NIU’s head men’s basketball coach Jim Molinari and his team have one week of practice under their belts and Molinari is very appreciative of his team’s effort thus far.

“These are the dog days of the season and they’re a little worn out, but the team is working hard,” said Molinari. “The injuries we’ve had and the loss of Stacy (Arrington) have made it hard to tell how far we’ve come in one week, but we are making progress and the attitude on the team is good.”

Molinari’s appreciation does not only come from what he sees on the practice court, but also from what he sees off the court.

“The normal day for a basketball player starts with a mandatory 7:30 a.m. breakfast, then class in the morning, followed by a box lunch, then practice from 12:45 to 3:45 p.m.,” explained Molinari. “Then comes dinner followed by studying. The time spent is hard but life is also hard which makes you tough and this toughness contributes to a special outcome.”

Molinari’s main concern for the upcoming season is the schedule. The Huskies only play twelve games at home this season and face the task of confronting a difficult early season schedule including dates with the University of Minnesota and Evansville.

“I don’t think being good will be good enough this year,” said Molionari. “We have a tough schedule but once we get everyone back healthy again, we’ll be alright.”