”I really enjoy the practices,” said Northwestern basketball coach Bill Foster. ”I hope I enjoy the games.”
The games will begin Wednesday night in Welsh-Ryan Arena when Foster`s callow Wildcats meet Marathon Oil in an exhibition.
”Our sophomores are like upperclassmen,” said Foster, who will have only three upperclassmen in uniform, all of whom are juniors and two of whom are walk-ons. ”The thing we really have tried to stress is the blending of the new players with the seven players that return. It has come along very well.
”Marathon Oil will be playing zones, presses and man-to-man, and it`s really important to see the kind of reactions the players have. It`s another step in trying to rush experience into these freshmen.”
Playing the role of spectator will be Todd Leslie, last season`s leading scorer (14-point average). The 6-foot-5-inch junior was injured in an Oct. 27 car crash and is wearing a neck brace to protect a still undetermined injury to the cervical spine. A bone scan and X-rays next Monday are expected to determine if he is able to resume practicing next week or will be an injury redshirt this season.
Replacing Leslie at shooting guard will be last year`s understudy, sophomore Kip Kirkpatrick. Backing him up is 6-4 Dion Lee, one of five members of Northwestern`s highly touted freshman class.
The other freshmen are 6-5 small forward Cedric Neloms; 6-9 power forward Dewey Williams; 6-6 Matt Purdy, who will be employed at both small foward and power forward; and 6-7 T.J. Rayford, who`ll be used primarily as a power forward, but also will be a backup center.
