Scouting report: NIU

Ball St. (8-4, 0-0) at Northern Illinois (4-8, 0-0)

{When}: 3 p.m. at Convocation Center

{Radio}: WSCR 670-AM

{The skinny}: According to Ken Pomeroy's calculations, the Huskies played the third-toughest nonconference schedule among the MAC schools (and 95th-toughest among all schools). Ricardo Patton hopes the losses to Missouri, Temple, Northwestern, Iowa State and Boise State will pay off with wins in MAC play. Xavier Silas put up 24.0 ppg against nonconference foes, so there's a chance his average could rise in the league. Ball State, coached by West Aurora alum Billy Taylor, has a few defensive stoppers on the wing to challenge Silas.