Men's basketball preview: Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois

Coach: Ricardo Patton (26-62, 4th year)

Last year: 10-20, 6-10 (5th in MAC West)

Key players lost: G Jake Anderson, C Sean Kowal, G Mike DiNunno.

Newcomers: PG Kyree Jones, G/F Aksel Bolin, C Nate Rucker, PF Cameron Medlock (jr.), PF TimToler (jr.)

First practice: 1 p.m. Friday.

First exhibition: Coe, Nov. 6.

First game: Northwestern, Nov. 12.

Initial issues: The Huskies could have returned their top 10 scorers, but Nos. 2-4 (Jake Anderson, Sean Kowal and Mike DiNunno) left the program. That means Patton has a lot of new pieces to fit around senior Xavier Silas (19.7 ppg). Jones looks like he can win the point guard job, while redshirt freshman guard Antone Christian (a walk-on now on scholarship) will help in the backcourt as well.