The NIU men’s basketball team was supposed to be just that this year—a team.

With Kenny Battle (a.k.a. Superstar, Dunk King, Ball Hog) gone, the Huskies were supposed to rely on teamwork to get the job done.

Unless they play more consistently and win seven of the last 12 games, the team is going to finish with a worse record than either of Battle’s two seasons here, an 11-16 record in 1984-85 and 15-12 in 1985-86.

“I’m not a mathematics major, but that’s not blowing people out,” Coach Jim Rosborough said earlier this season.

Prior to a week ago, NIU was beginning to put everything together. In fact, if not for narrow losses to Cincinnati, Kansas State and Western Michigan, the Huskies would enter tonight’s game at 8-8.

Based partly on his coaching philosophy and partly out of neccessity with Battle gone, Rosborough has stressed balanced scoring and team defense.

Going into tonight’s game with Western Illinois, two Huskies average in double figures with three others over nine points per game. Last year, Battle averaged 19.6 ppg and Rodney Davis was next at 8.4.

Yesterday’s Northern Star editorial stated Rosborough has to take control. Rosborough suspended Jim Edmondson and Tim Sullivan for two games. But that’s about all he could do.

Teammates are supposed to be friends. Of course, even the best of friends have fights once in a while, but not to the extent of breaking bones and pressing charges.

A captain is supposed to set an example for his teammates. Jerry Williams let the rest of the team down by not being eligible. He will try to make up for that by practicing with the team, but he would have been able to help more in the starting lineup.

The burden of turning the basketball program around lies on the players. They caused the problems and they will have to pull together and find the solution.

Winning is one possible solution. People are very forgiving toward winners. If all this adversity was happening with the team on a winning streak, the Huskies would be compared to the Chicago Bears. But when a team is losing, anything that goes wrong is considered destructive.

osborough’s career is not at stake here. In the past he proved he is a winner. If he were to leave NIU or get fired, he would be able to find another coaching job right away. People would say he inherited a rotten situation at NIU and had bad luck.

Besides, he does not put on a jersey, a pair of shorts and high-top Nikes. He sits on or stands by the bench, depending on his mood.

The Huskies showed some positive signs with a win Saturday over Northern Iowa. With school in session, the fieldhouse should be packed and the players will have to show they can battle adversity instead of each other.

They will have to prove they are a real team and not just a bunch of individuals who wear the same-colored jerseys.

Dave Tuley