College Basketball · Horizon · 2026-27
Northern Illinois Huskies
1-2 · Coach Matt Majkrzak (new)
Power Rankings
#250▲43
Who is best right now.
-8.1points per 100 possessions vs an average D-I team
Last week: -12.3 (#293)
Preseason: #289
Full Power Rankings → Compare to another teamRating breakdown
Adjusted for every opponent and home court. Power = offense minus defense.
Projected record
15-17
- Conference record
- 10-10
- Conference title
- 1%
- Outright title
- <1%
- Luck
- -0.2
Actual results so far plus the rest of the seasonplayed out 10,000 times with the win chance for each game (non-Division I opponents count as 97% wins). The title is the regular-season crown; conference tournaments aren't included. Later rounds of holiday tournaments are added once the opponent is known.
Why #289 in the preseason
What the computer saw going in
- →Last season: #335 in the country (-19.1), 9-21.
- →0% of last season's minutes are back.
- →7 transfers in, led by Uzziah Buntyn (South Dakota, 12.1 ppg), Mykolas Ivanauskas (Mercyhurst, 7.4 ppg), David Douglas Jr. (Fresno State, 7.2 ppg). Transfers moving up a level are counted cautiously.
- →Lost Makhai Valentine (13.3 ppg, now at George Mason), Dylan Ducommun (10.8 ppg, now at Buffalo), Gianni Cobb (9.8 ppg, now at SIU Edwardsville).
- →New head coach: Matt Majkrzak, replacing Rashon Burno. A coaching change usually costs a little in year one.
The preseason rating counts for about five games, then real results take over.
Teams like Northern Illinois
The closest matches across all 365 Division I teams, based on the current ratings.
This season
Everyone who has played, most minutes first: per-game numbers from the box scores, updated after every game.
| Player | G · GS | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max WeisbrodG · Senior · #679 ranked | 3 · 3 | 32.7 | 16.7 | 3.7 | 8.0 | 48.3 (14-29) | 54.5 (12-22) | 71.4 (10-14) |
| David Douglas Jr.G · Senior · #1683 ranked | 3 · 3 | 30.3 | 20.0 | 4.7 | 0.7 | 48.6 (18-37) | 47.4 (9-19) | 83.3 (15-18) |
| Trevor PoliteG · Sophomore · #3646 ranked | 3 · 3 | 26.7 | 6.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 70.0 (7-10) | 60.0 (3-5) | 100.0 (3-3) |
| Brayden GrossF · Sophomore · #3405 ranked | 3 · 2 | 21.7 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 38.5 (5-13) | 0.0 (0-3) | 85.7 (6-7) |
| Colin HardrickG · Senior · #3754 ranked | 3 · 2 | 20.3 | 4.3 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 22.2 (4-18) | 12.5 (1-8) | 57.1 (4-7) |
| Bennett BasichG · Junior · #3995 ranked | 3 · 0 | 17.7 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 28.6 (4-14) | 33.3 (2-6) | 100.0 (5-5) |
| Mykolas IvanauskasF · Junior · #1911 ranked | 2 · 1 | 17.5 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 70.0 (7-10) | — (0-0) | 100.0 (2-2) |
| Nino Carter-SmithG · Senior · #3704 ranked | 3 · 1 | 15.3 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 66.7 (8-12) | 75.0 (6-8) | 100.0 (2-2) |
| Jack DaughertyF · Junior · #2516 ranked | 3 · 0 | 11.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 14.3 (2-14) | 18.2 (2-11) | — (0-0) |
| Tolu SamuelsF · Senior · #1758 ranked | 1 · 0 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 (0-1) | — (0-0) | 0.0 (0-2) |
| Keller HansonG · Sophomore · #3793 ranked | 3 · 0 | 9.3 | 5.0 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 44.4 (4-9) | 28.6 (2-7) | 100.0 (5-5) |
| Uzziah BuntynG · Sophomore · #1366 ranked | 2 · 0 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 33.3 (1-3) | 0.0 (0-1) | 0.0 (0-1) |
| Akiva McBirney-GriffinF · Senior · #2106 ranked | 2 · 0 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 (0-1) | — (0-0) | 100.0 (6-6) |
| Nathan RamusG · Freshman | 1 · 0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — (0-0) | — (0-0) | — (0-0) |
| Izaya LarthridgeG · Freshman | 1 · 0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — (0-0) | — (0-0) | — (0-0) |
Projected rotation
The preseason model's minutes projection for each player with a track record (college stats or a recruiting rank), most minutes first. Players without one aren't projected here; This season above lists everyone who has played.
| Player | How he got here | Proj. min | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max WeisbrodG · Senior |  Transfer from Northern Iowa | 29 | 6.4 pts · 2.5 reb · 1.9 ast |
| Uzziah BuntynG · Sophomore |  Transfer from South Dakota | 25 | 12.1 pts · 2.8 reb · 3.5 ast |
| Tolu SamuelsF · Senior |  Transfer from Southern Indiana | 22 | 7.1 pts · 8.6 reb · 1.3 ast |
| Mykolas IvanauskasF · Junior |  Transfer from Mercyhurst | 20 | 7.4 pts · 5.1 reb · 0.4 ast |
| David Douglas Jr.G · Senior |  Transfer from Fresno State | 18 | 7.2 pts · 1.4 reb · 0.2 ast |
| Akiva McBirney-GriffinF · Senior |  Transfer from UC Irvine | 18 | 2.4 pts · 2.1 reb · 0.4 ast |
| Jack DaughertyF · Junior |  Transfer from Illinois State | 17 | 2.9 pts · 1.6 reb · 0.2 ast |
Gone from last season: Makhai Valentine (13.3 ppg, to 
George Mason), Dylan Ducommun (10.8 ppg, to 
Buffalo), Gianni Cobb (9.8 ppg, to 
SIU Edwardsville), Taj Walters (8.5 ppg, to 
Little Rock), Gustav Winther (8.1 ppg, to 
Evansville), Daemar Kelly (5.6 ppg, to Mercyhurst)
Roster
Everyone on this season's roster, with this season's numbers for anyone who has played. Names link to player pages, ranked players first.
| # | Player | How he got here | Pos | Class | Ht / Wt | Hometown | This season | Last season | Rank · Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Max Weisbrod | Transfer from Northern Iowa | G | Senior | 6-4 · 190 | DeForest, WI | 16.7 pts · 3.7 reb · 8.0 ast (3 G) | 6.4 pts · 2.5 reb · 1.9 ast (32 G) | #679 · +0.67 |
| 1 | Uzziah Buntyn | Transfer from South Dakota | G | Sophomore | 6-1 · 180 | Round Rock, TX | 1.0 pts · 0.5 reb · 0.5 ast (2 G) | 12.1 pts · 2.8 reb · 3.5 ast (31 G) | #1366 · +0.16 |
| 15 | David Douglas Jr. | Transfer from Fresno State | G | Senior | 6-5 · 215 | Park Forest, IL | 20.0 pts · 4.7 reb · 0.7 ast (3 G) | 7.2 pts · 1.4 reb · 0.2 ast (18 G) | #1683 · +0.02 |
| 3 | Tolu Samuels | Transfer from Southern Indiana | F | Senior | 6-8 · 205 | Chicago, IL | 0.0 pts · 2.0 reb · 0.0 ast (1 G) | 7.1 pts · 8.6 reb · 1.3 ast (29 G) | #1758 · -0.01 |
| 5 | Mykolas Ivanauskas | Transfer from Mercyhurst | F | Junior | 6-8 · 225 | Chicago, IL | 8.0 pts · 2.5 reb · 0.5 ast (2 G) | 7.4 pts · 5.1 reb · 0.4 ast (32 G) | #1911 · -0.08 |
| 70 | Akiva McBirney-Griffin | Transfer from UC Irvine | F | Senior | 6-9 · 225 | Hamilton, New Zealand | 3.0 pts · 1.0 reb · 0.0 ast (2 G) | 2.4 pts · 2.1 reb · 0.4 ast (34 G) | #2106 · -0.16 |
| 9 | Jack Daugherty | Transfer from Illinois State | F | Junior | 6-8 · 210 | Brookfield, WI | 2.0 pts · 1.3 reb · 0.0 ast (3 G) | 2.9 pts · 1.6 reb · 0.2 ast (29 G) | #2516 · -0.30 |
| 32 | Brayden Gross | New to Division I | F | Sophomore | 6-7 · 225 | Louisville, OH | 5.3 pts · 4.0 reb · 1.7 ast (3 G) | — | #3405 · -0.67 |
| 10 | Trevor Polite | New to Division I | G | Sophomore | 6-6 · 210 | Mequon, WI | 6.7 pts · 3.3 reb · 0.7 ast (3 G) | — | #3646 · -0.78 |
| 0 | Nino Carter-Smith | New to Division I | G | Senior | 6-1 · 170 | Detroit, MI | 8.0 pts · 1.0 reb · 1.7 ast (3 G) | — | #3704 · -0.80 |
| 2 | Colin Hardrick | New to Division I | G | Senior | 6-3 · 180 | Milwaukee, WI | 4.3 pts · 3.0 reb · 0.3 ast (3 G) | — | #3754 · -0.82 |
| 11 | Keller Hanson | New to Division I | G | Sophomore | 6-6 · 180 | Sauk Rapids, MN | 5.0 pts · 3.3 reb · 0.3 ast (3 G) | — | #3793 · -0.84 |
| 8 | Bennett Basich | New to Division I | G | Junior | 6-4 · 205 | Hartland, WI | 5.0 pts · 1.7 reb · 0.7 ast (3 G) | — | #3995 · -0.97 |
| 7 | Izaya Larthridge | Freshman | G | Freshman | 6-6 · 210 | Grand Rapids, MI | 0.0 pts · 0.0 reb · 0.0 ast (1 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 14 | Nathan Ramus | Freshman | G | Freshman | 6-2 · 185 | Appleton, WI | 0.0 pts · 0.0 reb · 0.0 ast (1 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 4 | Cal Klesmit | New to Division I | G | Senior | 6-2 · 190 | Neenah, WI | Hasn't played | — | Not ranked yet |
Schedule
Projected scores and win chances come from the current ratings and update every morning.
| Nov 1 |  vs (N)GramblingField of 68 Opening Day Marathon | L87-89Box score → |
| Nov 5 |  atTulsa | L75-94Box score → |
| Nov 7 |  atDayton | W81-76Box score → |
| Still to play · computer projections | ||
| Nov 11 | vsClarke(non-D1) | Upcoming |
| Nov 14 |  atBellarmine | Projected 77-78NIU: 47% to winNorthern Illinois: 47% to win Compare |
| Nov 18 |  atMarquette | Projected 62-87NIU: 2% to winNorthern Illinois: 2% to win Compare |
| Nov 21 |  atBowling Green | Projected 72-81NIU: 20% to winNorthern Illinois: 20% to win Compare |
| Nov 25 | atSIU Edwardsville | Projected 72-76NIU: 35% to winNorthern Illinois: 35% to win Compare |
| Nov 28 |  atEastern Illinois | Projected 78-70NIU: 75% to winNorthern Illinois: 75% to win Compare |
| Dec 3 |  atGreen BayConference | Projected 72-80NIU: 24% to winNorthern Illinois: 24% to win Compare |
| Dec 5 |  vsMilwaukeeConference | Projected 81-75NIU: 69% to winNorthern Illinois: 69% to win Compare |
| Dec 12 |  atLindenwood | Projected 79-78NIU: 53% to winNorthern Illinois: 53% to win Compare |
| Dec 19 | vsEastern Illinois | Projected 81-67NIU: 89% to winNorthern Illinois: 89% to win Compare |
| Dec 21 |  at#10Arizona | Projected 65-95NIU: 1% to winNorthern Illinois: 1% to win Compare |
| Dec 30 |  atYoungstown StateConference | Projected 73-79NIU: 29% to winNorthern Illinois: 29% to win Compare |
| Jan 3 |  atRobert MorrisConference | Projected 72-76NIU: 36% to winNorthern Illinois: 36% to win Compare |
| Jan 7 |  vsCleveland StateConference | Projected 85-74NIU: 81% to winNorthern Illinois: 81% to win Compare |
| Jan 9 |  vsWright StateConference | Projected 76-83NIU: 26% to winNorthern Illinois: 26% to win Compare |
| Jan 14 |  atDetroit MercyConference | Projected 76-75NIU: 55% to winNorthern Illinois: 55% to win Compare |
| Jan 17 | vsGreen BayConference | Projected 75-77NIU: 43% to winNorthern Illinois: 43% to win Compare |
| Jan 21 |  atNorthern KentuckyConference | Projected 78-85NIU: 29% to winNorthern Illinois: 29% to win Compare |
| Jan 23 | atWright StateConference | Projected 73-86NIU: 12% to winNorthern Illinois: 12% to win Compare |
| Jan 27 |  vsOaklandConference | Projected 79-78NIU: 55% to winNorthern Illinois: 55% to win Compare |
| Jan 30 | atMilwaukeeConference | Projected 77-78NIU: 47% to winNorthern Illinois: 47% to win Compare |
| Feb 4 |  atIU IndianapolisConference | Projected 81-79NIU: 56% to winNorthern Illinois: 56% to win Compare |
| Feb 7 | vsNorthern KentuckyConference | Projected 81-82NIU: 50% to winNorthern Illinois: 50% to win Compare |
| Feb 10 | vsYoungstown StateConference | Projected 77-76NIU: 50% to winNorthern Illinois: 50% to win Compare |
| Feb 13 |  atPurdue Fort WayneConference | Projected 75-78NIU: 41% to winNorthern Illinois: 41% to win Compare |
| Feb 17 | vsDetroit MercyConference | Projected 79-72NIU: 75% to winNorthern Illinois: 75% to win Compare |
| Feb 21 | vsRobert MorrisConference | Projected 75-73NIU: 57% to winNorthern Illinois: 57% to win Compare |
| Feb 24 | atCleveland StateConference | Projected 81-78NIU: 63% to winNorthern Illinois: 63% to win Compare |
| Feb 27 | vsIU IndianapolisConference | Projected 84-76NIU: 77% to winNorthern Illinois: 77% to win Compare |
Horizon standings
| # | Team | Conf | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wright State | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| 2 | IU Indianapolis | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| 3 | Northern Kentucky | 0-0 | 2-1 |
| 4 | Green Bay | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 5 | Youngstown State | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 6 | Purdue Fort Wayne | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 7 | Cleveland State | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 8 |  Northern Illinois | 0-0 | 1-2 |
| 9 | Oakland | 0-0 | 0-3 |
| 10 | Robert Morris | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| 11 | Milwaukee | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| 12 | Detroit Mercy | 0-0 | 0-1 |