Ricardo Patton’s first Huskies squad starts official practice at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. It figures to be a wild 27 days of preparation leading up to NIU’s season opener Nov. 9 at Northern Iowa.
After all, he needs to sort out the 17 healthy and eligible guys on the roster — most of whom have never played a minute of Division I basketball.
“I think I have an idea of what guys’ skill levels are,” Patton said Wednesday. “But it’s a matter now of putting them through game-like situations, pressure-like situations. We’re looking in our practices every day to create game-type pressure.”
Here’s how NIU’s roster breaks down by class:
SENIORS:
G Ryan Paradise 10.1 ppg in 2006-07
G/F Zach Pancratz 8.9 ppg (redshirting after left shoulder surgery)
F Shaun Logan 7.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg
G/F Ben Rand 4.9 ppg
F Egan Grafel 1.8 ppg
F Michael Hart Walk-on averaged 7.7 ppg at Div. III Carthage in ’05-06
JUNIORS:
F Sean Smith 13.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg at Vincennes JC in ’06-07
G Jarvis Nichols Redshirt last year (dropped to walk-on this year)
SOPHOMORES:
G Cody Yelder 9.8 ppg, 1.9 apg
F Bristan Kelley 2.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg
F Najul Ervin 4.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg at Kankakee CC in ’06-07
C Sean Kowal Colorado transfer (0.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg) must sit out this year
G Richard Oruche 0.8 ppg (walk-on)
FRESHMEN:
G Jake Anderson Non-qualifier last year; should be big contributor
G Jeremy Landers Strong scorer and on-ball defender
F Darrius Gaters Redshirted last year
G Michael Patton Legit point-guard candidate (walk-on)
C Michael Fakuade Von Steuben walk-on played in Public League all-star game
F Lee Fisher Thornridge walk-on averaged 13.4 ppg and 12.1 rpg
2008 RECRUITS:
G Mike Dinunno Von Steuben senior replaces Paradise’s shooting
F Tyler Storm Geneseo product a 3-star prospect per Rivals
2009 RECRUITS
F Steven Walker Originally at Thornwood, now at Simeon
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Joe College 
Nice breakdown on the write-up.
Looking forward to the 2007-08 season.
Go Huskies!