NIU's Anderson uncertain about making the grade

Northern Illinois comes off a 13-day break for semester examstonight still not knowing the status of forward Burton Anderson.

The junior-college transfer was the Huskies' No. 3 scorer lastseason, then switched majors. Though his grade-point average washigh enough to maintain athletic eligibility, Anderson was short onacademic hours in his major to play at the start of the season.Semester exams are over, but Anderson's grades won't be in whenMid-American Conference rival Ohio University visits DeKalb tonight.

"He's in industrial technology now, and he's got to passeverything," coach Brian Hammel said. "We probably won't know if hedid until Wednesday. He could just as easily be eligible asineligible."With T.J. Lux done for the season because of shin splints,Anderson's return would provide a big boost to the Huskies. Lastseason he averaged 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds, playing his bestafter cracking the starting lineup for the last 17 games."He may be undersized (6-4), but he's strong and can scoreinside," Hammel said. "We're really in a holding pattern. Once weknow about Burton, hopefully we can put the pieces together and getmoving again."NIU (3-4) is 0-2 since Lux opted to sit out the season. Hammelhas moved sophomore Steve Determan to center and alternated freshmenMatt Nelson and Leon Rodgers at Determan's forward spot. Andersonlikely would take that position if he returns.Flames seek recovery at home If any team needs some home games,it's Illinois-Chicago. The Flames (3-4) played six of their firstseven on the road, and the last was about as bad as it gets.In losing 77-33 Sunday at Michigan State, UIC committed aseason-high 27 turnovers, and its 22 percent field-goal shooting wasthe worst in school history. The point output was the lowest since a56-28 loss to the University of Chicago in the 1948-49 season. Themargin of defeat was the worst since a 110-66 drubbing at Syracuse in1990. The nine field goals matched UIC's low, set vs. the DePaul Bteam in 1947.Then there's rebounding. Thor Solverson, Anton Collins andTarrie Monroe combined for 35 minutes at center. Between them, theycouldn't come up with a rebound.Things likely can only get better when Florida International andNorth Carolina-Wilmington visit the Pavilion on Thursday andSaturday, respectively.Bradley's Dye ready for WIU Bradley's visit to Western Illinoislast season was special to Braves guard Rob Dye. His father, Bobby,was WIU's leading scorer, averaging 18.3 points in 1973-74 and 17.5in 1974-75. Rob didn't have his father's scoring touch that night inMacomb, hitting 1-of-10 from the field as Bradley was upset 56-50.Bradley (4-2) and Western (3-4) meet again Saturday in Peoria,and Dye's shooting is coming around just in time for the rematch. InBradley's first five games, Dye made just 12 of 40 shots and was3-of-23 from behind the three-point arc. After being switched topoint guard last week, he led Bradley's 63-54 upset of Penn Statewith 20 points. The output included 6-of-11 shooting (3-of-7 onthree-pointers), and the position switch with Eric Roberson mighthave been a factor."The coaches, my dad and Eric's dad had been telling me to slowdown and let the game come to me," Dye said. "I had been trying toshoot all threes. I like to handle the ball, but I don't know if itmade a difference in my shot. In our system, it doesn't matter ifyou're the point or the two-guard, other than the point guard bringsthe ball up. After that, everybody cuts."In addition to Dye's revival, Bradley had more good news.Roberson left after the Penn State game on crutches, but the injuryturned out to be only a sprained ankle. He is expected to playSaturday.ISU finds new ways to win The personnel has changedsignificantly from Illinois State's Missouri Valley Conferencechampions of the last two seasons and the Redbirds who visit Drake onSaturday in their first MVC road game. This year's rebuilt team hasmore turnovers (171) than assists (123), but there are somesimilarities with the previous powerhouses.Last year's team and this one both started 7-3. Coach KevinStallings again has gotten solid minutes from his reserves. KyleCartmill's 16 points off the bench Saturday against Wichita Statemarked the seventh time a backup has scored in double digits.The biggest difference in the teams might be in their scoringleaders. With Rico Hill turning pro early, ISU turned to sophomoreTarise Bryson, and he has been impressive."He's a Big Ten-type player," Purdue star Jaraan Cornell said."He reminds me of A.J. Guyton (of Indiana). He's got a quick firststep, and he might be a little better shooter than Guyton."