Coming off its first winning season since 1996, the NIU men’s basketball team is ranked the preseason No. 1 in the MAC; but that means nothing to Huskies coach Rob Judson.

“It’s nice to be picked at the top in November, but our goal is to be there in March,” Judson said.

NIU opens its season Wednesday against North Central College in an exhibition game. Its first regular-season game is Nov. 22 against Eastern Illinois at the Convocation Center.

Leading the way for the Huskies are two of the five preseason All-MAC West players, Marcus Smallwood and Perry Smith.

Smallwood, a 6-foot-6 senior power forward, is the conference’s lone returning First-Team All-MAC performer. He averaged 13.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season.

“I might not be the tallest or strongest guy, so I know I can never let up or I’ll be sitting right there on the bench,” Smallwood said.

Smith, a 6-foot-4 senior shooting guard, received Honorable Mention All-MAC status last year. During the MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Smith was an All-Tournament selection. He led the team with a 14.7 point-per-game average during the season and shot 42 percent from the three-point line.

“We push Perry the hardest in practice because he has so much potential,” Judson said.

Smith’s backcourt mate from last year, Jay Bates, still is a student at NIU, but has used up all his eligibility.

Expected to take the majority of Bates’ minutes at the point guard position is sophomore Anthony Maestranzi.

Six-foot-6 small forward Todd Peterson is a year bigger and stronger from his All-MAC Freshmen Team season one year ago.

Judson said sophomore Rome Sanders has put on pounds in the weight room to further establish himself as a low-post threat in the MAC.

Redshirt sophomore Bryson McKenzie, a 6-foot-10 center, is expected to be on the injured list at least until the regular season starts. McKenzie had arthroscopic surgery in mid-October. Last week he had fluid drained from his knee, and is expected to be on day-to-day status once the regular season begins.

The Huskies received a junior college transfer in 6-foot-9 center Jonathan Byrd, originally from Chicago Morgan Park High School.

The Huskies also added freshman guards Ryan Paradise from Naperville Central and Mike McKinney from Evanston. South Dakota’s Mr. Basketball last season, Paige Paulsen, will play both forward spots at 6-foot-7. Redshirt freshman James Hughes, standing 6-foot-9, from United Township in East Moline, will be asked to take on an immediate role in the post.

Judson realizes that Smallwood and Smith will be his go-to men.

“Marcus was a marked man last year,” Judson said. “All the scouting reports all pointed to Marcus, so he’ll be used to that this year. We expect great leadership from Perry and Marcus.”