What player with a long list of options would ever choose to play for NIU? In just the state of Illinois alone, I'd place their basketball program behind Bradley, Depaul, Illinois State, Illinois, Loyola, Northwestern, and Southern Illinois. Heck even UIC might be a more attractive place for a player since it's actually in Chicago. NIU went all in on football neglecting their basketball program. It's why they're so far down on the totem pole in basketball. What they really need to have some success is find under the radar talent that fell through the cracks. It's hard to find that talent in an area as heavily recruited as Chicago.