When the tentative NIU men’s basketball schedule came out last July, the Huskies were scheduled to play the Russia select team at the Chick Evans Fieldhouse tonight.

That isn’t going to happen.

Instead, the Ginestico of Brazil team will drop by for a 7:05 p.m. meeting with the Huskies.

Ginestico will be making DeKalb their fourth stop on a seven school U.S. tour. St. Cloud State University, Augustana College of South Dakota and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay are the first three schools the Brazilians have faced.

St. Cloud came back from a nine point half-time deficit to top the Brazilians, 92-80 in their Nov. 13 meeting.

The next night proved no better for the Ginestico team as they got blown out by Augustana 107-63.

The late results from last night’s Wisconsin-Green Bay match are not in.

Head coach Brian Hammel is still unsure about who will take the floor to open the game, but he has a lot of depth to pick from.

At forward, Mike Hartke (6-8, 227, So.), Hubert Register (6-8, 194, Jr.), Marlin Simms (6-4, 192, So.) or Jamal Robison (6-4, 194, So.) could get the nod.

Hartke and Register both came back to have good seasons last year after being out early with injuries. Register broke a bone in his foot in an exhibition game and Hartke broke his left hand in the season opener.

This year, Robinson has already been sidelined by a left shin contusion and is listed as probable for the game.

Steve Oldendorf (7-1, 240, Sr.) and Peter Rohlwing (6-8, 220, Fr.) will split time at center, while the potential guards are Randy Tucker (5-11, 155, Sr.), Chad Weeks (6-4, 212, So.), Mike Lipnisky (6-3, 191, Jr.) or Ronald Mintor (5-9, 146, Fr.)

A year ago, Lipnisky and Tucker teamed up in the backcourt to average 13.9 and 13.2 points a game respectively.

Again the injury bug has struck. Lipnisky is listed as probable with a groin strain.

As for the game itself, Hammel is really unconcerned about the outcome as long as his team improves.

“I’m not certain the outcome is as crucial as the game,” he said. “We put on the uniforms, we do open the doors, but part of it is to see us under game conditions. Our focus is on our own game and our execution (rather than the opponent).”

This will mark the first game the Huskies have played at the Fieldhouse since their 84-80 triumph over Youngstown State in early March of last season. Currently, the Huskies own a nine-game winning streak at home.

This may help the Huskies in controlling Brazil’s Paulo Dos Santos, who racked up a game-high 23 points in the loss to St. Cloud, while teammate Rafeal Rigoni chipped in 22 along with 10 boards. Dos Santos also scored a team high 12 points against Augustana.

For the Huskies, if the squad can finally shake the plague of injuries that have rocked the first three years of Hammel’s tenure (finished 1991-92 season with nine active players), they are looking at a potentially great year. With four returning starters among the 11 returning lettermen from last seasons 15-12 squad (10-6 in conference; 2nd place) the Huskies may be able to upset UIC and Cleveland State to take the crown this year.