Nov. 20, 2008
NIU-Tennessee State Game Notes 
DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois men's basketball team (2-1) will open its 2008-09 road slate Friday night, when the Huskies take on host Tennessee State (0-2) at the Gentry Center in Nashville, Tenn., beginning at 7:30 p.m. The contest will mark the third all-time meeting between NIU and the Tigers.
The Huskies are coming off Tuesday's 86-79 win over visiting Indiana State in NIU's home opener. Darion "Jake" Anderson and Mike DiNunno combined for 54 points in the win, with each chipping in 27 points.
The Huskies were in Kennesaw, Ga., last weekend for the 100 Club Classic, but did not face host Kennesaw State. Both games against Maine (Nov. 14) and Western Illinois (Nov. 15) were played on a neutral court at the KSU Convocation Center.
DON'T MISS THIS!
With a win over host Tennessee State Friday,
Northern Illinois would collect its third-straight victory, and secure the Huskies' first winning streak since opening the 2006-07 season with three-consecutive wins (Nov. 13-25, 2006).
STORYLINES
» Northern Illinois will be opening its 2008-09 road slate Friday night at Tennessee State. The Huskies have played two games on neutral courts this season, falling to Maine (Nov. 14) in the season opener, before defeating in-state rival Western Illinois on Nov. 15. Those games were played at the KSU Convocation Center in Kennesaw, Ga.
» Friday's game marks just the third all-time meeting between the Huskies and Tigers. The all-time series is tied, 1-1, with Tennessee State claiming a 90-80 victory Jan. 7, 1988, and NIU recording a 75-65 win on Dec. 19, 1988. Both of the two previous meetings were played in Chicago.
» Dating back to the 1998-99 season, Northern Illinois has dropped eight-of its last 10 road openers. The Huskies last won their first road contest Nov. 20, 2006, outlasting host Duquesne in overtime, 87-82.
» Northern Illinois will be looking to pick up its third win of the season Tuesday against Indiana State. Last season, the Huskies didn't record their third victory until Dec. 29, 2007, after topping Arkansas-Little Rock, 59-55.
» The Huskies were 1-12 on the road last season, and didn't pick up their first road victory until Feb. 12, 2008, when NIU outlasted host Akron, 88-78. Overall, the Huskies have dropped 20-of their last 23 road games, dating back to the 2006-07 season.
» Northern Illinois will play its next five games either on the road or at a neutral location. After taking on host Tennessee State Friday, the Huskies will travel west for the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Ala., for three non-conference contests. NIU will wrap up its road swing at Air Force on Dec. 3, before facing Chicago State at the Convocation Center Dec. 6.
ABOUT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
» Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, Tenn., and has a total enrollment of 9,024. The Tigers are an NCAA Division I member, and are affiliated with the Ohio Valley Conference.
» The Tigers finished the 2007-08 season 15-17 with a 10-10 record in conference play, a fifth-place tally. They fell just short of the NCAA Tournament after dropping an 82-64 decision against Austin Peay in the championship game of the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
» Cy Alexander is in his sixth season at the helm of the Tennessee State program. He has a 61-91 record with the Tigers, and a 338-292 overall record as a collegiate head coach.
» Garnering 108 total preseason points, Tennessee State was picked fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference 2008-09 preseason poll. Murray State is the preseason favorite.
LAST TIME OUT: HUSKIES WIN SECOND-STRAIGHT, 86-79
The Northern Illinois men's basketball backcourt tandem of sophomore Darion "Jake" Anderson and freshman Mike DiNunno combined for 54 points, with each chipping in 27, to lift the Huskies (2-1) to an 86-79 win over Missouri Valley Conference foe Indiana State (0-1) at the Convocation Center Tuesday night. With the win, NIU secured back-to-back wins for the first time since early in December last season.
Anderson's 27 points marked his career-high, and DiNunno's scoring output came on six three-pointers, just two off the single-game record at NIU. Sophomore center Sean Kowal also scored 10 points, marking his third-consecutive double-digit scoring outing.
The Huskies shot 41.9 percent for the game, and claimed the victory despite the Sycamores shooting nearly 53 percent (52.8) from the field. The Huskies out-rebounded ISU (37-35); dished out seven more assists (15-8), and had 10 steals to Indiana State's three. NIU converted nine more free throws (23-of-35) than the Sycamores (14-of-22).
AGAINST THE OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE
Northern Illinois owns a 49-45 all-time record against current foes affiliated with the Ohio Valley Conference. The Huskies are 44-42 against Eastern Illinois, have dropped their lone all-time meeting against Eastern Kentucky, are 1-1 all-time against Morehead State, won their only game against Samford (1-0), have a 2-0 all-time lead over Tennessee Tech, and as mentioned, are 1-1 all-time versus Tennessee State.
DINUNNO CONTINUES TO SHINE
Freshman guard Mike DiNunno continued his torrid offensive stretch against Indiana State Tuesday, scoring a career-high 27 points on six three-pointers, just two off the single-game record at Northern Illinois. DiNunno scored 17 second-half points, and was aggressive when driving the basket, getting to the free throw line 11 times, where he scored nine of his points. He was effective running the offense, dishing out four assists against zero turnovers. Heading into this weekend's MAC slate, DiNunno ranks third in the league in scoring (23.0 ppg), first in three-point field goals made (12), second in minutes played (37.33 mpg), and is tied for fifth in steals (2.33 spg).
ANDERSON RECORDS CAREER-HIGH
Defending Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year Darion "Jake" Anderson's 27 points matched DiNunno's offensive output, and were also a career-high mark. Anderson connected a team-high eight field goals (8-of-14), was 4-of-6 from three-point range and 7-of-10 from the free throw line. Anderson also had a team-high tying eight rebounds. He now has seven 20+ scoring outings, including five in the last nine games, dating back to last season.
KOWAL STAYS STEADY
Sophomore center Sean Kowal is still becoming re-acclimated to full playing shape, and continues to recover from a sprained right ankle, but has been a steady inside presence for the Huskies early this season. Kowal has scored in double-digits in all three games, and is shooting a MAC fifth-best 64 percent from the field
POINT `N SHOOT
As is usually the case, shooting percentage played a vital role in Northern Illinois' won-loss record during the 2007-08 season. When the Huskies recorded a higher shooting percentage than their opponents, NIU was 6-4. When NIU was out-shot by its foes, the Huskies were 0-18. Tuesday night's win over Indiana State was the first for NIU under head coach Ricardo Patton when being out-shot by its opponent.
STAYING AGGRESSIVE ON THE BOARDS
Northern Illinois' rebounding margin is just 1.7 (sixth in the Mid-American Conference) this season, but a significant advantage for the Huskies in the early going has been their aggressiveness on the offensive and defensive glass. NIU has out-rebounded all three of its foes, and is averaging 13 offensive caroms per game.
HOMECOMING FOR RICARDO, Michael Patton
Friday's trip to Nashville is a homecoming of sorts for both head coach Ricardo Patton and sophomore guard Michael Patton. Ricardo grew up in Nashville,Tenn., and also served one stint (1991-93) as an assistant coach at Tennessee State. Michael Patton, and his older brother Ricardo Jr., was born in Nashville. Ricardo Patton Jr., is a redshirt sophomore on the NIU football team.
MORE ON COACH `P' IN NASHVILLE
As head coach Ricardo Patton can allude to, there is a significant amount of Tennessee State University alumnae, but none may be more noteworthy than television star Oprah Winfrey, a Speech Communications and Performing Arts major at the Nashville-based institution. Patton worked at the same Nashville television station (WTVF-TV) as Winfrey in his five-year stint in TV, but his connection with Winfrey and her family goes beyond just professional connections. Vernon Winfrey, Oprah's father, was Ricardo's barber in Nashville.
UP NEXT: HUSKIES HEAD TO LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Northern Illinois will make the 3,535-mile trek from DeKalb, Ill., to Anchorage, Ala., for the 2008 Great Alaska Shootout, Nov. 26-29. The Huskies will face Portland State on Nov. 26/27 (the game begins at 12:45 a.m. on Nov. 27), will face either Hampton or Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 28, and will take on an undetermined opponent on Nov. 29. The team departs on Monday (Nov. 24), and will return on Sunday, Nov. 30.
DINUNNO NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
After averaging 21 points and three rebounds per game in the Huskies' two contests against Maine and Western Illinois in last weekend's 100 Club Classic, freshman guard Mike DiNunno was named to the six-member all-tournament team, as voted on by a tournament committee following Maine's win over host Kennesaw State in Saturday's championship game.
HALL TAKES OVER THE POINT
Freshman Bryan Hall took over the point guard duties for Northern Illinois in the 100 Club Classic consolation game against Western Illinois, and may have established himself as the Huskies' primary ball handler for the 2008-09 season. In a game-high 27 minutes, Hall dished out five assists against zero turnovers, scored five points on 2-of-2 shooting, and pulled down six rebounds. Against Indiana State on Tuesday, Hall had five assists, and three turnovers, in 28 minutes.
SWEET HOME, CHICAGO
In 2008-09, the Huskies will field a roster with eight Illinois natives, including five players from Chicago. True freshmen Mike DiNunno, Bryan Hall and Keith Smith, along with redshirt freshman Michael Fakuade and sophomore Darion "Jake" Anderson, all hail from the Windy City.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
Darion "Jake" Anderson, the 2008 Mid-American Conference and MidAmPub.com Freshman of the Year, ranked in the league's top-20 in scoring (12.2 ppg), rebounding (5.1 rpg) and assists (2.64 apg) last season. Anderson led the Huskies in both scoring and rebounding 10 times, and was the MAC Player of the Week on Feb. 18, 2008. He recorded 16 double-digit scoring efforts.
ROSTER AT-A-GLANCE
The Huskies' lone returning starter this season is Darion "Jake" Anderson, but NIU welcomes six newcomers to the mix, including 2007-08 red-shirts Lee Fisher, and Sean Kowal, a Colorado transfer. In all, 10 players that were either red-shirted or did not play last season will take the court for Northern Illinois in the 2008-09 campaign.
WHAT'S BACK?
Northern Illinois returns nearly 45 percent (44.8) of its scoring, about 35 percent (34.6) of its rebounding, and almost 45 percent (44.6) of its assist totals from last season. Along with the return of Darion "Jake" Anderson, the Huskies also welcome back their top three-point shooter, sophomore Michael Patton, who converted a team-high 35 three-point field goals in 2007-08.
2008-09 SLATE: WESTWARD BOUND
Northern Illinois' non-conference slate includes 12 opponents from at least 11 leagues, and eight of those games will take place on the road or at neutral sites. The Huskies will travel west twice, heading to Anchorage, Ala., for the Great Alaska Shootout (Nov. 26-29) over Thanksgiving weekend, and Colorado Springs, Colo., for a non-conference contest against host Air Force.
STAFF CHANGES
Northern Illinois head coach Ricardo Patton re-shuffled his staff in the off-season, promoting assistant coach Dennis Gates to associate head coach in March, and naming former director of basketball operations Will Smith an assistant coach in May. Former Northern State graduate assistant coach Scott Stevens replaced Smith as the operations director, while assistant coach Sundance Wicks also returns for his third season under Patton, dating back to the 2006-07 season at Colorado.
