Editors note: Point/Counterpoint features two members of the Northern Star sports staff in a debate about topics in the NIU sporting world.

Sean Ostruszka: Let’s face it. The MAC East is just too good.

Jarrod Rice: Yeah, the MAC East is tough, but the Huskies will most likely get a first-round bye in the MAC tournament.

SO: And?

JR: And that means the Huskies will only have to worry about the East in one, maybe two games.

SO: But those one or two games can make or break their chances at making the tourney. NIU has a knack for being streaky. What happens if NIU hits a cold streak?

JR: At this point they’re more likely to hit a hot streak. Have you seen the schedule lately? NIU ends with Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ball State and Western Michigan — four losing records. The Huskies will most likely be riding a four-game winning streak into the MAC Tournament.

SO: You forget that NIU barely escaped against CMU and Ball State.

JR: A win is a win in my book. Besides, the CMU game was on the road and the Huskies had an off game against Ball State. So what. We bounced right back and destroyed WMU in a statement game.

SO: I don’t know about a statement game, but it was nice to see NIU play that well against WMU. But the Huskies had four players all on fire that game. When it comes tournament time, a team needs a go-to guy.

JR: That’s the point. The Huskies actually have four guys who can catch fire. Why have one guy step up when you can have three or four. And if they only had one go-to guy then NIU would have to rely on him to carry the team.

SO: Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony took their teams to the Final Four. Heck, Anthony won the title. I’m just saying it would be nice to have a guy who can go for 30 points if you need him to.

JR: I don’t see a Wade or Anthony on any other team in the MAC. We’re not looking at a Final Four run here, we’re talking about winning the MAC Championship, getting an 11 seed at best and maybe winning one game.

SO: That’s still a lofty goal. NIU hasn’t won the MAC Tournament since the mid-’90s. And if the Huskies lose, they have practically no chance for an at-large bid.

JR: Well you’re probably right about that, and stay with me on this. You said yourself that NIU is streaky and with a fairly easy schedule ahead who’s to say they can’t get 20 wins on the season and shock Huskie Country with an at-large bid. And if nothing else, they’ll get a MAC title because they are way over due for one.