by Sports Xchange

--Kauri Black is a 6-7 forward from California who prepped at Bridgton Academy in Maine. He is an exceptional passer who is patient on offense.

--Jonathan Lee is a 6-2 guard from Flint, Mich., and The Hun School of Princeton.

--Joel Smith is a 6-4 guard out of Leander, Texas, who was a late bloomer and is just now beginning to tap into his potential. He has range on his shot and is said to be a leader.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: As he always does, coach Bill Coen has put together a challenging and interesting early schedule. The Huskies open on the road at Siena before hosting Utah State in a strange pairing. On Dec. 1, Northeastern plays what is becoming a New England classic, meeting Providence at home. Then the Huskies take a dream trip, playing in the Diamond Head Classic and the Cable Car Classic, facing Saint Mary's, perhaps USC and Santa Clara.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: This is the year coach Bill Coen has been pointing toward. He has a solid, veteran lineup that includes three senior starters in SG Matt Janning, SF Manny Adako and C Nkem Ojouboh and two juniors in PG Chaisson Allen and PF Vinny Lima. Some thought this group could challenge VCU and George Mason last year, but tailed off. Now it looks like it is the main challenger for Old Dominion, which figures to be the favorite going into the season.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Chaisson Allen, SG Matt Janning, PF Vinny Lima, SF Manny Adako, C Nkem Ojougboh.

ROSTER REPORT:

--The Huskies named seniors Manny Adako, Matt Janning and Baptiste Bataille as captains.

--Coach Bill Coen, who has coached in New England for more than two decades, first as Al Skinner's assistant at Rhode Island and Boston College, was chosen as the New England Division I Coach of the Year last year, against a field that includes the likes of Keno Davis at Providence and Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun at Connecticut.