This was supposed to be the year.

At the end of the 2004-2005 NIU men’s basketball season, all any fan could think of was the following year — this year.

NIU’s lone senior from the 2004-2005 squad, Jonathan Byrd, left for graduation, but the rest would be back for the next season. That, on top of nine of the 10 First and Second Team All-MAC selections leaving for graduation, stacked the odds in NIU’s favor.

Sure, the Huskies did claim the MAC West title this season, but calling that a bragging right is about as convincing as saying Barry Bonds has never used steroids. The MAC West had a not-so-stellar 72-103 combined overall record this season with only two winning teams.

For the third-straight season, NIU was sent home after its first MAC tournament game — another season, another disappointment.

NIU had its best chance at a MAC tournament trophy and a trip to the Big Dance since 2002-2003: The Huskies returned Honorable Mention All-MAC selection Mike McKinney, the MAC’s top returning three-point shooter, Todd Peterson and the 2004-2005 MAC leader in blocked shots. Ryan Paradise was back and healthy for the first time in his college career, Iowa transfer Ben Rand was finally eligible and the Huskie newcomers looked promising.

All these elements made NIU look pretty formidable to start the season, especially after topping DePaul for the second straight year. But, whatever it was, the mid-season lull kicked in and NIU began to look good instead of great.

It’s been 10 years since the Huskies have made it to the NCAA tournament. This season’s team (17-11) had the best record since the 1995-1996 team (20-10).

Next season, the team will lose two of its top three scorers in Peterson and Cory Sims, not to mention point guard Anthony Maestranzi.

Perhaps this year wasn’t an all-out failure, but it was certainly no success. Given the promise this team showed and garnered in fans, to say this year’s team was a disappointment is a gross understatement.

A MAC champion NIU men’s basketball team may be a long wait for Huskie fans.

But, as they say, “there’s always next year” — and the next, and the next.