Local college previews: men's basketball

With men's college basketball practices set to begin, here's a brief breakdown of area teams:

Illinois

Coach: Bruce Weber (152-57, 7th year)

Last year: 24-10, 11-7 (T-2 in Big Ten)

Key players lost: PG Chester Frazier, SG Trent Meacham, SF Calvin Brock

Newcomers: G D.J. Richardson, SG Brandon Paul, PF Tyler Griffey, G Joseph Bertrand

First practice: 5 p.m. today

First exhibition: Missouri Southern, Oct. 30

First game: SIU Edwardsville, Nov. 13

Initial issues: Bertrand, one of just five scholarship guards on the roster, had arthroscopic knee surgery in September and is "80-85 percent" right now. The coaches need to figure out who'll start at guard alongside Richardson and PG Demetri McCamey. The current leader for the job is junior Alex Legion, whom Weber calls the hardest worker on the team.

Northwestern

Coach: Bill Carmody (120-149, 10th year)

Last year: 17-14, 8-10 (ninth in Big Ten)

Key player lost: SG Craig Moore

Newcomers: SG Drew Crawford, G Alex Marcotullio

First practice: 6:30 p.m. today

First exhibition: Robert Morris, Nov. 4

First game: Northern Illinois, Nov. 13

Initial issues: Sophomore center Kyle Rowley, who started 28 games last year, broke his left foot in August and ditched his walking boot this week. The Wildcats will be cautious with his rehab, so it's important to find out how much sophomore C Davide Curletti can handle as Luka Mirkovic's backup. NU must also find Moore's replacement. Naperville Central grad Crawford could be the guy.

DePaul

Coach: Jerry Wainwright (52-72, 5th year)

Last year: 9-24, 0-18 (16th in Big East)

Key players lost: G Dar Tucker, C Matija Poscic, G Jabari Currie

Newcomers: SF Eric Wallace (so.), G/F Mike Stovall, F Tony Freeland

First practice: 8 p.m. today

First exhibition: Chicago, Nov. 6

First game: Columbia, Nov. 17

Initial issues: With just 10 scholarship players to start the season (Freeland plans to enroll at the end of fall quarter and join the team presuming he's certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse), the Demons must figure out how to slot their versatile newcomers. Senior Will Walker should move from the wing to the point, while Wainwright hopes sophomore bigs Krys Faber and Kene Obi can take some pressure and minutes from Mac Koshwal.

Northern Illinois

Coach: Ricardo Patton (16-42, 3rd year)

Last year: 10-20, 5-11 (T-5 in MAC West)

Key player lost: F Sean Smith

Newcomers: SF Xavier Silas (jr.), SG Tony Nixon

First practice: 5 p.m. today

First exhibition: Aurora, Nov. 1

First game: at Northwestern, Nov. 13

Initial issues: The Huskies lost just one letterwinner, so they're about fitting the pieces into place. Silas, who averaged 10.9 points during his two years at Colorado, fits nicely on the wing opposite of second-team all-MAC guard Jake Anderson. There will be competition in the post, where junior Sean Kowal started most of the year but sophomore Michael Fakuade took over late.

Illinois-Chicago

Coach: Jimmy Collins (210-186, 14th year)

Last year: 16-15, 7-11 (T-6 in Horizon)

Key players lost: G Josh Mayo, C Scott VanderMeer, F Tori Boyd, F Rob Eppinger

Newcomers: F Brad Birton (jr.), C Louis Green, C Kyle Robbins (jr.), G Anthony Kelley

First practice: 8 a.m. Saturday

First exhibition: Lewis, Nov. 10

First game: UI-Springfield, Nov. 14

Initial issues: Collins and his staff will earn their money sorting out the new guys and the open jobs. The Flames lost four of their top six scorers to graduation and departures, then senior point guard Spencer Stewart was put on indefinite suspension. Junior Robo Kreps (12.3 ppg) and senior Jeremy Buttell (4.7 ppg) are the only regulars returning - and promising soph F Jelani Poston is academically ineligible until next semester.

Loyola

Coach: Jim Whitesell (79-76, 6th year)

Last year: 14-18, 6-12 (8th in Horizon)

Key players lost: G Justin Cerasoli, G J.R. Blount, C Darrin Williams, F Leon Young

Newcomers: F Shaun Adams,P F Ben Averkamp, G Terrance Hill (jr.), PG Gabe Kindred, G Charles Winborne

First practice: 10 p.m. today

First exhibition: Robert Morris, Nov. 2

First game: at Kansas State, Nov. 13

Initial issues: Graduation took four of the Ramblers' top five scorers, while promising sophomore Jordan Hicks (4.5 ppg) is dealing with a balky Achilles. This means lots of opportunities for a youthful squad that features four sophs and four freshmen. Winborne, a 6-foot-1 Louisiana native, inspires intrigue as one of 67 players in prep history to score more than 3,000 points. He scored more than 40 points six times.