Three years may have never felt so long ago.

That was the last time the NIU men’s basketball team ended the season with a winning record.

Lead by the trio of a forward and two guards, the Huskies won 10-of-11 at one point in the season and were just one win away from playing for the MAC Championship.

Three years later NIU is trying to recapture that magic.

With a line-up over-choked with guards and sparse with big men, the Huskies will try to right the ship this season and be a force in the MAC.

But after getting off to a 1-1 start, tonight may prove the best test to see where the team stands.

Stepping into the Convocation Center at 7:05 p.m. will be instate rival DePaul, who a year ago fell to NIU and some say blew its chance at making the NCAA tournament.

For the Huskies, it was “the” win of the season. One that unfortunately didn’t transpire into more.

For NIU fans, tonight may finally show what this season’s team has inside it, NIU coach Rob Judson said. For being through two games it’s hard to tell.

In their season opener the Huskies shooting hand was cold and the team lost by more than 30 points. One game later NIU can’t miss and wins by 41 points.

With a team full of guards this may be how the season goes.

NIU has an active roster of 13 players, nine of whom are guards.

Lead by senior Anthony Maestranzi and junior Mike McKinney, the guard position is something Judson won’t have to worry about. Waiting in the wings are a few new players and a few old.

Sophomore Zach Pancratz often cracks the starting line-up and transfer from Iowa Ben Rand brings a little size to the position.

Cory Sims can drive and attack the basket while the highly recruited Quintan Lipkins from Houston will also get some playing time.

And you can’t forget about Ryan Paradise, who missed last season with a wrist injury.

“We have a lot of interchangeable parts on the perimeter,” said Judson. “That depth is going to allow us to do some new things this year like extending the court on defense.”

But once you get past the ball handlers, the roster thins out.

The Huskies lost Paige Paulsen to transfer and Jonathan Byrd to graduation.

Senior forward Todd Peterson proved he is one of the best three-point shooters in the nation last year and has led the team in points thus far.

As for the big men, the 6-foot-11 James Hughes is a shot blocking presence while Bryson McKenzie, who has been hampered with injuries since coming to NIU, backs him up.

The wild card of the bunch may be Craig Reichel, who is big enough to not only play power forward but center as well.

This season, Judson looks to have put together a group that fits his style of team basketball. And if the Huskies want to turn everything around it may be how well the Huskies play on defense, said Judson.

Last season, Judson can remember eight games where the winner was decided by one possession. With a new defensive strategy and faster play, he’s hoping some of those possessions starting going NIU’s way.