7pm Central on ESPN+

Akron 6-4 NET 122 NIU 4-6 NET 199

Stats are close FG% .470/.477, 3PT% .357/.350, TO 13/13 pg

Core:
6'8" SR Ali Ali 32.3 min, 18pts, 5/16 3pts, 3.3 reb
6'9" SR Hunter 25.3 min, 11.1pts, 29/73 3pts, 3.1 reb
6'7" SR Freeman 32.4 min, 17.7pts, 6/14 3pts, 13.4 reb (had 27pts in last yrs game)
6'3" SR Tribble 29.3 min, 8.7pts, 5/23 3pts, 2.1 reb
6'3" RS SO Nate Johnson 26 min, 9pts, 13/29 3pts, 3.3 reb

Next off the bench Dawson, Scott, Tavari Johnson and KALEB THORNTON combine for 52 for 144 3pt shots. Ali Ali missed 8 games in non-conference play so the Zips could easily be 8-2. Per the Huskie website story KenPom ranks NIU's non-conference schedule the 36 toughest in the nation.

NEED TO DEFEND OUR HOME COURT!

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crump free throw watch now at 5 for 35 after going 0 for 2 against Aquinas.

Very happy to see we're sticking with turning the ball over as much as possible.

Huskies looking ragged at the start. Very cold shooting.

I bet we've missed 7 shots from inside the paint.

This is so pitiful.

We can’t even make layups and we can’t defend.

The wheels have fallen off

Of course we do not have any info on their status, but Watts and K, Williams both still out

That was a butt ugly first half. 35-16

(01-02-2024 08:52 PM)HuskieBowWow Wrote:  That was a butt ugly first half. 35-16

As bad as we were, Akron seemed to be doing all they could to keep it close.

Wow! Shot 14.8% FG, 8.3% 3pt in 1st half!!!!
On the plus side we can't get any worse, right?

(01-02-2024 08:54 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(01-02-2024 08:52 PM)HuskieBowWow Wrote:  That was a butt ugly first half. 35-16

As bad as we were, Akron seemed to be doing all they could to keep it close.

Well, we did score the last 4 points of the half "keeping it close" from down by 23 to only down by 19!

I know he is an only a true freshman, but I think we are sorely missing the toughness of Lovingd-Watts on the floor. Hope he is close to coming back.

What a dreadful performance. We weren’t in this game, or ready to play, right from the opening tip.

Akron showing why they are one of the powers in this conference, and we continue to trip over our own feet as usual.

Oh good. Nutter is hurt now too.

We have the best starting 5 on the injured reserve in the conference.

(Assuming Konan Niederhäuser is also going to be out for an extended time).

Let's see how long they can go without any updates on Williams, Lovings-Watts, Konan Neiderhäuser, and Nutter. Hey coach...any updates on those guys?

What?

The four guys I listed who are hurt?

I can't quite hear the question.

Coach...those 4 guys...any updates on them?

Alright, if there are no other questions, that'll be it for the evening.

The week of good play was fun while it lasted.

We improved from last year Huskies lost last year to Akron by 25 and improved tonight and only lost by 22. Oh well the hard non - conference schedule got them ready for MAC play. Atleast they’re consistent when they lose it’s basically by 22. Win Saturday at Ohio and we’re on our way to a MACC.

Injury Updates:

In the post-game presser, Coach said he would know more about Nutter and Konan Niederhäuser later tonight but (I think) he said YKN was wearing a walking boot. But it could have been Nutter as I thought Nutter injured his foot/ankle while YKN landed on his back going after a rebound. But I'm pretty certain he was talking about Yanic as he was directly asked about him.

The reporter then followed up asking about Williams and Burno seemed a little cagy but then let out some info. Basically, 1) there is no timetable for his return, 2) he injured the same knee, 3) Burno says it's a bone bruise.

So, good that it's not the ligament but bone bruises can take a long time to heal but once healed, there should be no lingering issues (this last sentence is all me and not from Burno, fwiw).

Still no info on Lovings-Watts. He scored over 20 points vs Calumet then hasn't played since.