NJIT Men's Basketball - worse than the Detroit Lions

[sc49erfan15]

I have a fascination with losing teams. Maybe it's because of all the bad teams I grew up playing on - every team I was on either didn't win any games or was good enough to finish right at .500. I was on precisely one championship team, and another basketball team that made a deep playoff run to the semifinals - until yours truly grabbed an offensive rebound with 0:03 left and put up a 12-foot jumper that hit back iron. We lost by 1.

It is because of this fascination, as well as the current hype surrounding the Detroit Lions' 0-16 season, that I direct you to the college basketball team (not named the Winthrop Eagles) that I've been following this year: the New Jersey Institute of Technology - or NJIT.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology is located in Newark, New Jersey and is home to about 5,400 undergraduate students. NJIT is primarily a research university, and engages in extensive technology-related research in the fields of stem-cell research, polymer science, nanotechnology, and solar physics. Their Mathematics program ranks in the top 10 nationally. NJIT also offers extensive programs in video game development. They were the first university to win Yahoo!'s "Most Wired University" Award. On the flip side, however, NJIT is currently ranked #2 in the nation on Princeton Review's "Least HappyStudents" list. NJIT was ranked #1 in this same list from 2002-2005, and sat at #5 from 2005-06.

Their athletic teams are known as the Highlanders, currently an NCAA Division I Independent. However, they will be one of the charter members of the Great West Conference in the 2008-09 season. Before moving to NCAA Division I in 2006, the Highlanders participated in the Division II Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).

NJIT went 1-30 in the 2008-09 season.The futility doesn't stop there, folks. The Highlanders set an NCAA record for losses in a season in an 0-29 '07-'08 campaign, only to eclipse that number by one this year. They have won once since the 2006-07 season, where they won at then-Division II Longwood, 78-74. NJIT also beat Bryant at home, 61-51, in the 2008-09 season. The Highlanders are currently 6-83 since joining Division I in basketball for the 2006-07 season, with 5 of those wins coming in '06-07.

The NJIT Highlanders eclipsed the NCAA Division I record for Most Consecutive Losses on November 17, 2008, losing its 35th straight in a 74-47 loss to Penn State. The record continued to 51, until NJIT defeated Bryant 61-51 at home on January 21, 2009.

In this thread, I will chronicle NJIT's 2008-2009 basketball season - their ups, downs, and the possibility of going two calendar years without winning an NCAA basketball game.

Highlander Ticker

Consecutive Losses: 11

Last Game: Longwood 77, NJIT 70

[sc49erfan15]

To further equip you with NJIT basketball knowledge, here is the Highlanders' schedule since joining Division I as an Independent for the 2006-07 season:

2006-07 NJIT Highlanders Season: (home team in bold, wins underlined)

November 11, 2006: NJIT 56, Manhattan 55 - (1-0)

November 14, 2006: NJIT 63, Rider 52 - (2-0) <------------- Greatest Margin of Victory Since Joining DI (11)

November 17, 2006: Columbia 73, NJIT 60 - (2-1)

November 18, 2006: St. Peter's 75, NJIT 57 - (2-2)

November 27, 2006: Siena 64, NJIT 40 - (2-3)

November 29, 2006: American 75, NJIT 50 - (2-4)

December 1, 2006: Maine 68, NJIT 58 - (2-5)

December 4, 2006: Lafayette 76, NJIT 57 - (2-6)

December 6, 2006: Army 60, NJIT 50 - (2-7)

December 11, 2006: Stony Brook 65, NJIT 61 - (2-8)

December 21, 2006: St. John's 68, NJIT 50 - (2-9)

December 29, 2006: UCF 75, NJIT 63 - (2-10)

December 30, 2006: James Madison 70, NJIT 66 - (2-11)

January 2, 2007: Navy 52, NJIT 50 - (2-12)

January 7, 2007: Cornell 69, NJIT 58 - (2-13)

January 10, 2007: NJIT 59, Longwood 55 - (3-13)

January 13, 2007: IPFW 82, NJIT 65 - (3-14)

January 16, 2007: La Salle 78, NJIT 59 - (3-15)

January 23, 2007: Siena 87, NJIT 63 - (3-16)

February 1, 2007: Utah Valley 86, NJIT 55 - (3-17)

February 3, 2007: Texas-Pan American 72, NJIT 60 - (3-18)

February 8, 2007: NJIT 67, South Dakota State 62 - (4-18) <-------------------------------- Last Home Win

February 10, 2007: North Dakota State 80, NJIT 57 - (4-19)

February 17, 2007: IPFW 52, NJIT 47 - (4-20)

February 19, 2007: NJIT 78, Longwood 74 - (5-20) <-------------------------------------------- Last Win

February 24, 2007: Utah Valley 77, NJIT 47 - (5-21)

February 26, 2007: Texas Pan-American 70, NJIT 58 - (5-22)

March 1, 2007: North Dakota State 104, NJIT 52 - (5-23) <--Most Points Allowed Since Joining DI (104); Greatest Margin of Defeat (52)

March 3, 2007: South Dakota State 71, NJIT 61 - (5-24)

2006-07 Totals: Opponents 2047, NJIT 1657 ; 5-24 record overall

2006-07 Average Per Game: Opponents 70.6, NJIT 57.1

NJIT lost 24 games by an average of 17.6 points per loss

NJIT won 5 games by an average of 4.6 points per win

2007-08 NJIT Highlanders Season: (home team in bold, italics indicate neutral court)

November 10, 2007: Manhattan 70, NJIT 28 <----------------------------------- Least Points Scored Since Joining DI (28)

November 13, 2007: Washington 88, NJIT 47

November 14, 2007: High Point 76, NJIT 53

November 20, 2007: Vermont 91, NJIT 71

November 24, 2007: American 73, NJIT 50

November 26, 2007: Lehigh 67, NJIT 58

November 28, 2007: Rider 84, NJIT 58

December 1, 2007: Maine 86, NJIT 58

December 3, 2007: Lafayette 81, NJIT 56

December 6, 2007: Army 54, NJIT 44

December 8, 2007: Fordham 88, NJIT 44

December 10, 2007: Stony Brook 62, NJIT 53

December 13, 2007: Rutgers 65, NJIT 55

December 30, 2007: UCF 82, NJIT 50

December 31, 2007: Texas Pan-American 76, NJIT 61

January 2, 2008: Navy 84, NJIT 55

January 5, 2008: Pennsylvania 79, NJIT 68

January 12, 2008: Columbia 64, NJIT 52

January 15, 2008: Cornell 62, NJIT 33

January 19, 2008: Chicago State 79, NJIT 62

January 26, 2008: Texas Pan-American 54, NJIT 42

January 29, 2008: Loyola (MD) 72, NJIT 54

February 2, 2008: Utah Valley 81, NJIT 69

February 4, 2008: Longwood 78, NJIT 68

February 9, 2008: Texas Pan-American 90, NJIT 64

February 13, 2008: La Salle 87, NJIT 65

February 16, 2008: Chicago State 86, NJIT 76

February 18, 2008: Longwood 96, NJIT 78 <-----------------------------Most Points Scored Since Joining DI (78)

February 23, 2008: Utah Valley 76, NJIT 50

2006-07 Totals: Opponents 2233, NJIT 1622 ; 0-29 record overall

2006-07 Average Per Game: Opponents 77, NJIT 55.9

NJIT lost 29 games by an average of 21.0 points per loss

NJIT won 0 games by an average of 0.0 points per win

2008-09 NJIT Highlanders Season: (home team in bold, italics indicate neutral court)

November 15, 2008: Manhattan 56, NJIT 32

November 17, 2008: Penn State 74, NJIT 47

November 24, 2008: Towson 61, NJIT 48

November 28, 2008: Hartford 50, NJIT 38

November 29, 2008: Monmouth 55, NJIT 47

December 2, 2008: Stony Brook 60, NJIT 39

December 6, 2008: Maryland-Eastern Shore 46, NJIT 42

December 8, 2008: St. John's 82, NJIT 54

December 10, 2008: St. Peter's 51, NJIT 38

December 20, 2008: Rider 70, NJIT 49

December 23, 2008: Rutgers 78, NJIT 52

December 28, 2008: Wagner 68, NJIT 58

December 31, 2008: Lehigh 66, NJIT 38

January 3, 2009: Vermont 73, NJIT 47

January 7, 2009: Yale 80, NJIT 51

January 9, 2009: Columbia 73, NJIT 50

January 14, 2009: Loyola (MD) 70, NJIT 62

January 17, 2009: Pennsylvania 59, NJIT 40

January 21, 2009: NJIT 61, Bryant 51 <------------------------------------First win in 51 games, 702 days

January 24, 2009: at Longwood

January 28, 2009: Maryland-Eastern Shore

January 31, 2009: at Chicago State

February 3, 2009: Houston Baptist

February 12, 2009: Utah Valley

February 14, 2009: Chicago State

February 17, 2009: at Bryant University

February 21, 2009: at Houston Baptist <--------Continued losses to this point would mark 2 years without a win

February 23, 2009: at Texas-Pan American

February 28, 2009: at Utah Valley

March 2, 2009: Texas-Pan American

March 4, 2009: Longwood

2008-09 Current Totals: Opponents 1083, NJIT 797 ; 0-17 record overall

2008-09 Average Per Game: Opponents 64.6, NJIT 45.6

NJIT has lost 18 games by an average of 18.6 points per loss

NJIT has won 1 game by an average of 10.0 points per win

[sc49erfan15]

Also, here is NJIT's roster for the 2008-09 season:

Starters:

G - #13 Jheryl Wilson - 6-3 - 185 - Soph. - Irvington, NJ / St. Benedict's Prep

2007-08 Statistics: 7.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 33.0 FG% (63/191), 29.0 3PT% (9/31), 67 FT% (63/94) - in 26.8 min/game

G - #21 Justin Garris - 6-3 - 195 - Soph. - Ledgewood, NJ / Delbarton School

2007-08 Statistics: 7.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 31.7 FG% (70/221), 26.9 3PT% (32/119), 56.7 FT% (34/60) - in 20.8 min/game

G - #12 Brendon Lyn - 5-11 - 180 - Soph. - Mt. Vernon, NY / Episcopal, VA

2007-08 Statistics: 2.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.2 SPG, 26.4 FG% (24/91), 18.8 3PT% (6/32), 64.3 FT% (9/14) - in 13.3 min/game

F - #15 Gary Garris - 6-5 - 205 - Jr. - Ledgewood, NJ / Hun School

2007-08 Statistics: (transfer from American University)

C - #00 Dan Stonkus - 6-9 - 245 - Jr. - Monmouth Junction, NJ / South Brunswick

2007-08 Statistics: 4.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 48.3 FG% (43/89), 0.0 3PT% (0/0), 52.8 FT% (38/72) - in 25.4 min/game

Reserves

G - #5 Sammy Schickel - 6-3 - 185 - Fr. - Charlotte, NC / Gaston Day School

G - #11 Teddy Schickel- 6-1 - 170 - Fr. - Charlotte, NC / East Mecklenburg

G - #14 Mike Maczko - 6-6 - 205 - Fr. - Bel Air, MD / John Carroll

G - #20 Isaiah Wilkerson - 6-3 - 215 - Fr. - Staten Island, NY / Curtis

G - #23 James Cruso - 6-2 - 190 - Fr. - Westerly, RI / Westerly

F - #33 Ryan Regis - 6-6 - 260 - Fr. - Brooklyn, NY / Living Faith Christian (Pennsauken, NJ)

F - #41 Paulius Skema - 6-8 - 204 - So. - Vilnius, Lithuania / Veritas Christian Academy, NC

The Highlanders are coached by Jim Engles, who is in his 1st season at NJIT. Former coach Jim Casciano resigned after the 0-29 2007-08 season, Casciano went 66-119 in 7 seasons at NJIT.

[DEAD!]

Well, once they get to the Prairie View A & M football style losing streak, then the media will pay more attention

[sc49erfan15]

I couldn't resist

[NJTank]

Also, here is NJIT's roster for the 2008-09 season:

Starters:

G - #13 Jheryl Wilson - 6-3 - 185 - Soph. - Irvington, NJ / St. Benedict's Prep

2007-08 Statistics: 7.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 33.0 FG% (63/191), 29.0 3PT% (9/31), 67 FT% (63/94) - in 26.8 min/game

G - #21 Justin Garris - 6-3 - 195 - Soph. - Ledgewood, NJ / Delbarton School

2007-08 Statistics: 7.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 31.7 FG% (70/221), 26.9 3PT% (32/119), 56.7 FT% (34/60) - in 20.8 min/game

G - #12 Brendon Lyn - 5-11 - 180 - Soph. - Mt. Vernon, NY / Episcopal, VA

2007-08 Statistics: 2.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.2 SPG, 26.4 FG% (24/91), 18.8 3PT% (6/32), 64.3 FT% (9/14) - in 13.3 min/game

F - #15 Gary Garris - 6-5 - 205 - Jr. - Ledgewood, NJ / Hun School

2007-08 Statistics: (transfer from American University)

C - #00 Dan Stonkus - 6-9 - 245 - Jr. - Monmouth Junction, NJ / South Brunswick

2007-08 Statistics: 4.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 48.3 FG% (43/89), 0.0 3PT% (0/0), 52.8 FT% (38/72) - in 25.4 min/game

Reserves

G - #5 Sammy Schickel - 6-3 - 185 - Fr. - Charlotte, NC / Gaston Day School

G - #11 Teddy Schickel- 6-1 - 170 - Fr. - Charlotte, NC / East Mecklenburg

G - #14 Mike Maczko - 6-6 - 205 - Fr. - Bel Air, MD / John Carroll

G - #20 Isaiah Wilkerson - 6-3 - 215 - Fr. - Staten Island, NY / Curtis

G - #23 James Cruso - 6-2 - 190 - Fr. - Westerly, RI / Westerly

F - #33 Ryan Regis - 6-6 - 260 - Fr. - Brooklyn, NY / Living Faith Christian (Pennsauken, NJ)

F - #41 Paulius Skema - 6-8 - 204 - So. - Vilnius, Lithuania / Veritas Christian Academy, NC

The Highlanders are coached by Jim Engles, who is in his 1st season at NJIT. Former coach Jim Casciano resigned after the 0-29 2007-08 season, Casciano went 66-119 in 7 seasons at NJIT.

What do you expect from a bunch of engineering students?

[DEAD!]

What do you expect from a bunch of engineering students?

Are you implying engineers are not athletic? How about LMU take you on in a game of HORSE! Besides, the majority of the players are not engineers (two players are majoring in engineering).

[BrySmalls]

my outrageous claim for 2009 is that NJIT wins 3 games.

[JH42XCC]

Oh, why did NJIT move up to Division I in the first place?

[Seadragon76]

Oh, why did NJIT move up to Division I in the first place?

Two reasons.

Number one is the money. When the team is eligible for postseason play next year, they would be eligible to compete in the NCAA tourny and the NIT. Imagine the kind of boost a postseason bid would bring for that school. The only problem is that their current home (the Great West) would take until 2020 at the latest to get an automatic bid.

Second reason is to find a home so they can have that goal to search for. Right now, the Great West is the best option despite it's location. If they were to go elsewhere, the MAAC would be a perfect fit since they were shunned by the Northeast Conference because NJIT didn't have football (The school they did choose, Bryant, has football).

[OnWis97]

No seniors. Watch out for them in a couple of years.

I suspect Wisconsin is working on getting the scheduled

[NJTank]

I believe NJIT has decent baseball and soccer teams in the past and felt they could compete on the D-1 level. It's a college that is really growing, they built a state of the art dorm and are acquiring buildings to increase the size of their campus all the time.

[sc49erfan15]

NJIT was routed by Lehigh last night, 66-38, marking the 46th consecutive loss for the Highlanders.

Lehigh scored the first 12 points of the game, and never trailed by more than 7 for the rest of the game. Justin Garris got NJIT on the board for the first time with a short jump shot with 13:50 left in the first half. Lehigh led 30-17 at halftime.

NJIT shot 16.7 % (4-24) in the first half and 22% (11-50) for the game. Freshman guard Isaiah Wilkerson played 37 minutes and was the only Highlander in double figures with 12 points.

The Highlanders travel to Vermont to face the 8-4 Catamounts on January 3.

[BrySmalls]

NJIT was routed by Lehigh last night, 66-38, marking the 46th consecutive loss for the Highlanders.

Lehigh scored the first 12 points of the game, and never trailed by more than 7 for the rest of the game. Justin Garris got NJIT on the board for the first time with a short jump shot with 13:50 left in the first half. Lehigh led 30-17 at halftime.

NJIT shot 16.7 % (4-24) in the first half and 22% (11-50) for the game. Freshman guard Isaiah Wilkerson played 37 minutes and was the only Highlander in double figures with 12 points.

The Highlanders travel to Vermont to face the 8-4 Catamounts on January 3.

Yikes, what's their leading scorer's PPG (or do they even have a leading scorer )?

[Seadragon76]

Only 10 PPG for their leading scorer (Garris).

What's even more scary is that the team only scores 45 PPG, which is the worst in all of Division I. To put that in perspective, the top three teams in scoring (VMI, North Carolina and Texas State-San Marcos) average double what NJIT would score in a game.

[sc49erfan15]

Gary Garris and Isaiah Wilkerson scored 17 and 16 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough for NJIT. The Highlanders fell to Vermont tonight, 73-47.

Garris and Wilkerson played 38 minutes each and were the game's top two scorers - Garris added 11 rebounds for a double-double - but NJIT's supporting cast didn't contribute. No other Highlander made more than one field goal, as Mike Maczko combined his one field goal and two free throws to finish with four points, the third-highest scorer for the Highlanders.

NJIT shot 27.8% (15-54) for the game, including 23.8% (5-21) from 3-point range. Vermont, on the other hand, shot 45.5% (25-55) and was 3 of 9 from 3.

Vermont (9-4) led 46-22 at halftime, shooting almost 60% in the opening half, and cruised from there.

NJIT has now lost 47 straight, and is 0-14 on the season. Next, the Highlanders have a shot at their first win in 23 months, hosting 3-9 Yale on January 7.

[NJTank]

I chuckle every time I drive pass their gym on the way to work.

I hear the team motto

is N-J-I-T we play like [Mod edit: too obvious, not necessary.]

[scottysprings]

I'm really rooting for these guys to go out and get a win. I'm not sure if I would be able to put up with so many consecutive losses and still want to play everyday but these guys somehow do it.

[BrySmalls]

Looks like Wednesday is a big and winnable matchup.

[crashcarson15]

49erfan, you should do a football concept for these guys (seeing they don't have a football team )