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The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois. The NIU basketball team is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). NIU men's basketball began in 1900, and the team has since appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (1982, 1991, and 1996). The women's basketball team started playing in 1957.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Division | Division I - DeKalb, IL |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference (MAC) |
| Nickname | Huskies |
| Colors | Cardinal & Black |
| Website | niuhuskies.com |
| @NIUAthletics | |
| niuathletics | |
| Men's Sports | 7 (baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and wrestling) |
| Women's Sports | 9 or 10 (basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball) |
| Football Conference | Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) |
| NIU Rugby Football Conference | Mid-American Conference of Division 1-AA |
| NIU Cheerleading | All Girl and Large Coed |
| NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Members | 207 individuals and 17 teams |
| New Conference (2026-27) | Horizon League |
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What You'll Learn
NIU basketball is part of the NCAA Division I
NIU's athletic program includes a range of sports, with seven men's teams and nine or ten women's teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
NIU's basketball team has a rich history, with the men's team beginning play in 1900 and the women's team starting in 1957. The men's team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (1982, 1991, and 1996), while the women's team has made two NCAA Regional appearances and one appearance in the Women's College World Series in 1988.
The Huskies have a strong following and a proud tradition in athletics. NIU began athletic competition in 1899 and have since accumulated a number of achievements across various sports. The university provides free admission to all NIU Athletics home games for students, fostering a vibrant and engaging atmosphere on campus.
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NIU athletic teams are known as the Huskies
The NIU athletic teams are known as the Huskies, representing Northern Illinois University. The Huskies are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The athletic program includes seven men's sports: baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and wrestling; and ten women's sports: basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball. NIU's basketball team competes in Division I of the NCAA.
The history of the Huskie mascot dates back to the early days of NIU. Initially, the teams were known as the "Profs," reflecting the institution's original mission as a teacher's college. In the 1920s, they adopted the nickname "Cardinals," likely influenced by the colour of their athletic jerseys. During the 1930s, they became known as the "Evansmen," honouring the athletics pioneer George "Chick" Evans.
In 1940, a committee was formed to find a more dynamic nickname. They settled on "Huskies," and this decision was announced in the January 1940 issue of the Northern Illinois student newspaper. The unique spelling, with an 'ie' in Huskie, was standardised in 1967 by the Sports Information Director, Bud Nangle. Over the years, the mascot's depiction has evolved, from the fighting Huskie in a boxer's stance favoured by Baby Boomers to the modern bold side-view logo seen today.
NIU's athletic program has a rich history across various sports. The men's golf team plays its home matches at Rich Harvest Farms and has won the MAC Golf title multiple times, including in 2023. The men's soccer team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times and transitioned to the Missouri Valley Conference in 2023 after the MAC discontinued its men's soccer league. The wrestling team has a long history of success, with multiple NCAA All-Americans and NCAA tournament qualifications. NIU women's softball and basketball teams began playing in 1959 and 1957, respectively, and have achieved notable milestones, including appearances in the NCAA Regionals and the Women's College World Series.
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NIU men's basketball started in 1900
The men's basketball team at Northern Illinois University (NIU) started playing in 1900. NIU's athletic teams are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). NIU's basketball team is known as the Huskies, although they have had other nicknames in the past. They began athletic competition in 1899 and were initially nicknamed the Profs, a reference to the institution's original mission as a teacher's college. In the 1920s, they were called the Cardinals, due to the colour of their athletic jerseys. During the 1930s, they were known as the Evansmen, named after George Evans. In 1940, the university adopted the Huskie mascot and nickname that is still used today.
The Huskies have had some success on the court over the years. They have won the MAC tournament once (in 1982) and the Horizon League tournament once (in 1996). They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times: in 1982, 1991, and 1996. The team currently plays its home games at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois.
NIU has a vibrant and active arts community on campus, with the NIU Art Museum located in Altgeld Hall presenting an annual exhibition and events calendar. The university also has a cheerleading squad that performs at basketball games and the NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. The squad consists of two teams: All Girl and Large Coed.
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NIU women's basketball started in 1957
The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams representing Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois. NIU's athletic teams are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The NIU women's basketball team is part of this athletic program. While I cannot find the exact start date for the women's basketball team, NIU began athletic competition in 1899, so the women's basketball team must have started after this date.
The NIU women's basketball team has competed in five NCAA tournaments, with a combined record of 2-5. They have also appeared in two National Invitation Tournaments, with a combined record of 1-3, and one AIAW tournament, with a record of 1-1. The team last played in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament in 1995.
NIU's athletic program includes nine or ten women's sports, depending on the source. These include basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. The women's cross country team first competed for one year in 1981, with the program being reinstated in 1995.
The Huskies' nickname and mascot were officially chosen in 1940, and the team's colours are cardinal and black.
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NIU basketball teams play home games in DeKalb, Illinois
The NIU basketball team, also known as the Huskies, is based in DeKalb, Illinois. The Huskies are part of the Northern Illinois University athletics programme, which is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. NIU's athletic teams are also part of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Huskies have won the MAC tournament once, in 1982, and the Horizon League tournament in 1996.
The Huskies men's basketball team plays its home games in DeKalb, Illinois. The team will play five home games in the 2025-26 season, as well as facing six teams that played in the postseason the previous year. The Huskies have a rich history, having appeared in the NCAA tournament three times, as well as one NCAA Division II tournament.
The NIU women's basketball team also competes in Division I. Northern Illinois University offers free admission to all NIU Athletics home games for students. All students need to do is download their tickets from the NIU Athletics box office to their mobile device and show up on game day.
The Huskies nickname originates from the colour of the athletic jerseys, which are cardinal and black. The team was previously known as the Profs, a reference to the institution's original mission as a teacher's college, and the Cardinals, due to the colour of their jerseys.
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Frequently asked questions
NIU basketball is in Division I of the NCAA.
Northern Illinois University.
The Mid-American Conference (MAC).
NIU men's basketball started playing in 1900.
Three times (1982, 1991, and 1996).
