Northern Illinois

Mid-American · DeKalb (IL), Chicago, Illinois

738-952

All-time

0.437

Win %

NCAA titles

Final Fours

Tourney apps

#1 seeds

Weeks at #1

All-Americans

Greatest tournament games

Northern Illinois’s top NCAA tournament games of all time by Game Score.

1.44

Northern Illinois 73-74 #8 Texas Tech

Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia

Season

1996

Date

Mar 15, 1996

Round

First Round

1.00

Northern Illinois 68-75 #20 St. John's

University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio

Season

1991

Date

Mar 15, 1991

Round

First Round

0.53

Northern Illinois 68-77 Kansas State

Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas

Season

1982

Date

Mar 12, 1982

Round

First Round

#	Date	Season	Round	Match	Game Score
1	Mar 15, 1996	1996	First Round	Northern Illinois 73-74 #8 Texas Tech Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia	1.44
2	Mar 15, 1991	1991	First Round	Northern Illinois 68-75 #20 St. John's University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio	1.00
3	Mar 12, 1982	1982	First Round	Northern Illinois 68-77 Kansas State Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas	0.53

Season by season

2026 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

9-21

Conf record

4-14

—

SRS

#333

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2025 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

6-25

Conf record

2-16

—

SRS

#351

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2024 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

11-20

Conf record

5-13

—

SRS

#290

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2023 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

13-19

Conf record

9-9

—

SRS

#247

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2022 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

9-21

Conf record

6-14

—

SRS

#298

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2021 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

3-16

Conf record

2-12

—

SRS

#336

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2020 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American ★

Record

18-13

Conf record

11-7

—

SRS

#184

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2019 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

17-17

Conf record

8-10

—

SRS

#129

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2018 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

13-19

Conf record

6-12

—

SRS

#242

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2017 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

15-17

Conf record

7-11

—

SRS

#202

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2016 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

21-13

Conf record

9-9

—

SRS

#163

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2015 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

14-16

Conf record

8-10

—

SRS

#174

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2014 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

15-17

Conf record

8-10

—

SRS

#201

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2013 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

5-25

Conf record

3-13

—

SRS

#311

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2012 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

5-26

Conf record

3-13

—

SRS

#322

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2011 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

9-21

Conf record

5-11

—

SRS

#261

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2010 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

10-20

Conf record

6-10

—

SRS

#239

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2009 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

10-20

Conf record

5-11

—

SRS

#274

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2008 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

6-22

Conf record

3-12

—

SRS

#262

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2007 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

7-23

Conf record

4-12

—

SRS

#221

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2006 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American ★

Record

17-11

Conf record

12-6

—

SRS

#127

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2005 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

11-17

Conf record

7-11

—

SRS

#136

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2004 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

10-20

Conf record

5-13

—

SRS

#204

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2003 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

17-14

Conf record

11-7

—

SRS

#140

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2002 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

12-16

Conf record

8-10

—

SRS

#190

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2001 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

5-23

Conf record

4-14

—

SRS

#257

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2000 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

13-15

Conf record

7-11

—

SRS

#147

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1999 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

6-20

Conf record

2-16

—

SRS

#212

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1998 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

10-16

Conf record

6-12

—

SRS

#185

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1997 · Northern Illinois

Midwestern

Record

12-15

Conf record

6-10

—

SRS

#187

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1996 · Northern Illinois

Midwestern ◆

Record

20-10

Conf record

10-6

—

SRS

#93

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

1995 · Northern Illinois

Midwestern

Record

19-10

Conf record

7-8

—

SRS

#138

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1994 · Northern Illinois

Mid-Continent

Record

10-17

Conf record

7-11

—

SRS

#185

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1993 · Northern Illinois

Mid-Continent

Record

15-12

Conf record

10-6

—

SRS

#228

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1992 · Northern Illinois

Mid-Continent

Record

11-17

Conf record

7-9

—

SRS

#188

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1991 · Northern Illinois

Mid-Continent ★

Record

25-6

Conf record

14-2

—

SRS

#74

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

1990 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

17-11

Conf record

—

SRS

#155

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1989 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

11-17

Conf record

—

SRS

#243

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1988 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

8-20

Conf record

—

SRS

#220

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1987 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

9-19

Conf record

—

SRS

#220

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1986 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

15-12

Conf record

10-8

—

SRS

#151

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1985 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

11-16

Conf record

7-11

—

SRS

#188

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1984 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

12-15

Conf record

9-9

—

SRS

#175

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1983 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

11-16

Conf record

8-10

—

SRS

#179

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1982 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American ◆

Record

16-14

Conf record

9-7

—

SRS

#163

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

1981 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American ★

Record

17-12

Conf record

10-6

—

SRS

#99

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1980 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

16-13

Conf record

9-7

—

SRS

#104

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1979 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

14-13

Conf record

8-8

—

SRS

#155

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1978 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

11-16

Conf record

9-7

—

SRS

#142

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1977 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

13-14

Conf record

10-6

—

SRS

#111

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1976 · Northern Illinois

Mid-American

Record

5-21

Conf record

2-14

—

SRS

#198

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1975 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

8-15

Conf record

—

SRS

#187

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1974 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

8-17

Conf record

—

SRS

#195

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1973 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

17-8

Conf record

—

SRS

#99

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1972 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

21-4

Conf record

—

SRS

#55

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1971 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

13-10

Conf record

—

SRS

#107

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1970 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

13-12

Conf record

—

SRS

#109

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1969 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

13-11

Conf record

—

SRS

#92

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1968 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

10-14

Conf record

—

SRS

#149

Seed

—

Tournament

—

1927 · Northern Illinois

Independent

Record

20-2

Conf record

—

SRS

—

Seed

—

Tournament

—

Year	School	Record	Conference	Conf	SRS	Seed	Tournament
2026	Northern Illinois	9-21	Mid-American	4-14	#333
2025	Northern Illinois	6-25	Mid-American	2-16	#351
2024	Northern Illinois	11-20	Mid-American	5-13	#290
2023	Northern Illinois	13-19	Mid-American	9-9	#247
2022	Northern Illinois	9-21	Mid-American	6-14	#298
2021	Northern Illinois	3-16	Mid-American	2-12	#336
2020	Northern Illinois	18-13	Mid-American ★	11-7	#184
2019	Northern Illinois	17-17	Mid-American	8-10	#129
2018	Northern Illinois	13-19	Mid-American	6-12	#242
2017	Northern Illinois	15-17	Mid-American	7-11	#202
2016	Northern Illinois	21-13	Mid-American	9-9	#163
2015	Northern Illinois	14-16	Mid-American	8-10	#174
2014	Northern Illinois	15-17	Mid-American	8-10	#201
2013	Northern Illinois	5-25	Mid-American	3-13	#311
2012	Northern Illinois	5-26	Mid-American	3-13	#322
2011	Northern Illinois	9-21	Mid-American	5-11	#261
2010	Northern Illinois	10-20	Mid-American	6-10	#239
2009	Northern Illinois	10-20	Mid-American	5-11	#274
2008	Northern Illinois	6-22	Mid-American	3-12	#262
2007	Northern Illinois	7-23	Mid-American	4-12	#221
2006	Northern Illinois	17-11	Mid-American ★	12-6	#127
2005	Northern Illinois	11-17	Mid-American	7-11	#136
2004	Northern Illinois	10-20	Mid-American	5-13	#204
2003	Northern Illinois	17-14	Mid-American	11-7	#140
2002	Northern Illinois	12-16	Mid-American	8-10	#190
2001	Northern Illinois	5-23	Mid-American	4-14	#257
2000	Northern Illinois	13-15	Mid-American	7-11	#147
1999	Northern Illinois	6-20	Mid-American	2-16	#212
1998	Northern Illinois	10-16	Mid-American	6-12	#185
1997	Northern Illinois	12-15	Midwestern	6-10	#187
1996	Northern Illinois	20-10	Midwestern ◆	10-6	#93	14	NCAA tournament
1995	Northern Illinois	19-10	Midwestern	7-8	#138
1994	Northern Illinois	10-17	Mid-Continent	7-11	#185
1993	Northern Illinois	15-12	Mid-Continent	10-6	#228
1992	Northern Illinois	11-17	Mid-Continent	7-9	#188
1991	Northern Illinois	25-6	Mid-Continent ★	14-2	#74	13	NCAA tournament
1990	Northern Illinois	17-11	Independent		#155
1989	Northern Illinois	11-17	Independent		#243
1988	Northern Illinois	8-20	Independent		#220
1987	Northern Illinois	9-19	Independent		#220
1986	Northern Illinois	15-12	Mid-American	10-8	#151
1985	Northern Illinois	11-16	Mid-American	7-11	#188
1984	Northern Illinois	12-15	Mid-American	9-9	#175
1983	Northern Illinois	11-16	Mid-American	8-10	#179
1982	Northern Illinois	16-14	Mid-American ◆	9-7	#163	12	NCAA tournament
1981	Northern Illinois	17-12	Mid-American ★	10-6	#99
1980	Northern Illinois	16-13	Mid-American	9-7	#104
1979	Northern Illinois	14-13	Mid-American	8-8	#155
1978	Northern Illinois	11-16	Mid-American	9-7	#142
1977	Northern Illinois	13-14	Mid-American	10-6	#111
1976	Northern Illinois	5-21	Mid-American	2-14	#198
1975	Northern Illinois	8-15	Independent		#187
1974	Northern Illinois	8-17	Independent		#195
1973	Northern Illinois	17-8	Independent		#99
1972	Northern Illinois	21-4	Independent		#55
1971	Northern Illinois	13-10	Independent		#107
1970	Northern Illinois	13-12	Independent		#109
1969	Northern Illinois	13-11	Independent		#92
1968	Northern Illinois	10-14	Independent		#149
1927	Northern Illinois	20-2	Independent

NBA first-round picks

4 first-round NBA draft selections from this program.

Yanic Konan Niederhäuser2025

Last college yr: 2024

Yanic Konan Niederhäuser2025

Last college yr: 2023

Kenny Battle1989

Last college yr: 1986

Kenny Battle1989

Last college yr: 1985

Draft	Player	Last college yr
2025	Yanic Konan Niederhäuser	2024
2025	Yanic Konan Niederhäuser	2023
1989	Kenny Battle	1986
1989	Kenny Battle	1985