Scouting @ College basketball
Northern Illinois (0-1) at Illinois (1-0)
When: 7 p.m. at Assembly Hall
Internet: ESPN360.com
Radio: WIND 560-AM, WLBK 1360-AM
Skinny: Since Illinois began playing basketball in January 2006, the Illini have faced approximately 20 colleges located within the state lines. They've even played YMCA teams and Champaign High School. Tonight marks the first time NIU, which began playing in 1900, and Illinois have met on the court. The Huskies hoped to be at their best against the No. 23 Illini, but junior guard Xavier Silas is out after fracturing his hand in Friday's opening loss at Northwestern. Silas, who kept playing after the injury, scored a team-high 18 points for NIU. His absence could throw freshman shooter Tony Nixon into the fire. For the Illini, this is Game No. 2 in a four-pack of should-win contests before heading to Las Vegas to play Utah and either Oklahoma State or Bradley.
Columbia (0-0) atDePaul (0-0)
When: 8 p.m. at Allstate Arena
TV: Channel 56
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Skinny: The Blue Demons kick off their 87th season against an Ivy League school that retains three of its top four scorers from a 12-16 team. Senior guard Patrick Foley (10.9 ppg) heads a Lions squad that prefers to keep the tempo under control. DePaul, on the other hand, plans to play more of a freewheeling style with four perimeter guys creating around junior center Mac Koshwal (12.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg). Junior swingman Mike Stovall, the Marshall product who started his college career at Oregon State, should be fine to make his DePaul debut after missing last week's exhibition win over Chicago with a sprained ankle. The Demons will dress just 10 scholarship players until freshman forward Tony Freeland enrolls after Thanksgiving break.
Canisius (0-0) at Loyola (0-1)
When: 7 p.m. at Gentile Center
Radio: WAUR 930-AM, WNTD 950-AM, WLUW 88.7-FM
Skinny: The Ramblers make their home debut against a Canisius squad that brings back five starters from an 11-20 team. Senior guard Frank Turner (15.6 ppg) is the top scorer on a team picked to finish seventh in the Metro Atlantic. Loyola hopes it learned from Friday's 38-point loss at Kansas State. Some high points? Junior forward Andy Polka grabbed 12 rebounds in the first half (going over the 500-mark for his career), but didn't get any after halftime. If the Ramblers are going to win this game that's considered to be part of the Jesuit Basketball Project, then they'll need to tone down the turnovers. Junior guard Terrance Hill, playing his first Division I game, committed 7 of the team's 25 miscues.