# 2008–09 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team

The 2008–09 Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team represented Northern Illinois University in the 2008–09 college basketball season. This season was head coach Ricardo Patton's second season at Northern Illinois University.

## Roster

| No. | Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous school |
| 32 | Darion Anderson | G | 6'02" | 201 | SO | Chicago, IL | Carver Military Academy |
| 11 | Mike DiNunno | G | 5'11" | 177 | FR | Chicago, IL | Von Steuben |
| 15 | Ante Dzepina | C | 6'08" | 235 | JR | Kraljevica, Croatia | Highland CC |
| 2 | Najul Irvin | F | 6'05" | 214 | JR | Memphis, TN | Kankakee CC |
| 55 | Michael Fakade | C | 6'07" | 222 | FR | Chicago, IL | Von Steuben |
| 30 | Lee Fisher | F | 6'05" | 206 | FR | Dolton, IL | Thornridge |
| 1 | Bryan Hall | G | 6'01" | 157 | FR | Chicago, IL | Whitney Young |
| 41 | Sean Kowal | C | 6'11" | 240 | SO | St. Louis, MO | Desmet Jesuit Colorado |
| 24 | Jeremy Landers | G | 6'02" | 185 | SO | Milwaukee, WI | Murphysboro (IL) Gensis One (MS) |
| 4 | Michael Patton | G | 5'10" | 177 | SO | Boulder, CO | Boulder Solebury School (PA) |
| 22 | Justin Peaster | G | 5'11" | 165 | FR | Aurora, IL | Waubonsie Valley |
| 13 | Xavier Silas | G | 6'05" | 201 | JR | Austin, TX | Brewster Academy (NH) Colorado |
| 10 | Keith Smith | G | 5'05" | 135 | FR | Chicago, IL | St. Ignatius |
| 12 | Sean Smith | F | 6'07" | 190 | SR | Gary, IN | West Side Vincennes JC |
| 44 | Tyler Storm | F | 6'07" | 206 | FR | Geneseo, IL | Geneseo |

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| November 14, 2008* 5:00 pm ET | vs. Maine 100 Club Classic | W 77–64 | 0–1 | KSU Convocation Center Kennesaw, GA |
| November 15, 2008* 5:00 pm ET | vs. Western Illinois 100 Club Classic | W 65–54 | 1–1 | KSU Convocation Center Kennesaw, GA |
| November 18, 2008* 8:00 pm ET | Indiana State | W 86–79 | 2–1 | Convocation Center DeKalb, IL |
| November 21, 2008* 8:30 pm ET | at Tennessee State | W 75–73 | 2–2 | Gentry Center Nashville, TN |
| November 27, 2008* 1:45 am ET | vs. Portland State Great Alaska Shootout | W 79–58 | 2–3 | Sullivan Arena Anchorage, AK |
| November 28, 2008* 4:00 pm ET | at Alaska Anchorage Great Alaska Shootout | W 71–68 | 3–3 | Sullivan Arena Anchorage, AK |
| November 29, 2008* 6:00 pm ET | vs. Western Carolina Great Alaska Shootout | W 71–67 | 3–4 | Sullivan Arena Anchorage, AK |
| December 3, 2008* 9:00 pm ET | at Air Force | W 67–55 | 3–5 | Clune Arena Colorado Springs, CO |
| December 6, 2008* 3:00 pm ET | Chicago State | W 93–81 | 4–5 | Convocation Center DeKalb, IL |
| December 14, 2008* 3:00 pm ET | at Arkansas–Little Rock | W 97–85 | 4–6 | Jack Stephens Center Little Rock, AR |
| December 17, 2008* 8:05 pm ET | Southern Illinois | W 73–58 | 4–7 | Convocation Center DeKalb, IL |
| December 20, 2008* 6:00 pm ET | Loyola | W 72–62 | 4–8 | Convocation Center DeKalb, IL |
| January 10, 2009 3:00 pm ET | Toledo | W 75–51 | 5–8 (1–0) | Convocation Center DeKalb, IL |
| January 13, 2009 7:00 pm ET | at Ball State | W 60–54 | 5–9 (1–1) | John E. Worthen Arena Muncie, IN |
| January 17, 2009 2:00 pm ET | at Western Michigan | W 71–52 | 5–10 (1–2) | University Arena Kalamazoo, MI |
| January 20, 2009 8:00 pm ET | Western Michigan | W 72–52 | 6–10 (2–2) | Convocation Center DeKalb, IL |
| January 24, 2009 3:00 pm ET | Central Michigan | L 45–58 | 6–11 (2–3) | Convocation Center DeKalb, IL |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ||||||