Antwon Harmon will soon get the chance to take in some of what he’s been dishing out.

Come early March, when the NIU’s men’s basketball team completes its schedule, the 6-8 Huskie center will coach basketball at the Sycamore YMCA.

“I’m not looking forward to doing it, because I know what kinds of problems we give Coach Ros (Jim Rosborough),” Harmon said.

As recreational as it may sound, this slight role change—which will last “a couple of weeks”—was not a voluntary choice made by Harmon.

Rather, Harmon’s coaching job came as the result of a court order for community service work stemming from a criminal incident on March 27, 1988, to which he pled guilty.

But for now, Harmon must face daily the reality of the squad’s 8-17 record, which is nearly a replica of last year’s 8-20 losing ledger.

“There’s a lot of people that don’t believe in us,” Harmon said. “It’s tough around here when you lose because your peers are saying your team sucks. Some days I just want to hit them in the mouth.”

But Harmon seems to be taking out most of his frustrations on the court. While his 11.2 points per game might not put Harmon up for an All-America nomination, Rosborough said the Proposition-48 sophomore has had “a pretty remarkable year.”

“We all need to keep in mind this is Antwon’s first year in collegiate ball,” Rosborough said, “and I think he’s made quite an impact for essentially being a freshman.”

The Chicago native and Hyde Park High School graduate scored just 8 points in his first collegiate game against Bethel College, but he discovered his shot in the second game. Harmon scored 20 points and sank the game-winner with no time on the clock to top Eastern Illinois, 80-79.

“I was kind of nervous getting back with the team, but once I got through the Bethel game I was okay,” Harmon said. “I was really nervous and I didn’t perform like I wanted to. That was one of my problems, getting my confidence back.

“A lot of players (both teammates and opponents) said I was cocky (following the Eastern game), but I think I just had a nonchalant attitude—I was just on a high and I didn’t think about it until the next day.”

Now that Harmon has solved his confidence dilemma, he hopes to contribute to an upbeat team attitude.

“You have to go into each game with a positive attitude, because if you don’t, you’ll lose for the next three years,” Harmon said. “There were a couple of games I think people didn’t feel we could hang with (our opponents).”

Harmon says he tries to keep such negative opinions from affecting his game or his effort.

“I like to be able to look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘You gave 100 percent.'”