BASKETBALL PURGATORY IN DEKALB.

Northern Illinois University have hired Buffalo associate head coach Jacey Brooks to coach the women's team.  That transition will be on hold for a few more days as Buffalo are still playing in the Women's NIT, i.e. the independent tournament, not to be confused with the NCAA participation trophy College Basketball Invitational.  The Invitational has four teams from the mid-major conferences as finalists.

Four players, three of whom will graduate, earned academic all-district recognition from Collegiate Sports Communications.  The conference and national dean's lists will be forthcoming in summer.  Departing coach Lisa Carlsen and her daughter Lexi are in the transfer portal.  Sophomore forward Brooke Blumenfeld has already transferred to Miami of Ohio, thus staying in the Mid-American.

Four guards from the men's team have entered the transfer portal.  We have much to look forward to, notes Northern Star sports editor Edison Miller.

While the Huskies know their coach for the upcoming season, they are forced to play out the final season of head coach Rashon Burno’s contract – a close to a not-so-pretty tenure at NIU.

Despite NIU fans thinking last season was rock bottom, next season is looking like it may be even worse.

That season will also close out this iteration of Northern Illinois playing basketball in the Mid-American.