Clarke vs Northern Illinois prediction: Matt Majkrzak's rebuilt Northern Illinois gets its DeKalb debut against Clarke
With no returning minutes and a new league ahead, the Huskies' home date with Clarke is mostly a first look at who this team is.
- We hold no data on Clarke; the useful part is seeing how an all-new Northern Illinois roster fits together.
- Watch NIU's ball security: last season's Huskies turned it over on 21.4% of possessions, 357th nationally.
- No line is posted yet; whatever number appears is pricing a roster with 0.0% of last season's minutes back.
A program starting over
Almost nothing about last season's Northern Illinois carries into this one. The Huskies went 9-21 in 2025-26 and finished 335th of 365 in adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions scored minus allowed, adjusted for opponents). Then the whole roster turned over: players on this season's team logged 0.0% of last season's minutes.
Matt Majkrzak arrived in March after seven years at Northern Michigan, and NIU heads into its first Horizon League season. He brought four players with him from Northern Michigan. Makhai Valentine (13.3 points per game last season) left for George Mason and Gianni Cobb for SIU Edwardsville. Last season's numbers describe a team that no longer exists, so treat them as a weak guide.
Who is new in DeKalb
The Division I transfers give the clearest picture. Uzziah Buntyn averaged 12.1 points and 3.5 assists at South Dakota last season and should run the offense, though he shot just 27.7% from three. Max Weisbrod (38.3% from three at Northern Iowa) and David Douglas Jr. (39.7% at Fresno State) bring the shooting last season's team lacked; those Huskies hit 31.2% from deep, 321st nationally.
Inside, Tolu Samuels pulled down 8.6 rebounds a game at Southern Indiana, and Mykolas Ivanauskas shot 55.7% from the field at Mercyhurst.
Schedule and what to watch
NIU is scheduled to open its season against Grambling on Nov. 2 in a 2 a.m. Central tip, part of an opening-day marathon, so Clarke will be its second regular-season game. Majkrzak also posted about a road exhibition win on Oct. 25. We hold no data on Clarke, which was coached by Jim Blaine last season.
- Turnovers: a new backcourt has to improve on last season's 21.4% giveaway rate.
- Perimeter defense: last season's opponents posted a 54.9% effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times), 340th nationally.
- Rotation: how Majkrzak splits minutes between his transfers and the Northern Michigan group.
Key players
- Uzziah Buntyn (Northern Illinois): Averaged 12.1 points and 3.5 assists in 30.3 minutes at South Dakota last season.
- Max Weisbrod (Northern Illinois): Made 57 threes at a 38.3% clip for Northern Iowa last season.
- Tolu Samuels (Northern Illinois): Grabbed 8.6 rebounds per game at Southern Indiana last season.
- David Douglas Jr. (Northern Illinois): Shot 39.7% from three with a 117.9 offensive rating at Fresno State last season.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 0.0% | No one on NIU's roster played minutes for last season's team. |
|---|---|---|
| Last season's turnover rate | 21.4% | Ranked 357th of 365, the biggest flaw the new backcourt must fix. |
| Last season's adjusted net rank | 335th | Where NIU finished in 2025-26, a baseline the rebuild aims to leave behind. |
| Last season's opponent eFG% | 54.9% | Ranked 340th, showing how easily opponents scored on the old roster. |
Clarke vs Northern Illinois: quick answers
When is Clarke vs Northern Illinois?
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.