Four years ago, two mid-major schools, one from Washington, the other Oklahoma, rescheduled their game and helped to create the ESPN Bracket Buster Challenge.

That was back in 2003 when a game between Gonzaga and Tulsa was the main attraction of an 18-team challenge.

The next year the pool of teams expanded to 46. Included in this group was the NIU men’s basketball team.

In its fourth year, with an expanded 100-team pool, the Huskies (13-9 overall, 8-6 MAC) are searching for their first victory in the ESPN event against Winthrop (17-6, 11-2 Big South), after losing to Bradley and Wright State the past two years.

Despite not having the best of luck in the Bracket Buster, NIU coach Rob Judson still feels the event is an important chance for mid-major schools to shine in the national spotlight.

“It’s a great opportunity for conferences like the MAC, Missouri Valley, Horizon, the Midwest, and Big South,” Judson said. “As [NIU] is going to play at Winthrop and play a good game.”

The ESPN Bracket Buster gives some mid-major schools the medium to show off their talents to the world, but at the same time it can also be a distraction to these teams.

“Teams are going to have to keep a focus so it doesn’t allow them to be distracted,” the fifth year coach said. “As you come down to tournament time sometimes that exposure helps you, but if you lose one of those games it can work the other way.”

The Huskies may have to pull off the victory without junior center James Hughes, who has been suffering from a mild concussion that occurred against Ohio last week.

“He practiced yesterday and today, and we did not have him in any contact,” Judson said. “We will see how he is at game time on Saturday.”

Hughes has been averaging 10.2 points per game and 1.5 blocks per contest.

The Silvis native also led the Huskies with 18 points in last year’s Bracket Buster contest.

With or without Hughes, Judson feels the team’s defense and lack of turnovers will decide the outcome of the game.

“Our defense on our past trip against Ohio and Kent was good,” Judson said.

“We need to continue our good defensive efforts, reduce the turnovers, and hopeful we’ll put the ball in the basket a little bit more than we have been.”