Illinois Chicago vs. Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois comes off an 18-13 season and a share of the MAC West division title, but it loses the school's all-time leading scorer Eugene German. However, the Huskies still have a strong backcourt with juniors Trendon Hankerson and Darius Beane. Illinois-Chicago's program appears to be in dire straits as it returns only one starter from an 18-17 team and has a new coach in Luke Yaklich. The only returnee is forward Michael Diggins, who averaged 9.3 points and five rebounds in 2019-20. The reserves on the Huskies have more experience than most of the Flames' starters. Play Northern Illinois.