MEN'S HOOPS EN ROUTE TO CMU

By Brett McWethy | Posted at 5:21 pm on Friday, January 22, 2010

The Northern Illinois men's basketball team left the Convocation Center at 1 p.m. today, embarking on a more than six-hour bus ride to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., in preparation for Saturday's MAC-West showdown with Central Michigan.  With a win, NIU would open extend its division lead to two games heading into divisional cross-over play, which begins next week.

To get your juices flowing for this game, check out the latest installment of "One-on-One" with head coach Ricardo Patton, which airs on WTVO's (Rockford) newscast each Thursday.  Stay glued to HuskieWire.com for a preview on Saturday morning -- John Sahly caught up with both Patton and junior guard Xavier Silas via phone upon boarding the bus.  

"JESSE WHITE TUMBLERS" SET TO PERFORM AT NIU-OHIO GAME JAN. 27

By Brett McWethy | Posted at 5:17 pm on Friday, January 22, 2010

In conjunction with the Northern Illinois athletic department's ongoing partnership with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's office and the "Life Goes On" initiative, the internationally-known "Jesse White Tumblers" will perform at halftime of next Wednesday's (Jan. 27) men's basketball game versus Ohio.      

Last April, the NIU Athletic Department joined Jesse White's "team" and agreed to promote the state's tissue and organ donation registry through the Huskies' athletics events throughout the 2009-10 athletic year.    

NIU has designated the Ohio contest as the Life Goes On game. The tumbling team will perform at halftime, and fans attending the game will be able to register for the state's tissue and organ donation program at the Convocation Center, in sections 107 and 117.  Associate V.P./Director of Athletics Jeff Compher will present Jesse White with a game ball prior to the 7 p.m. tip-off.    

The Jesse White Tumblers have been thrilling audiences since 1959. Their acrobatic performances can frequently be seen during halftime shows for the National Basketball Association, the National Football League and Major League Baseball games. The team entertains at business and sporting events year-round, including colleges and universities nation-wide.

They have appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, The Jenny Jones Show, Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club, CBS' How'd They Do That, as well as several performances on Nippon Television in Tokyo.

Illinoisans can be added to the donor registry, or obtain more information on the program, by visiting www.LifeGoesOn.com or calling the Illinois Secretary of State Organ/Tissue Donor Program at 1-800-210-2106. In addition, registration is available at any state driver's license facility.

RICE SIGNS IN IFL

By Russell Houghtaling | Posted at 8:42 am on Friday, January 22, 2010

Former Huskie standout defensive back Melvin Rice recently sign with the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football League. You can catch the complete story from OurSportsCentral.com. The IFL is a 26 team league started in 2008. Here's a map of the teams, which includes seven from Texas (mess with 'em... do it.), and three from Alaska.

CONGRATULATIONS P.J.!

By Joe Summins | Posted at 4:57 pm on Thursday, January 21, 2010

Congratulations and good luck to one of NIU's own as assistant football coach P.J. Fleck was named the wide receivers coach at Rutgers University earlier today. P.J. was always one of the more entertaining coaches to watch at practice as he worked with the Huskie receivers and returners. His popularity among the fans as a coach was exceeded only by his popularity as a player.

Fleck described his excitement about the move, his feelings about his alma mater and telling the Huskie wide receivers of his decision to the Daily Chronicle's John Sahly. As Coach Kill said P.J. "will always be a Huskie."

"NIU LIVE" TONIGHT

By Joe Summins | Posted at 4:45 pm on Thursday, January 21, 2010

Be sure to catch "NIU Live" tonight at 5:30 p.m. on 1360 AM WLBK and again at 10 p.m. on 670 AM "The Score" as host Andy Garcia and associate vice president/director of athletics Jeff Compher are joined by head women's basketball coach Carol Owens and NIU wrestling head man Dave Grant as they preview this weekend's upcoming events at NIU.

HUNTED

By Russell Houghtaling | Posted at 10:20 am on Thursday, January 21, 2010

After a 58-54 win over Toledo, the Huskie men's basketball team's sixth victory in a row, improved NIU to 4-0 in MAC play, head coach Ricardo Patton said this:

"Our guys need to understand what being 3-0, and now 4-0, means to an opponent. We can expect our opponents' best shot every time out."

To paraphrase, the Huskies have got from hunter to hunted. In addition to 11 other MAC schools, here are some other hunters that will be stalking the first-place Huskies...

Dog the Bounty Hunter, Jason Bourne, Elmer Fudd and Hunter Hearst Helmsley are just part of the reason the Huskies have gone from Hunter to Hunted.

GOLDEN GREEK GAME DAY

Goldmember loves Gold, and the NIU women's hoops team.

By Russell Houghtaling | Posted at 10:45 am on Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Huskie women's basketball team is in action tonight at the Convocation Center hosting Central Michigan. Check out the NIU Game Center for a preview. Tonight is the Golden Greek Challenge, with members of NIU sororities and fraternities competing to see who can bring the most fans. Of note: the Golden Greek is also a kind of tortoise, and the heavyweight champion of Chaotic Wrestling. You can check out the Northern Star's preview of tonight's game here.

WHO NEEDS ONE

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:45 am on Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Every Tuesday during the basketball season, members of the NIU marketing staff will be distributing free basketball tickets to NIU students at DuSable and Barsema Halls from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Students presenting their NIU One Card will receive a free ticket for the upcoming week of men's and women's basketball home games.

FIRST PLACE.

By Russell Houghtaling | Posted at 9:30 am on Monday, January 18, 2010

Reasons NIU men's basketball is flatout, downright, tip-top mindblowing right now.

• The Huskies have won five straight, and six of their last seven games.
• A Northern Illinois player has been named MAC West Player of the Week in each of the last three weeks.
• The Huskies are UNDEFEATED in league play at 3-0, with wins over Ball State, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan.
• During this five-game winning streak, the Huskies are beating teams by an average on 11.8 points.

The Huskies hit the road to wrap-up round one of the MAC West against Toledo (tomorrow) and Central Michigan (Saturday). The Rockets are 0-3 in the league, while Central Michigan is 2-1. Northern Illinois returns home to host Ohio, Wednesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. Get your tickets here.

ELEPHANTS AND ANTS

By Russell Houghtaling | Posted at 9:27 am on Monday, January 18, 2010

John Sahly of the DeKalb Daily Chronicle explains the men's basketball team's mindset now that their are 3-0 in Mid-American Conference play. You can also check out John Sahly's recap of the win over Eastern Michigan, and find an interview with Sean Kowal under the "Video" tab of HuskieWire.com.

Jay Taft, covering NIU for the Rockford Register-Star, wrote this on the Eastern Michigan win. The Northern Star's Mike Buda has this coverage of the game.

HAVE A HAPPENING?

By Russell Houghtaling | Posted at 9:08 am on Monday, January 18, 2010

Have a Huskie Happening we missed? Let us know by e-mailing us here! We only have so many sets of eyes, but the Huskie Nation sees all!