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http://www.northernstar.info/ArticlePage...tionfrom=4

Quote:Two more NIU basketball players will not return next season.

On March 24, NIU announced guard Jake Anderson would not return for his final year of eligibility and graduate in May. The Northern Star also learned Monday that guard Mike DiNunno and forward/center Michael Fakuade will not return either.

Anderson departure not mutual

Anderson confirmed to the Northern Star that he never told Patton he would forego his final year of eligibility. In an exclusive interview with Northern Star it was not his decision to leave and his meeting with Patton to discuss his future lasted “one to two minutes.”

“The meeting was supposed to be at 9 [a.m,] and [Patton] didn’t show up until 10:15 or 10:30 [a.m.],” Anderson said. “He asked me what my plans are for next year. I said, ‘What do you mean?’ And he asked what are your plans for next year? I said, ‘Nothing, graduate and go to grad school [and play my final year],’ and he said, ‘Well that’s good because we’re not going to have you back next year.’ Then I said, ‘OK.’ There was no hand shake and that’s last time I ever talked to him.”

According to Anderson, Patton did not treat him well during his time at NIU.

“There were always types of comments he made to me during my whole career here,” Anderson said. “He told me I was just the best player on a weak team [in the 2008-2009 season.]”

When asked if he thought their relationship was the reason he was not being asked back, Anderson said, “I don’t know, I guess so.”

Anderson also addressed why his scoring was down this season, saying he was just following Patton’s orders.

“This past season I was told to take a back seat to Xavier Silas,” Anderson said. “Coach Ricardo Patton told me that he had his pro here and that he didn’t need me to do all the things I had done in the past. I accepted the role because I thought it would help us win games. I just followed the orders. If I didn’t, something like this would have happened earlier.

“Patton betrayed me.”

The NIU Athletic Media Relations said Patton’s comment regarding Anderson’s departure was included in the press release on March 24 and there is no further comment regarding Anderson.

Since Anderson was released from his scholarship, he will not have to sit out a year if he transfers to another school. Johnnail Evans, who coached Anderson at Carver High School, told the Northern Star that Providence College and Marquette University have expressed interest in Anderson.

“Providence wants him there right now,” Evans said.

DiNunno, Fakuade also leaving

Anderson is not the only familiar face leaving. Guard Mike DiNunno and forward Michael Fakuade will also not be returning next season, according to Vince Carter, who coached both players at Von Steuben high school. Carter said he keeps in contact with both players “very frequently.”

“I was told that DiNunno was called in and [Patton] told him that they’re bringing in [Kyree Jones] and they’re looking to go a different direction,” Carter said.

DiNunno confirmed to the Northern Star that he asked for a release from his scholarship and that it was granted.

“I told the staff that I just felt we were going in two different directions,” DiNunno said. “It was a mutual agreement.”

DiNunno said he would still have two years of eligibility if he transfers to another school. DiNunno’s future plans remain uncertain.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out now,” DiNunno said via text message. “Lots of talk, no offers.”

Fakuade has been a walk on for three seasons at NIU. After redshirting his freshman year, Fakuade started in six games in the 2008-2009 season. He played in 20 of NIU’s 30 games that season. This season he started 15 of 30 games played.

Carter said while coaching at the NIU satellite camp at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago last summer, Patton promised Carter that Fakuade would receive a scholarship for the 2010-2011 season.

The Northern Star contacted Fakuade, but he declined to comment.

“You can’t tell a kid, whose parents pay $20,000 a year for three years, that we’ll reward you for your three years of hard work by giving you a scholarship for your fourth year,” Carter said. “Then turn around after the season ends and say, ‘No can do.’ That’s B.S. You just lied.”

Patton denied ever promising a scholarship to Fakuade.

“That’s an inaccurate description of what transpired,” Patton said. “After his redshirt year, we told Michael that he would have an opportunity to earn a scholarship.”

Patton said both Fakuade and DiNunno had the option of returning next season.

Chicago Public League furious

The one thing Anderson, DiNunno and Fakuade have in common is where they played in high school: the Chicago Public League. How these moves will affect NIU’s recruiting in Chicago remains to be seen. But according to Carter, who is the president of the Chicago Public League Coaches Association, the CPL is not happy.

“This whole coaching thing, it’s all about relationships,” Carter said. “Now, I’m not saying I’m Mr. Big Shot, but you’re jerking around two kids from Von Steuben. You’re jerking around Jake Anderson from Carver. Obviously, all of the CPL coaches are going to talk about it. I’m not saying we’re black balling Northern or that Northern isn’t going to get anymore kids [from Chicago] but if someone were to come up to me asking for a recommendation about what school to go to, I doubt Northern is going to be mentioned.”

Evans was not as calm in reaction to how the CPL is handling the roster shake up. “We’re putting the word out on [Patton],” Evans said. “Northern will never get a Chicago kid as long as [Patton]’s there. There’s no way in the world.”

What an absolute disaster. If ANY of this is true, Patton has to be gone now. Don't wait until next year, fire him now. What an embarassment.

No one believed me...

I've talked to a lot of people and everyone seems to say the same thing. Patton's worried about one person and one person only and thats himself.

Side note: I honestly do hope they keep him for one more year. If he goes now. Our recruiting is f*&ked. Just look at what is happening at Iowa I think they are down to about 7 kids for next year and thats including signees.

(04-12-2010 05:09 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote: [ -> ]No one believed me...

I've talked to a lot of people and everyone seems to say the same thing. Patton's worried about one person and one person only and thats himself.

There's no way he can be kept around. He has to go RIGHT now.

I can't wait for MD to come in here and rip the star and defend NIU basketball.

What a ******* joke.

(04-12-2010 05:10 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-12-2010 05:09 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote: [ -> ]No one believed me...

I've talked to a lot of people and everyone seems to say the same thing. Patton's worried about one person and one person only and thats himself.

There's no way he can be kept around. He has to go RIGHT now.

I don't understand what you want. Patton is the antitheses of "nice guy" Judson. You want him being an a$$hole to players that don't produce or do you want him to keep losing and stick with players that aren't going to win games for him.

It's just the same thing he's been doing since he got here. Just ask any of the Judson players that stayed. This article is nothing new.

(04-12-2010 05:22 PM)rabidawg900 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-12-2010 05:10 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-12-2010 05:09 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote: [ -> ]No one believed me...

I've talked to a lot of people and everyone seems to say the same thing. Patton's worried about one person and one person only and thats himself.

There's no way he can be kept around. He has to go RIGHT now.

I don't understand what you want. Patton is the antitheses of "nice guy" Judson. You want him being an a$$hole to players that don't produce or do you want him to keep losing and stick with players that aren't going to win games for him.

It's just the same thing he's been doing since he got here. Just ask any of the Judson players that stayed. This article is nothing new.

I don't care if the coach is a nice guy or an a$$hat, it doesn't matter to me. Both Judson and Patton had one thing in common, they are bad basketball coaches. At least the program was less of a joke when Judson was running in though.

How anybody can read that article and have anything but pure hate for Patton is beyone me. How he handled the Anderson situation is completely unacceptable.

We have this hotbed of talent an hour away, and we're not going to get any of it because our coach is a clown. Way to use the proximatey to Chicago to your advantage, coach.

He took the job without ever setting foot in dekalb (obviously had no other offers, or even worse ones), has lost 60 games the last 3 years, and now is pissing off everyone in chicago? Compher must be freaking the **** out. All I have to say, I've already said. Embarrassing, laughable, pathetic, waste of money, bull****, etc.

If we had a real fan base, and booster's who donated an assload to the program, Patton would be long gone. We would honestly be better off just getting rid of the men's basketball program at this point...and I know that's not possible.

For anybody who wants to blame the Star, this is from Sahly:

http://www.huskiewire.com/blogs/entries/.../index.xml

Quote:Former Northern Illinois guard Jake Anderson said today his relationship with NIU coach Ricardo Patton is basically non existant and emphasized that the decision for Anderson not to return for his senior season was not his.

"Let me make this clear," Anderson said. "It was not my decision. I started at Northern. I wanted to end at Northern. This is the university that gave me the chance to better myself as a human being and to further my education. It was not my decision.

"I never wanted to forego my fourth year. That was coach Ricardo Patton's decision. I know they put it out that it was my decision. It was not my decision."

Check out HuskieWire.com later tonight for the full story.

(04-12-2010 05:44 PM)armour248 Wrote: [ -> ]He took the job without ever setting foot in dekalb (obviously had no other offers, or even worse ones), has lost 60 games the last 3 years, and now is pissing off everyone in chicago? Compher must be freaking the **** out. All I have to say, I've already said. Embarrassing, laughable, pathetic, waste of money, bull****, etc.

If we had a real fan base, and booster's who donated an assload to the program, Patton would be long gone. We would honestly be better off just getting rid of the men's basketball program at this point...and I know that's not possible.

I was as big of a Phillips supporter as you'll find, but this hiring was epic fail.

I will not attend another game with this clown as the head coach, and you can quote me on that.

While I doubt we'll ever hear the other side of the story, add "God Awful Public Relations" to things NIU Athletics struggles at....... half the battle is controlling the message. These type of gaffes ring out a lot farther than CPL basketball coaches....

And in case it is not clear to others reading, what Patton did is completely within his right as a Coach, right or wrong. Scholarships are one year only and are renewed at a coach's discretion.

(04-12-2010 05:44 PM)armour248 Wrote: [ -> ]He took the job without ever setting foot in dekalb (

Actually, this is not that uncommon these days. I believe there was an article that stated as such on CNNSI last week.

Let me see..we are bitching about players leaving..aren't these the same players that we all ripped on during the season? Did we not have a terrible two seasons with these players? Now that Patton cleans house we turn on him like a pack of pirahnas...
Is a coach supposed to just sit and do nothing?
We did nothing with these players for two seasons..what makes you think that this upcoming season would be any better without major change.
Since when did Anderson and DiNunno become the darlings of this board?

(04-12-2010 06:03 PM)66Huskie Wrote: [ -> ]Let me see..we are bitching about players leaving..aren't these the same players that we all ripped on during the season? Did we not have a terrible two seasons with these players? Now that Patton cleans house we turn on him like a pack of pirahnas...
Is a coach supposed to just sit and do nothing?
We did nothing with these players for two seasons..what makes you think that this upcoming season would be any better without major change.
Since when did Anderson and DiNunno become the darlings of this board?

Anderson was either the best or the second best player his three years at NIU. To show up late for a meeting, and then have a 2 minute meeting and throw a guy off the team is just completely unprofessional.

And people are missing the worst part of the article, we're not going to get public pleague players. Have fun with that.

As for Evans, he was out of line with his comments...You would think that we lost two superstars off of an NCAA tournament team. Is NIU supposed to be the dumping grounds for second tier Public League players? NOT!!!!


We have not gotten a decent player our of the Public League in many many years. Battle was from the Burbs....Lux was from Indiana...
Patton has one year left. He knows it and is going out with his players.

(04-12-2010 06:03 PM)66Huskie Wrote: [ -> ]Let me see..we are bitching about players leaving..aren't these the same players that we all ripped on during the season? Did we not have a terrible two seasons with these players? Now that Patton cleans house we turn on him like a pack of pirahnas...
Is a coach supposed to just sit and do nothing?
We did nothing with these players for two seasons..what makes you think that this upcoming season would be any better without major change.
Since when did Anderson and DiNunno become the darlings of this board?

It has nothing to do really with players leaving; this is a complete public relations nightmare for the NIU basketball program. While there are 2 sides to every story, and we'll never hear the other in regards to Anderson/Patton, the issue is that you've now created a perception that Patton and the NIU coaching staff cannot be trusted. That is suicide in recruiting, and the CPL coaches do not react well to that kind of thing.

The entire thing makes it look like NIU's basketball program and coaching staff is imploding. You have a high school coach flat out calling Patton a liar. You have another flat out saying he'll never get another recruit from Chicago. You have a player saying he was given no explanation for why he was not asked back. Whether any of that is true or not, I don't know, but the fact is that the perception it creates is extremely negative and isn't exactly a good way to sell your basketball programs to recruits, fans, current players, administrators, etc.

It's well within Patton's right to not ask a player back, but it doesn't appear that it was handled in a professional manner, if what the players and their HS coaches have said is accurate.

(04-12-2010 06:13 PM)UIHuskie Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-12-2010 06:03 PM)66Huskie Wrote: [ -> ]Let me see..we are bitching about players leaving..aren't these the same players that we all ripped on during the season? Did we not have a terrible two seasons with these players? Now that Patton cleans house we turn on him like a pack of pirahnas...
Is a coach supposed to just sit and do nothing?
We did nothing with these players for two seasons..what makes you think that this upcoming season would be any better without major change.
Since when did Anderson and DiNunno become the darlings of this board?

It has nothing to do really with players leaving; this is a complete public relations nightmare for the NIU basketball program. While there are 2 sides to every story, and we'll never hear the other in regards to Anderson/Patton, the issue is that you've not created a perception that Patton and the NIU coaching staff cannot be trusted. That is suicide in recruiting, and the CPL coaches do not react well to that kind of thing.

The entire thing makes it look like NIU's basketball program and coaching staff is imploding. You have a high school coach flat out calling Patton a liar. You have another flat out saying he'll never get another recruit from Chicago.

It's well within Patton's right to not ask a player back, but it doesn't appear that it was handled in a professional manner, if what the players and their HS coaches have said is accurate.

UIHuskie puts it well, as always.

(04-12-2010 06:14 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-12-2010 06:13 PM)UIHuskie Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-12-2010 06:03 PM)66Huskie Wrote: [ -> ]Let me see..we are bitching about players leaving..aren't these the same players that we all ripped on during the season? Did we not have a terrible two seasons with these players? Now that Patton cleans house we turn on him like a pack of pirahnas...
Is a coach supposed to just sit and do nothing?
We did nothing with these players for two seasons..what makes you think that this upcoming season would be any better without major change.
Since when did Anderson and DiNunno become the darlings of this board?

It has nothing to do really with players leaving; this is a complete public relations nightmare for the NIU basketball program. While there are 2 sides to every story, and we'll never hear the other in regards to Anderson/Patton, the issue is that you've not created a perception that Patton and the NIU coaching staff cannot be trusted. That is suicide in recruiting, and the CPL coaches do not react well to that kind of thing.

The entire thing makes it look like NIU's basketball program and coaching staff is imploding. You have a high school coach flat out calling Patton a liar. You have another flat out saying he'll never get another recruit from Chicago.

It's well within Patton's right to not ask a player back, but it doesn't appear that it was handled in a professional manner, if what the players and their HS coaches have said is accurate.

UIHuskie puts it well, as always.

Hey I said the same thing! Damn kids, not respecting my lawn......

If we win next year none of this will matter. Patton gave DiNunno all the chances in the world last year. I am sure Patton wanted Anderson to make his shots last year. Patton seems to be not having any problem recruiting right now. Next fball and bball seasons should be interesting. Its time for NIU to be at the top of the MAC!

P.S. Patton needs to work on his communication skills!

NIU has always been a difficult place to succeed at in both Basketball and Football. One reason that Coach Novak has sustained success is because he was honest with recruits, honest with thier parents and he treated players with respect. Many coaches in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana would suggest that their students give NIU a look if they were not fortunate enough to get a scholarship from a BCS school. We actually won some recruits from BCS schools because parents wanted their kids to be around a program like coach Novak's. No High School caoch in their right mind would recommend that a kid consider playing for Ricardo Patton.