Northern Star

Hidden keys Hammel’s first win

By Wes Swietek | December 2, 1991

Nothing seems to be coming easy for new NIU head coach Brian Hammel. After his Huskies dropped their first two games this season, including a 76-71 loss at Marquette on Thanksgiving Day, NIU seemed to be poised to notch an easy victory Saturday when it...

NCAA overlooks NIU; Huskies still in Top 52

By Steve Dennis | December 2, 1991

To no surprise, the NIU volleyball team did not get an NCAA Tournament bid when the 32-team field was announced last night. The 25-7 Huskies had an outside shot at the NCAA's, but weren't counting on a bid this year. "There was an extreme outside chance,"...

Both swimming teams top Northeastern

December 2, 1991

Both the NIU women's and men's swimming teams had to be thankful for competing against Northeastern Illinois last Tuesday in non-conference action. Even though ‘NIU' was assured of a victory, it was the Huskies from DeKalb that swam away with both victories....

Bears pin 31-10 loss on Huskies

December 2, 1991

The St. Louis Arch is symbolic of bridging the gap to the West. Last Monday, however, the NIU wrestling team (1-3) was unable to bridge a similar gap as NIU fell to a more experienced Southwest Missouri State University 31-10. Using a lineup featuring...

Former NIU student named White Sox skipper

By Steve Dennis | December 2, 1991

Onetime NIU student Gene Lamont had a lot to be thankful for over this past Thanksgiving. Lamont, who attended NIU during the fall semesters of 1965 and 1966, was named the 34th manager of the Chicago White Sox at a Comiskey Park press conference last...

Losing year dampens feats accomplished by seniors

By Hyun Moon | November 26, 1991

The seniors on this year's football squad were not used to losing—until this year. Most of them came from successful high school systems and enjoyed 7-4, 9-2 and 6-5 seasons under former coach Jerry Pettibone. But after Saturday's 42-21 loss to Toledo,...

Raiders ruin Hammel’s debut

By Steve Dennis | November 26, 1991

All of the NIU-Texas Tech pre-game hype centered around both teams being directed by rookie coaches that love the up-tempo style. Instead, both men's basketball coaches were treated to some stellar defense until the 17-minute mark of the first half. That's...

Volleyball team’s desire pays off

By Jennifer Hutchins | November 25, 1991

In a true display of gut determination and desire the NIU volleyball team was crowned the North Star Conference champion this weekend. The key words here are determination and desire. Had it not been for NIU's never-say-die game plan, the championship...

Huskies overcome poor shooting to top Spartans

By David Lance | November 25, 1991

The 1,415 fans at Sunday's NIU women's basketball season opener were well advised to keep their coats on in the Chick Evans Field House. Field-goal shooting made it as cold inside as it was outside. For the game, the Huskies shot 27 percent from the field...

NSC championship reaps more benefits

By Jennifer Hutchins | November 25, 1991

The NIU volleyball team collected an impressive set of souvenirs during it's trip to the last North Star Conference Finals this weekend. Try an NSC championship, an automatic bid to a national tournament, three all-conference player awards and the Newcomer...

Huskies drop finale to Toledo

By Hyun Moon | November 25, 1991

Tailback Steve Cowan was Toledo's grinder as he wore down the NIU football team's defense, leading the Rockets to a 42-21 victory at the Glass Bowl on Saturday. Cowan out-dueled senior fullback Adam Dach while both teams combined for 543 yards-rushing...

Men’s basketball squad faces Texas Tech

By Wes Swietek | November 25, 1991

The similarities between the NIU men's basketball team and its season-opening foe—Texas Tech—have been duly noted.

Both teams feature new head coaches coming from larger programs. And both the Huskies and Red Raiders are looking to push the ball up the court more than last year.

Where NIU head coach Brian Hammel hopes the similarities end is in the result of their season opener, Monday at 7:00 p.m.

The Red Raiders hosted North Texas Saturday and dropped an 81-76 decision.

Despite Texas Tech's 8-23 mark last year which resulted in the hiring of a new coach, James Dickey, a former assistant under Eddie Sutton at Arkansas and Kentucky, Hammel feels his team will have its hands full against the Southwest Conference foe.

"Size will certainly be a factor. They have nine guys that are 6-5 and over who are also pretty doggone good athletes," Hammel said.

"Of course the idea that size will be a factor won't be unusual to us this year. Bottom line, Texas Tech is a well-disciplined, well-drilled team that competes in an ever-improving basketball league with teams like Arkansas, Texas, Houston and Rice," he added.

Hammel, a former assistant under George Raveling at Southern California, leads a squad that was 3-0 against Texas teams last year.

The Red Raiders are led by sophomore center Will Flemons. Flemons led the SWC in rebounds as a freshman before injuring his foot and sitting out the second half of the season.

Seven other letter winners return for Texas Tech, including three starters.

The Huskies split their exhibition games going into Monday's opener, winning their final preseason exhibition, 94-88 over Marathon Oil last week.

The game marks the first contest between the two schools.

The Red Raiders, under ex-coach Gerald Meyers, finished tied for seventh last season in the tough SWC with a 4-12 mark.

The Huskies stay on the road for their next game at Marquette on Thursday, Nov. 28 at noon