Junior Skokie, IL Transferred
Akeem Springs 2 G 6'3" 208 Sophomore Waukegan, IL Transferred
Brandon Hayes 4 F 6'4" 200 Graduate Homewood, IL Graduated
Mike Davis 24 G 6'2" 200 Sophomore Cleveland, OH Transferred
Tony Nixon 25 G 6'4" 207 Graduate Chicago, IL Graduated
Sam Mader 2 G 6'9" 220 Sophomore Appelton, WI Transferred

Recruits

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Dontel Highsmith
PG		 Dowagiac, MI Dowagiac Union High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg)  
Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 68
Aaric Armstead
SF		 Chicago, IL La Jolla Prep 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg)  
Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 65
Marin Maric
C		 Split, CR La Lumiere School (Ind.) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (110 kg)  
Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: Not Ranked   Rivals: Not Ranked  ESPN: Not Ranked
  • 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:

NIU also got Aaron Armstead, transfer from San Jose City College. Redshirted last year, Pete Rakocevic is also eligible this year.

Schedule and results

Source:

Date Opponent Result Record Site (Attendance)
Exhibition
11/2/2013* Rockford W 90–57  Convocation Center (701)
Non-conference games
11/8/2013* Nebraska–Omaha L 66–68  0–1 Convocation Center (1,060)
11/15/2013* James Madison
(NIU Invitational)		 L 55–60  0–2 Convocation Center (1,113)
11/16/2013* San Jose State
(NIU Invitational)		 W 60–59  1–2 Convocation Center (753)
11/17/2013* Milwaukee
(NIU Invitational)		 L 69–82  1–3 Convocation Center (474)
11/24/2013* Saint Joseph's (IN) W 111–61  2–3 Convocation Center (663)
11/30/2013* at Nebraska L 58–63  2–4 Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,332)
12/5/2013* Dartmouth W 64–57  3–4 Convocation Center (625)
12/14/2013* at #21 Massachusetts L 54–80  3–5 William D. Mullins Memorial Center (4694)
12/18/2013* at Loyola (IL) W 55–49  4–5 Joseph J. Gentile Arena (1517)
12/22/2013* at UC Riverside W 71–64  5–5 UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (236)
12/31/2013* at #14 Iowa State L 63–99  5–6 Hilton Coliseum (14,384)
1/3/2014* Bethune-Cookman W 65–51  6–6 Convocation Center (657)
Conference games
1/8/2014 at Buffalo L 46–67  6–7 (0–1) Alumni Arena (1,520)
1/12/2014 at Bowling Green W 45–36  7–7 (1–1) Stroh Center (1,982)
1/15/2014 Kent State L 64–73  7–8 (1–2) Convocation Center (651)
1/18/2014 Ohio L 46–65  7–9 (1–3) Convocation Center (1,667)
1/22/2014 at Toledo L 68–77  7–10 (1–4) Savage Arena (4,335)
1/25/2014 Buffalo L 67–75  7–11 (1–5) Convocation Center (901)
1/29/2014 at Kent State W 50–49  8–11 (2–5) MAC Center (2,234)
2/1/2014 at Ball State W 67–65 OT 9–11 (3–5) John E. Worthen Arena (2,786)
2/4/2014 Miami (OH) W 53–41  10–11 (4–5) Convocation Center (644)
2/9/2014 Western Michigan L 71–74  10–12 (4–6) Convocation Center (2,005)
2/12/2014 Central Michigan W 88–63  11–12 (5–6) Convocation Center (773)
2/15/2014 at Akron L 54–62  11–13 (5–7) James A. Rhodes Arena (3,642)
2/20/2014 Eastern Michigan W 61–59  12–13 (6–7) Convocation Center (877)
2/23/2014 at Central Michigan L 67–70  12–14 (6–8) McGuirk Arena (1,797)
2/26/2014 Toledo W 74–66  13–14 (7–8) Convocation Center (1,254)
3/1/2014 at Eastern Michigan L 56–52  13–15 (7–9) Convocation Center (815)
3/4/2014 at Western Michigan L 56–61  13–16 (7–10) University Arena (3,176)
3/8/2014 Ball State W 70–56  14–16 (8–10) Convocation Center (2,144)
MAC Tournament
03/10/2014 vs. Bowling Green
(First round)		 W 54–51  15–16 Convocation Center (941)
03/12/2014 vs. Eastern Michigan
(Second round)		 L 48–53  15–17 Quicken Loans Arena (1,513)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. ( ) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central.

References

  1. ↑ "Northern Illinois Announces 2013-14 Schedule". NIUHuskies.com. Retrieved November 7, 2013.