Wildcats prepare for home opener against Walsh

MARQUETTE — It’s always important to critique your own work. The Northern Michigan men’s basketball is currently going through a similar process after wrapping up tournament play down in Kentucky.

The Wildcats participated in the Wesleyan Classic this past weekend. NMU lost the first game to Kentucky Wesleyan but Coach Bill Sall was really impressed with his team and felt like they could’ve easily won.

“Then to come back and play Southern Wesleyan on a Saturday and come out with the same type of energy we had before and really push the tempo and dictated what had to happen on the floor. I think a really successful weekend…got a win which we desperately needed to get and I think really fine tune what we need to have happen as we move forward now into league season,” Sall said.

After three games, it’s freshman guard Naba Echols who leads the team in scoring at just over 16. I asked Coach Sall what has caught his eye on Echols and he says it’s his understanding of the game.

“He’s the type of kid where you can tell him once about things he needs to improve and he does it. And I think the biggest things for our team is he’s a winner, coming from two state championships, he has that desire every day to make himself better and I think that’s really rubbed off even on our upper classmen,” Sall said.

The Wildcats get set for their home opener tomorrow night at the Berry with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m.