Redshirt sophomore Bryson McKenzie may miss the remainder of the men’s basketball season because of a knee injury.

McKenzie missed the preseason after undergoing knee surgery, and his knee hasn’t recovered, NIU coach Rob Judson said.

It has prompted Judson to keep McKenzie out of any further games in hopes of getting a medical hardship redshirt from the NCAA.

Players are allowed to apply for a medical hardship redshirt if they have played in no more than 20 percent of the team’s games.

McKenzie has played in six games this season, exactly 20 percent of the NIU schedule.

If McKenzie were to play in any more games, he would not be able to apply for the redshirt.

The team won’t know if the redshirt will be granted until McKenzie’s final year at NIU.

McKenzie redshirted his freshman year at NIU to improve his skills, he said.

Last season, McKenzie appeared in 24 games off the bench for the Huskies.

McKenzie is expected to have another knee surgery after the season.

“The knee isn’t coming around,” Judson said.

“The knee has been coming back slow,” McKenzie said. “I can’t see anything good coming out of this year. I’ll get the knee fixed and move forward and try to be the best player I can be.”

Sewasciuk sidelined

Senior guard Al Sewasciuk may miss the rest of the season with an injured left calf.

Sunday’s loss to Buffalo marked the third straight game Sewasciuk has missed.

“It started off as a bruise then got worse and worse,” NIU assistant coach Donald Whiteside said. “When he pulled up his pant leg a couple days after it happened, one calf was twice the size as the other.”

Sewasciuk first injured himself in the game against Eastern Michigan on Jan. 14.

Smallwood rising

In Sunday’s loss to Buffalo, Marcus Smallwood moved up in the all-time NIU record books.

Smallwood blocked one shot to give him 135 for his career. The 6-foot-6 forward now is third in career blocks at NIU, passing Hubert Register who played from 1991-’95 and registered 134 career blocks.

Smallwood’s 12 points on Sunday gave him 1,163 for his career. The Elgin native passed Whiteside for 15th in career scoring. Whiteside played from 1987-’91 and had 1,155 career points.

“Personal accolades were never important to me, and I’m sure that’s the same with Marcus,” Whiteside said, who previously was unaware of Smallwood’s accomplishment. “I’ll bet Marcus would much rather have the win.”

Smallwood is 13 points from moving up another spot in career scoring, passing Rodney Davis (1984-’88).

Down practice players

With Sewasciuk and fellow guard Ryan Paradise -out indefinitely with a left wrist injury -sidelined, Whiteside has been suiting up to give the team enough bodies during practice.

Whiteside, in his third year as assistant coach, is coming off an injury himself. He had a hip pointer that developed into a hip flexor earlier this year. He is at about 80 percent of complete health, he said.

A former NBA player, Whiteside said he is likely to practice with the team this week in preparation for Saturday’s game against Toledo.

“I’ll practice as much as Coach [Judson] needs me to,” Whiteside said. “I’m 100 percent dedicated to the success of this club. I bleed Red and Black, and I just wish more people on campus did.”

Sports Editor Frank Rusnak contributed to this story.