The NIU men’s basketball team took their first step towards opening another season this week with their first official practice of the year last Monday.

With the NCAA prohibiting practice until Nov. 1, it’s obviously important for all teams to be game-ready when the regular season begins against Aurora University on Nov. 27.

But this year head coach Brian Hammel decided on something new to get his team in shape.

“We didn’t condition as much as we have in the past,” he said. “We probably cut that in half.”

The move was probably popular with the players, as Hammel commented that most of them were exhausted by the end of the practice.

Overall, however, the coach says he likes what he sees.

“Everything went great,” he said. “It was good to get out there. All our guys have been anxious.”

Aiding the team in their quest to gain the Mid-Continent Conference crown is two exhibition games held at Chick Evans Fieldhouse later this month.

On the 17th, the Russia Select Team comes to town for a taste of DeKalb life.

The exhibition season comes to a close on the 23rd when the Huskies take on the Marathon Oil AAU Team.

According to Hammel, he’s not sure who’ll even start these games.

“It could be any one of, literally, eleven kids that could start,” he said. “But I’m a heck of a lot more concerned with who finishes the game than I am with who starts it. To me starting is way over rated.”

What Hammel says he is more concerned with is the contribution a player can make to the team or the roll the player fills rather than if they are the star player or not.

“As long as you get playing time and as long as you’re contributing to the team, I think that’s the bottom line,” he said.

With the regular season almost upon them, it will soon be time to tell who will be on the floor when the game is on the line.

For when the Mid-Con Championships begin in march, those are the guys that will be there.