The 1989-90 men’s basketball team officially opened practice on Monday with a new outlook and a new head coach.

Ex-Depaul assistant Jim Molinari took over the head coaching duties from Jim Rosborough last May and now begins his reign as head Huskie cager.

Actually, Molinari was able to see his troops in action before Monday as NIU’s annual Midnight Madness scrimmage session kicked off the basketball season last Saturday night.

Molinari said he is optimistic about the upcoming season and is pleased with the way the team has looked in early drills. And he believes a positive mental attitude is the number one priority in the early going.

“Throughout conditioning,” Molinari said, “the one thing we’ve tried to build into our kids and our program is that the single most important aspect to us being successful is attitude.”

Molinari believes a good attitude is made up of three components: effort, discipline, and a proper state of mind. And it’s these three ingredients that Molinari will attempt to instill in his players.

“My whole purpose for them now is that I want them to be the best people, students, and players they can be—in that order,” Molinari said.

Although he feels it may be too early to tell, Molinari expects several veterans to lead the Huskies into battle this season.

“I think Donnell Thomas has done a good job,” he said. “Donald Whiteside has done a good job conditioning—and Andrew Wells, before he went down with a hernia.”

Although the Huskies are enthusiastic about the upcoming season Molinari believes his squad is a little thin, especially in the backcourt. Two of his players—Bobby Smith and Mike Hidden—have been ruled academically ineligible for the beginning of the season and a couple of others—Brian Banks (knee injury) and Andrew Wells—are out with injuries. Molinari is practicing with 11 players, but he will have 12 when Wells returns from his hernia operation.

After the firing of Jim Rosborough there were many questions about the men’s basketball program. Molinari believes these questions were only brought about by the sudden change in the program.

“I think change causes pain—no matter what the change is. I think as human beings we’re all adverse to change,” he said. “We get very set in our ways and when the change is made I think our first reaction is our security is shaken, so we tend to react. That was natural, but I haven’t seen any ill effects. I think the players responded well and they understand.”

During Saturday’s Midnight Madness gala, both the men’s and women’s squads scrimmaged following the a pair of alumni exhibitions.

Molinari’s team played an intra-squad scrimmage, and the Red unit, led by Donnell Thomas’ 8 points, defeated the White squad 31-28. The Huskies were in a no-lose situation Saturday—a scenario a little different than that of the regular season. And even though he would like to see the team pick up more victories than it did last year, Molinari admitted that the wins are not the most important factor in his inaugural season.

“I’m excited about being here,” he said. “I’m more looking to build winners than I am wins at the start, so that’s what I want to build the foundation on.”

Molinari still believes the team can improve on its 11-17 record from last year and starting with a Nov. 17 exhibition against the Aurora AAU Challenge squad, he will try guide his team to that goal.

Following that, the Huskies will host the Brisbane Bullets (Australia) on Nov. 20. The Huskies open up the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 25 at Iona College. Their home opener is Monday, Nov. 27 versus Illinois Wesleyan.