Rebuilding a college basketball team is never easy, and, for NIU men’s basketball, the reset comes with a side of unique pressure. Head coach Rashon Burno is in the final year of his contract, and after the disaster that was the 2024-25 season, the Huskies’ roster started from scratch.
FINDING THEIR FOOTING
Through 18 games, NIU sits at a record of 6-12 and 2-5 in MAC play, which is a record that certainly won’t turn heads, but tells a very different story than it did a season ago. The 2024-25 season was the second-worst season in program history, with a record of 6-25 and 2-16 in the MAC.
Halfway through the 2025-26 season, the Huskies have already matched last season’s win total, so it’s natural to ask whether or not their rebuild is ahead of schedule. The answer is a bit complicated but leans toward no, at least not quite yet.
The Huskies have shown flashes of brilliance, particularly at home (5-3), but those flashes have not quite carried over from game to game. Being ahead of schedule would mean not just competing but sustaining winning over time, something this roster has not yet proven it can do.
With 11 games remaining in MAC play, the door to the MAC Tournament remains open if the Huskies can find some sort of consistency. A hot stretch could potentially lift the Huskies to the middle of the standings.
Regardless, this season has been a success so far, even if the numbers aren’t flashy.
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
With a completely new roster, much of NIU’s success this season has come down to these players stepping up in big moments.
Sophomore guard Makhai Valentine has emerged as the Huskies’ star through 17 games, and it’s not hard to see why. Valentine leads NIU with 14.1 points per game on 42.4% shooting from the field, adding 99 rebounds and 23 steals. His scoring has helped anchor this young NIU team.
Denmark native freshman forward Gustav Winther has been the roster’s most efficient scorer so far, with 62.8% shooting from the field, adding 91 rebounds and 9 blocks.
With 95 rebounds, freshman guard Taj Walters has been effective on the glass, and despite averaging just 6.9 points a game, has shown up in big moments. Walters has shot 44.3% from the field and 75.8% from the line, and scored the game-winner in the Huskies’ first conference win against Central Michigan.
Ultimately, with 11 games left in MAC play, there is still time for this group to find consistency and build momentum. The progress that has been made this season matters, and it will shape the future of NIU men’s basketball as it heads into the Horizon League next year.
UP NEXT
The Huskies will take on the Ball State Cardinals at 1 p.m. Saturday in Muncie, Indiana, as they look to make a run for the tournament. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and stats will be available on StatBroadcast.
