Jim Rosborough kicked off the basketball portion of the weekly Huskie Club Luncheon Tuesday by keeping his squad’s 1-3 record in proper perspective.

“If we didn’t beat Beloit, I’m sure I’d really be on top of the Holmes Student Center,” Rosborough said, proving once again you’re never better off dead.

The Huskie boss said although the win-loss column doesn’t reflect it yet, the NIU program is making strides.

“You look at a team like Wisconsin—we’re almost on a par with them. We’re this close,” Rosborough said. The Huskies fell to the Badgers in Madison last week 87-77 but stayed close throughout the game.

Rosborough said, when his squad is coming down to the wire, it has to take on the attitude of a champion.

“I assume everyone watched the Bears game the other night. They were down and what did they do? They found a way to win,” Rosborough said. The Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings 30-24 on a last-minute touchdown Sunday night.

Rosborough referred specifically to last weekend’s game against Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he said the Huskies had a shot with 38 seconds left and ended up on the downside. He gave the Phoenix credit for the win, though.

“They had a shot hanging on the rim against Southwest Missouri State last year and if it goes in, they go to the national tournament. They’re a good team,” Rosborough said.

In analyzing the first four games, Rosborough focused attention on his freshmen, running off a brief list of contributions the newcomers have made thus far.

“I think some of the younger kids have come in and played very well and if I were one of the older people, I’d be looking over my shoulder,” Rosborough said.

A club member then asked him about the progress of forward Donnell Thomas. Rosborough said simply, “Donnell Thomas is here.

“Donnell Thomas isn’t a freshman. He can play with anyone in the country. He’s not the greatest player in the world, but he can play.”

Of diminutive point guard Donald Whiteside, Rosborough said “inside that little kid beats a heart of gold.” Brian Banks was credited with having “the best week of practice he’s had since he’s been here. If he doesn’t watch it, he might find himself starting on Saturday.”

The Huskie boss, known for his dislike of the dunk, then gave the podium to NIU Sports Information Director Mike Korcek, known for his love of Julius Erving and the dunk.

Korcek, who bore a book published in the late 1930s with pictures of players slamming, called the dunk shot “the ultimate expression of an athlete in basketball.” He then gave a list of the best dunk artists at NIU, circa 1966-87.

Along with Kenny Battle were the names Matt Hicks, Terry Green, Jim Bradley, Mike Taylor and Dennis Taylor.

Battle and Green tied for Korcek’s all-time best slam. Battle was cited for a jam with a player riding his back at Northwestern. Green’s stuff in 1979 came off a rebound against DePaul and sent the game into overtime.