DeKALB | Heightened expectations are attached to the 2006 season for the NIU men’s basketball team.

And the defending MAC West champions are off to a fast 3-0 start.

The Huskies have a potential NBA lottery pick at center and an experienced starting lineup.

Senior James Hughes added some mass to his lengthy frame in the offseason, and has exploded out of the gate to average a MAC-leading 21.3 points per game, 76 percent shooting from the field and 2.6 blocked shots per game. Hughes leads NIU with eight rebounds per game.

The reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year isn’t alone in bulking up for 2006.

NIU coach Rob Judson said junior Zach Pancratz grew a couple inches in the offseason.

The forward from Schaumburg also added some mass and has shown a willingness to mix it up inside this year, Judson said.

Junior forward Ben Rand has shown no ill effects of an ACL surgery after a late-season injury, and continues to aggressively assault the rim.

The offense is quarterbacked by junior point guard Ryan Paradise.

And senior guard Mike McKinney could be the “X-factor” for this squad.

At 6’4″, the Evanston native must be a reliable second scoring option that can create shots off the dribble and use athleticism to tenaciously defend.

Of the newcomers, junior transfer Shaun Logan has been a solid sixth man with great size at 6’7″.

Freshman point guard Cody Yelder surpassed the scoring records of Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade at Richards High School in Oak Lawn. The Calumet City native has played 20 minutes per game and averages seven points per game.

The preseason media poll picks NIU to finish second in the MAC West behind Toledo. The Rockets return four starters and feature an equal opportunity, well-balanced offense.

Western Michigan and Ball State will try to edge their ways into the Western Conference elite.

WMU returns junior center Doug Reitz, but has nary a senior on their squad.

BSU has senior forward Skip Mills back, and his diverse offensive arsenal that scored 18 points per game last year. New Cardinals coach Ronny Thompson is the son of legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson and the brother of current Hoyas coach John Thompson III.

The East Division should once again be a dogfight. Akron, Miami and Kent State all participated in postseason play last year, and the Golden Flashes knocked off Pittsburgh in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Ohio (2-0) is picked to finish second to Akron.

Up next for NIU is an NCAA tournament-tested team that edged the Huskies with a home court 98-97 double-overtime win last year.

Winthrop (5-2) and NIU square off at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center.

“I expect an exciting college basketball game,” NIU coach Rob Judson said. “They’ve beaten Mississippi State, were ahead of North Carolina at the half, and played Maryland real tough.”