because of their hard work and dedication and effort, got us to become a successful team.” — Bill Sall, NMU men’s basketball head coach, on the Wildcats’ careers of Naba Echols and Isaiah Johnson

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MARQUETTE — For a number of years, the Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team was stuck at the bottom of the GLIAC and needed something big to happen to turn around the fortunes of the program.

The turnaround started with the hiring of head coach Bill Sall nearly six years ago and fully came to fruition this year as a strong senior class led the Wildcats to their second straight GLIAC Tournament appearance and first trip to the GLIAC semifinals since 2007.

Northern Michigan University's Naba Echols, left, takes on Michigan State's Joshua Langford as he attempts a drive during their exhibition game played Oct. 30 in East Lansing. (AP photo)

NMU came just short of missing the NCAA Tournament, and even though the season ended in a big disappointment, Sall thinks the 2018-19 campaign was successful.

“I think we made really good steps,” he said. “I think that the disappointing thing for me is that this group of seniors that we had, we couldn’t hang a banner.

“The end of the year was tough, it was seven games on the road. True road games. We traveled, I think I figured out 2,500 miles. We could’ve gone to California and Los Angeles in the amount of distance that we went.

“We ended up being the seventh seed in the region, and then having a few upsets and not getting that NCAA bid was tough. So those are all hard pills to swallow.

“Reflecting back, it’s hard to do right now, but reflecting back on the season, a lot of successes and the program is going in the direction that we wanted.”

Highlights of the season include a sweep of Upper Peninsula rival Michigan Tech for the first time in 13 years and ending a 12-game losing streak to Lake Superior State.

Sall talked about those big achievements and how important they were, but also said that it would’ve been nicer if they would’ve had some more later in the year.

“I think there’s a lot of good highlights,” he said. “Certainly, sweeping Tech was wonderful and that’s a big one. When you talk about milestones, that hasn’t happened here in, I think 14 years for a Tech sweep.

“These guys were able to accomplish a lot of things. We got the first GLIAC Tournament win in how many years. And then the way we did it, we played really good basketball down the stretch.

“So we had a number of quality wins and a number of great moments. It would’ve been just nice to put a few more moments at the end.”

NMU’s impressive senior class was highlighted by guard Naba Echols and guard-forward Isaiah Johnson. Each earned a spot on the All-GLIAC First Team as Johnson also made the All-Midwest Region Team named by the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association.

Johnson led the GLIAC in points per game with 20.6, while Echols was second with 19.5 ppg.

Sall said the tandem were vital to the Wildcats’ success.

“I don’t know if I’m sitting in this seat if they don’t play here,” he said. “They’re incredible players and we can talk about every record. These are some of the best guys that have ever played at Northern. They’re in the top 10 all-time leading scorers.

“Their imprint and stamp is so much more than that. These guys came into a program that was at the very bottom of the basement, and because of their hard work and dedication and effort, got us to become a successful team. They put their heart and soul into making that happen. That imprint and stamp that they leave will be instrumental in us going forward.

“You always talking about recruits and players. There’s only going to be one Isaiah and one Naba that will ever play here at Northern. As fans and as a coach, you have to relish what they did and how much of themselves that they gave to this university and the basketball program.”

Now Northern has to move on and look to the future without two of the best players to ever suit up for the Wildcats. Sall said that unlike previous years, his team will have a lot of height as well as experience.

“Here’s the thing with us, when you experience winning and you have a lot of guys who have logged a ton of minutes for us, it just benefits you so much,” the head coach said. “We will be an incredibly different team. I’m going to tell you that right now.

“I don’t know if we’ll run a high ball screen all year, but that kind of fits the personnel. We’ll be a way bigger team if you talk about the return of Ben Wolf, who is coming off a redshirt year and is 6-(foot-)9 and played incredibly well in practice.

“Dolapo (Olayinka) was injured this year and we redshirted him back. We have size everywhere. We could potentially start 6-9, 6-8, 6-7. So we’ll be a very different team, but we’re still a veteran team. We have a lot of guys back that logged an incredible amount of minutes.

“It’s hard to replace 40 points a game, so there’s going to be some guys that will have to step up on the offensive end. But in the same breath, I think we have the wherewithal with that experience back of continuing on and building this program.”

As for who next year’s starters will be, there’s three that jump out right away. The first two are seniors-to-be Sam Taylor and Myles Howard, both of whom made the All-GLIAC Defensive Team as juniors.

Howard, a center, led the conference in blocks per game with 2.9, while Taylor typically guarded the opposing team’s best perimeter player and averaged 1.7 steals.

The other frontrunner for starting is soon-to-be-sophomore forward-center Troy Summers, who split time on the bench and in the starting lineup, but definitely made his presence felt when he was on the floor.

“Sam has been a three-year starter and given us nothing but energy and focus,” Sall said. “He will continue to be a starter and Myles, in my opinion, this year was the MVP of our team. Without him in the middle and doing what he does, we’re not very good.

“I really think that Troy did some good things. Here’s the great thing, and to be quite honest and not coach-speak, there’s eight to nine guys that I feel could come in and start for us next year.

“Again, a very different team. With the guys we have and the recruits coming in, we could go 11 to 12 deep.

“I think it’s going to be more than who is starting, but who is finishing the games. I think that’s the one thing we have is really good depth.”

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.