A program seeking consistency and continuity, Northern Illinois enters the second season under coach Ricardo Patton. The Huskies suffered through another dismal season, recording a 6-22 mark and dealing with the heartache and emotional pull from the tragic Feb. 14 campus shooting.

One thing that might build momentum is a steady roster. For the last few years, including the first season under Patton, the NIU roster has undergone construction, with several players leaving the program for personal reasons or transferring to another school.

The Huskies enter the 2008-09 season with another batch of newcomers. Just five letterwinners return and the roster is loaded with underclassmen. The team is comprised of six freshmen, four sophomores, three juniors and one senior. Guard Darion Anderson is the lone returning starter. Anderson, the 2008 MAC Freshman of the Year, led the Huskies in scoring at 12.2 points a game, starting 19 games last year. Anderson is set for another strong season after taking his game to another level in the second half of his freshman campaign.

The rest of the Huskies are a blend of seldom-used players from last year's squad and newcomers. Former Colorado transfer Sean Kowal should be a key player. The 6-foot-11, 240-pounder gives the Huskies size inside and grab boards for a team without much height or strength.

One sign that the upcoming team is unique in college basketball is Patton's decision to name a sophomore, first-year player and a non-eligible transfer as captains.

Kowal and Anderson were named captains, joining Xavier Silas, a transfer from Colorado who must sit out the 2008-09 season.

"This group of student-athletes represents the core values of our program," Patton said."These are guys that have worked extremely hard both on the floor and in the classroom.

"They're here for the right reasons because they want to graduate with a degree and help build a great basketball program. I think they have showed the willingness to wear their hard hats every day in practice and lead by example."

Guard Michael Patton returns after leading the Huskies with 35 three-pointers last year. Junior forward Najul Erwin enters his second season and showed a good inside game, shooting 47.1 percent in limited play. Senior forward Sean Smith proved to be a good scorer, but lacked the defensive intensity desired by Patton.

It might be another season of transition and adjustment for the NIU program with so many new faces and a lack of outside shooters. The key for the Huskies is to follow Patton's desire to play hard in every minute of every game and not to lose focus.

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