NIU men’s basketball coach Jim Molinari turned to his past when presenting the future at Wednesday’s men’s basketball media luncheon.

Legendary former DePaul coach Ray Meyer was the special guest as Molinari unveiled the 1990-91 basketball squad to the assembled media and NIU supporters at Chick Evans Field House.

Meyer, who brought Molinari into the collegiate coaching ranks as an assistant, said DePaul’s loss was NIU’s gain.

“It was a loss because Jim (Molinari) did an excellent job recruiting, scouting and coaching on the floor,” but, Meyer warned, the building of a program the caliber of DePaul will take time, even for someone familiar with the process.

“It takes a few years to build a successful program,” Meyer said. “The program (at NIU) will be built in the right way.”

Molinari credited his former mentor with being more than just the man who gave him his first big break.

“He was like a father to me,” Molinari said. “When you have a relationship like we had—there’s a bonding there. He will always have a special place in my heart.”

On the court, Molinari characterizes NIU’s debut season in the Mid-Continent, as one full of adjustments for the formerly independent Huskies.

“This is a great challenge. We have only 12 home games and one of them is against DePaul,” Molinari said.

“This is going to be a period of adjustment, but I do think we have a special group of guys. It’ll be a challenge (but) this group of guys will meet the challenge,” he said.

“It’s going to take time,” Molinari said, “but our hearts are in it.”