“We are Family.”

NIU head coach Ricardo Patton and his players have been saying it all season long.

Whether in the locker room, on the court or on a team poster, the phrase is part of them. They are words players live by.

And now, in the face of the tragedy that took place on Valentine’s Day, the team will continue their motto. They will come together as a family to provide comfort and support for one another.

As the Huskies try to bring back a sense of normalcy to the campus student body, the team will continue its journey one day at a time along with NIU fans.

Returning to their schedule, the Huskies take on the Western Michigan Broncos tonight at the Convocation Center. The matchup will be the school’s first home sporting event since the shooting Feb. 14.

“I am glad we are the first event,” senior forward Shaun Logan said. “We are always looking to help, and I feel it is very important to get back to the norm: playing games and going to class.”

At tonight’s game, the Huskies will be sporting NIU ribbons on their jerseys, pinned above their hearts. The team hopes to help in the healing process and honor those who lost their lives.

“I hope we will play inspired basketball,” Patton said. “I hope we will have a sense of playing and representing this campus and a sense of representing the victims.”

Though ESPN will be attending tonight’s contest between the Broncos and the Huskies, the team will be representing the school rather than themselves.

“I think we understand the situation,” senior forward Ben Rand said. “It’s about honoring the students and not about the men’s basketball team. There were people who have suffered and were victims, and all the importance should be placed on them.”

Before returning to play, the men’s basketball team donated its time at the NIU memorial service Sunday. The team passed out NIU ribbons, programs and flashlights to help provide the campus with a sense of healing.

“I feel a sense of responsibility to help since this campus has helped me so much,” Rand said. “They allow me the opportunity to play here, so whenever I have a chance to give back I take advantage of it.”

Patton said that along with volunteering time and energy, returning to a normal schedule is vital for his team’s healing. In order to achieve normalcy, the team needs to get back to doing the things they are accustomed to doing, he said.

“Being athletes, we need to be a lead example. Not being scared to go back to class and sit in the front row,” Patton said. “We need to show the school that we are here and that we are going to push forward.”