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Northwestern expects test from Northern Illinois

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A visit from second-ranked Purdue and the start of the Big Ten season loom Friday, but Northwestern first faces a test from a surging nonconference foe. The Wildcats (4-1) will host Northern Illinois on Monday at Evanston, Ill., eight days removed from their most recent game and lone loss to date. Northwestern coach Chris Collins said “we learned a lot about ourselves” during the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament in Uncasville, Conn., which concluded with

Northern Illinois brings 4-game win streak to DePaul

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DePaul and in-state foe Northern Illinois have experienced decidedly different starts to the young season. The Blue Demons look to avoid a third straight defeat while trying to keep the visiting Huskies from their fifth consecutive victory on Saturday night in Chicago. For the second time in four seasons, DePaul (1-4) has lost four of its first five. The first three of those defeats were by a combined 17 points. That was before the Blue

No. 5 Marquette ready to get defensive in opener with Northern Illinois

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Anyone familiar with head coach Shaka Smart is not surprised No. 5 Marquette is ready to get defensive. The Golden Eagles begin their Big East title defense on Nov. 6 when Northern Illinois makes the two-hour trek from DeKalb, Ill. After winning the Big East regular-season championship and conference tournament, Marquette lost in the round of 32 to Michigan State. At the conference preseason media day in October, the Golden Eagles were picked to repeat