BOSTON — The Northeastern men's basketball team will make its third postseason appearance in five seasons, participating in the 2013 National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Huskies will face Alabama on Tuesday, March 19, at 9 p.m. (EDT) in Tuscaloosa in the opening round, it was announced on Sunday night. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
“One of our goals each season is to advance to postseason play, so we're excited to participate in the NIT,” said head coach
Bill Coen. “The NIT berth extends what has been a special season and gives us an opportunity to compete in a tournament and for a championship.”
The Huskies enter the NIT following a 20-12 season, a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular-season championship, and an appearance in the CAA tournament championship game. The regular-season title was Northeastern's first since joining the conference and the program's first conference crown in 20 years. The tournament title-game appearance also was a first for the program since joining the CAA in 2005-06.
The NIT appearance will be the third for Northeastern. The Huskies last participated in the tournament in 2010, suffering a narrow 59-57 setback at Connecticut. NU also earned an NIT bid in 2005, losing at Memphis in the first round. The postseason berth is Northeastern's third in the last five seasons and the 11th all-time in program history.
The winner will advance to play either Stanford or Stephen F. Austin.
Storylines
>> Northeastern is making its third trip to the postseason in five years and the 11th postseason appearance in program history; NU previously played in the NIT in 2010 and 2005
>> NU enters the NIT following a 20-12 season that featured a CAA regular-season title and an appearance in the CAA tournament championship game
>> Northeastern is ranked nationally in numerous categories, but none more impressive than road winning percentage (fourth) and free throw percentage (14th)
>> Tuesday night's game will be just the second meeting between Northeastern and Alabama; in the only previous match-up, the Crimson Tide defeated the Huskies, 88-73, on Dec. 4, 1979, in Tuscaloosa
>> The game will be a homecoming for sophomore
Reggie Spencer; the Tuscaloosa native led Hillcrest High School to two Alabama Class 6A state titles (2008 and 2011) and was named the Class 6A state MVP in 2011
>> Head coach
Bill Coen was named USBWA District I Coach of the Year and is a finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year award
About the Huskies
Northeastern enters the NIT following a 20-12 season, a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular-season championship, and an appearance in the CAA tournament championship game. The regular-season title was Northeastern's first since joining the conference and the program's first conference crown in 20 years. The tournament title-game appearance also was a first for the program since joining the CAA in 2005-06.
NU has excelled this season in close games. Remarkably, 23 of NU's 32 games, including 16 of 20 games against CAA opponents, have been decided by seven points or less. The Huskies are 15-8 in those games, including a 12-4 mark in CAA games. NU is 13-4 in games decided by five points or less.
The Huskies have played their best basketball away from home in 2012-13, posting the nation's fourth-best road winning percentage (10-2, .833).
Senior guards
Joel Smith (16.1 ppg) and
Jonathan Lee (13.8), along with sophomore swingman
Quincy Ford (12.4), average in double figures. Sophomore
Reggie Spencer (6.1 rpg) and Ford (5.7) lead the team in rebounding, while Lee (4.0 apg) leads the squad in assists. Freshman guard
David Walker, a CAA All-Rookie selection, posted an impressive 2.4 assist-to-turnover average in conference play.
Huskies make third trip to the NIT; 11th all-time postseason appearance
Northeastern is making its third trip to the postseason in five years and the 11th postseason appearance in program history. Head coach
Bill Coen guided NU to a CBI appearance in 2009, and NIT berths in 2010 and 2013. The Huskies have played in the NCAA tournament seven times, the NIT three times, and the CBI once. (See page 10 for a complete look at Northeastern's postseason history.)
Northeastern in the NIT
March 16, 2005 - at Memphis NIT 65-90 L
March 16, 2010 - at Connecticut NIT 57-59 L
March 19, 2013 - at Alabama NIT
Huskies storm to first CAA title game
Northeastern staged the largest comeback in its 93-year program history on Sunday night in Richmond, storming back from a 24-point deficit to defeat George Mason, 69-67, and advance to its first CAA tournament final. NU ripped off a 26-2 run to tie the game just three minutes into the second half and senior co-captain
Jonathan Lee laid the ball in as time expired to give NU the improbable win. The Huskies, playing in their first CAA tournament championship game and 10th all-time conference tournament title contest, lost to James Madison, 70-57, after another remarkable second-half rally fell short.
Epic comeback one for the record books
The Huskies' improbable 24-point comeback on March 10 to defeat George Mason, 69-67, in the CAA semifinal, ranks as the largest in the 93-year history of Northeastern basketball.
Sweet home Alabama
Tuesday's NIT game at Alabama will be a homecoming for sophomore
Reggie Spencer. The Tuscaloosa native played four years of varsity basketball at Hillcrest High School, serving as a team captain for two seasons and leading Hillcrest to two Alabama Class 6A state titles (2008 and 2011) and a 32-3 record in 2011. Spencer was named the Alabama Class 6A state MVP in 2011 and played in the Alabama-Mississippi all-star game. He also participated in track and field for two seasons in the triple jump and discus throw.
Road warriors: One of nation's very best
NU's road winning percentage (.833, 10-2) this season was fourth-best in the nation (Gonzaga, 10-1 (.909); Coll. of Charleston, 11-2 (.846), Memphis, 9-1 (.900)). NU was one of just 16 NCAA Division I teams (out of 347) to have won 10 or more road games. NU was 8-1 (.889) in CAA road games.
Coen earns Coach of the Year honor; Named Hugh Durham award finalist
Northeastern head coach
Bill Coen has been named District I Coach of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and a finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year award. In his seventh season at Northeastern, Coen led the Huskies to their first CAA regular-season title and the program's first conference championship in 20 years. He guided NU to a 20-12 record (14-4 CAA), despite players missing 19 games due to injury, including 10 games combined between the starting backcourt. In the conference championship tournament, his squad completed the greatest comeback in Northeastern's 93-year history, rallying from 24 points down to advance to the championship game of the CAA tournament for the first time in program history. He led the Huskies to the nation's fourth-best regular-season road record, posting a 10-2 mark, and his squad owned an impressive 13-4 record in games decided by five points or less. The Huskies tied school records for most overtime games played and won at 4-1.
Cardiac Canines
The Huskies have had a flair for the dramatic this season, overcoming double-digit deficits in seven victories.
Northeastern's double-digit comebacks
Nov. 9 Boston University (65-64) -10
Nov. 13 at Princeton (67-66) * -18
Nov. 23 vs. Belmont (74-71) * -16
Jan. 12 at Towson (70-59) -12
Feb. 6 at Hofstra (62-57) * -10
Feb. 27 at Georgia State (90-84, OT) -13
March 10 vs. George Mason (69-67) * -24
* Trailed by double-digits in the second half
Win total equals best in eight years
Northeastern's 20 overall wins and 14 CAA wins equal the most since a 21-10 mark in 2004-05. The 2009-10 squad posted a 20-13 (14-4 CAA) final record and earned an NIT appearance. The 2012-13 Huskies secured the second 20-win season under head coach
Bill Coen and 13th in program history.
Northeastern's 20-win seasons
2012-13 20-12 NIT First Round
2009-10 20-13 NIT First Round
2004-05 21-10 NIT First Round
1992-93 20-8
1990-91 22-11 NCAA First Round
1986-87 27-7 NCAA First Round
1985-86 26-5 NCAA First Round
1984-85 22-9 NCAA First Round
1983-84 27-5 NCAA Second Round
1981-82 23-7 NCAA Second Round
1980-81 24-6 NCAA Second Round
1966-67 22-4 NCAA College Div. Tourn.
1962-63 21-6 NCAA College Div. Tourn.
History in the Hub: NU claims first CAA title, 11th overall conference crown
Northeastern clinched its first CAA regular-season title outright after defeating Georgia State, 90-84, in overtime on Feb. 27.
Joel Smith poured in a game-high 29 points and NU shot a CAA-record 27-for-27 from the free throw line in the victory. The league crown is the Huskies' first since 1992-93, when they were co-champions of the North Atlantic Conference. In total, NU men's basketball teams have won 11 regular season conference titles.
Northeastern's conference title history
2012-13 CAA Champion
1992-93 North Atlantic Co-Champion
1990-91 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1989-90 North Atlantic Co-Champion
1986-87 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1985-86 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1984-85 North Atlantic Co-Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1983-84 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1981-82 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1980-81 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1979-80 North Atlantic Co-Champion
(North Atlantic became America East in 1996)
Winning the close ones
This season, 23 of NU's 32 games, including 16 of 20 games against CAA teams, have been decided by seven points or less. The Huskies are 15-8 in those games, including an impressive 12-4 mark against CAA opponents. More impressively, NU is 13-4 in games decided by five points or less.
Northeastern in close games
Seven points or less 15-8 (12-4 CAA)
Five points or less 13-4 (10-2 CAA)
Extra special in extra time
The 2012-13 Huskies have tied program records for most overtime games played and won in a single season. With its victory at Georgia State on Feb. 27, NU improved to 4-1 in OT games. That mark equals that of the 1980-81 team, though two of that team's OT games came in the conference tournament.
NU in overtime this season
1/8/13 at Drexel 63-58, W
1/23/13 William & Mary (2OT) 95-91, W
2/9/13 at Old Dominion 79-74, W
2/13/13 Delaware 74-76, L
2/27/13 at Georgia State 90-84, W
NU ranks 14th nationally in free throw percentage, sets CAA record
Northeastern enters the NIT shooting 75.5 percent from the free throw line to rank 14th in NCAA Division I. The Huskies set a CAA record by making 27-of-27 attempts in an overtime win over Georgia State on Feb. 27. NU shot 80 percent or better from the line in three of the last four regular-season games.
Do you believe in omens?
The 2012-13 season featured a preseason trip to Canada and an appearance in the Great Alaska Shootout. NU has done both before—traveling to Alaska in 1986-87, and to Canada in 2008-09. The three seasons have interesting parallels.
Impressive win totals
1986-87 - 27-7, 17-1 NAC
2008-09 - 19-13, 12-6 CAA
2012-13 - 20-12, 14-4 CAA
December struggles
1986-87 - 3-4
2008-09 - 3-2
2012-13 - 1-4
Winning streaks
1986-87 - 11 games (a streak of 22 wins in 23 gms.)
2008-09 - 5 games (a streak of nine wins in 10 gms.)
2012-13 - 8 games (a streak of 12 wins in 13 gms.)
January success
1986-87 - 11-0
2008-09 - 9-1
2012-13 - 8-1
Postseason appearances
1986-87 - NCAA Tournament
2008-09 - CBI
2012-13 - NIT
Joel Smith is CAA's most proficient scorer
Northeastern senior
Joel Smith, who is enjoying a standout season, finished the regular season as the most proficient of the CAA's top scorers. Smith averaged 1.71 points per shot attempt, nearly 15 percent better than the next closest player, UNCW's Keith Rendleman.
Generating offense
Northeastern out-scored opponents in points off turnovers in 14 of 18 regular-season conference games.
Steady Walker
Freshman
David Walker continues to be a steady presence on the floor for the Huskies. In 604 minutes of CAA regular-season action (33.6 mpg), the 6-6 guard committed just 24 turnovers—a rate of just one turnover per 25.2 minutes of playing time.
Lee named national finalist for Senior CLASS Award
Northeastern senior
Jonathan Lee has been named a men's basketball finalist for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award. Lee is one of just 10 national finalists for the award, which recognizes student-athletes who excel both on and off the court. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence — community, classroom, character and competition. “We are extremely excited for Jon and proud that he is receiving this recognition,” said head coach
Bill Coen. “Jon possesses a tireless work ethic and provides our team with tremendous leadership, both on and off the court. He is involved in the community, is well liked throughout our campus, and has achieved in the classroom. He is a true ambassador for our program and our university.”
Vote for Jon Lee at
www.seniorCLASSaward.com/vote
.
