So, umm … who starts next season?

Now that Jake Anderson is back in the fold at Northern Illinois, I think the discussion we’ll be having leading up to the season is, who starts? And, maybe more important, who finishes?

Before that, I’ll let you know that the Huskies are just lifting weights this week and will start actually playing together on a court at some point early next week. I’ll be there and that’s when we’ll be able to get into Anderson’s mindset and how the team is receiving him and all that.

So, while that discussion is on hold until next week, I want to open up a discussion that will require your comments.

If you read my question-and-answer session with NIU coach Ricardo Patton last week, you know that incoming freshman guard Tony Nixon will play a role next season. Xavier Silas, a transfer from Colorado, in my mind has to start. He’s too good and I’ll keep the hype machine on Silas there for now.

Tyler Storm started seven MAC games last season and showed improvement as the year went on. Mike DiNunno made the MAC All-Freshman team, led NIU in assists and makes more than 70 percent of his free throws. Sean Kowal is still 6-foot-11 and has a season under his belt now. Michael Fakuade came on strong at the end of last season. Najul Ervin started 26 games and averaged more than a steal per game.

And then there’s Anderson, who led the team in scoring and often was its best rebounder, but struggles on defense and you would like to see a guy that is considered a scorer shoot a higher percentage from the field.

That’s eight guys right there. Only five can play at a time.

So here are the questions:

1. Who is in your starting five?

2. Which five players do you want on the floor at the end of the game?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section. I’ll have my thoughts on it late this week.