DeKALB – The 2004-05 NIU men’s basketball season died Monday, March 8, 2005 at the Alumni Arena in Buffalo, New York.

It began Monday, Nov. 9, with a 101-51 exhibition victory over the Illinois Institute of Technology and finished with an expected 73-66 defeat at the hands of Turner Battle and the Buffalo Bulls in the opening round of the MAC tournament.

The campaign started with low expectations, including a sixth place preseason ranking in the MAC West Division. The Huskies went above predictions, finishing with an 11-17 overall record and a fifth place showing in the West. Though not what the team needed to get fans out to the Convocation Center, the feat was not bad for a team that had to use wide receiver Shatone Powers from the football team because of injuries.

The high point in the season occurred Nov. 27 when head coach Rob Judson & Co. pulled off a surprising 84-69 win over the now 18-9 DePaul team that may be dancing its March jig in about a week. NIU shot a blistering 55.6 percent from the field as a team as it left Blue Demons coach Dave Leitao wondering what hit them.

The win at All State Arena was the first time in school history the Huskies knocked off the Blue Demons on the road. Not to mention it was just one of two road wins on the season for NIU.

Survivors include Judson and a slew of other possible returning hoopsters. Leading the way next season will be the seemingly always overachieving Mike McKinney, who at 6-foot-4 led the squad in rebounds, while averaging nearly 13 points a game – also a team high. Another survivor is the team leader in three pointers made, Todd Peterson, who will bring his hot hand back for a senior campaign in 2005-06.

One guy sure to not be in a Huskies jersey will be lone senior Jonathan Byrd.

The NIU men’s season was preceded in death by the NIU women’s team, which made a first-round exit for a third consecutive year on Saturday.

There will be no visitation for the Huskies’ season, due to a lack of interest.