Both the NIU men’s and women’s basketball teams have been waiting for this day for seven months.

Monday was the first day that both teams could officialy throw on the practice jerseys, tie on the shoes, and hit the hardwood floor at Chick Evans Field House to begin practice.

On the men’s side of the floor, head coach Jim Molinari said that he and his team are excited about the challenge that lies before them.

“The challenge will be to overcome the obstacles that the season will bring,” said Molinari. Two of these obstacles include a schedule that features only 12 games at the fieldhouse for the Huskies.

Molinari’s squad will also have to adjust to a new conference to compete in after NIU’s stint last season as an Independent, the Mid-Continent Conference.

To overcome those obstacles, Molinari is stressing team attitude, effort, and discipline, all three of which were instilled on the first day of practice.

For a team that worked hard in the summer, running six days a week, and doing aerobic work, the first day of practice also set the tempo as to how the men’s team will progress this season.

“Our goal is to make progress everyday and not worry about the outcome,” said Molinari. “If we concentrate on getting better, the outcome will take care of itself.”

Another team that has been taking care of itself is the women’s basketball team which spent the summer running the track in preparation for a season of running and gunning on the court.

NIU’s women’s team came into their first practice with a tremendous amount of anticipation and excitement. “It’s a refreshing kind of day, kind of like the first day of spring,” said women’s head coach Jane Albright.

“The girls are in great shape from this summer’s conditioning program and today they finally get to use a basketball.”

Returning starters Lisa Foss and Denise Dove also had their own views on what the first practice of the season means. “I think it will build the foundation on which to start the season,” said Foss. Dove, on the other hand, doesn’t think the tone for the season is neccessarily set on the first day. “I think the tone will really be set after about two weeks once we get our timing down,” Dove said.

As far as timing goes, the first practice of the season could not have arrived at a better time. The Lady Huskies are anxious to continue the winning ways established here in recent years.

“We are going to approach the first day realistically,” said Albright. “Being the first day, today won’t be our best practice day and we will go over the fundamentals, but I know this team will do well and I have as much confidence in them as in any I’ve coached.”

The challenge will be to overcome the obstacles that the season will bring.”

Jim Molinari, basketball head coach