CLEVELAND - Northern Illinois' football team is not only ranked No. 12 in the country, its men's basketball team is being picked by the media to win the Mid-American Conference.

The Huskies have forward Marcus Smallwood returning along with guard P.J. Smith. Smallwood was named to the all-MAC first-team last season.

"I really think the fact that Marcus is the lone returning first-team player put us up there," Northern Illinois coach Rob Judson said Thursday. "As far I'm concerned, this league is really wide open."

Northern Illinois received 28 of 48 first-place votes in the league's West division. Miami was picked to win the East division, receiving 21 first-place votes in the preseason poll.

Northern Illinois was picked by 16 voters to win the MAC tournament with 10 voting for Miami.

"It's one thing to be picked. It's another to actually fulfill those predictions. We'll be pushing our guys not to look at this," said Miami coach Charlie Coles, holding up a copy of the poll.

Miami has guards Juby Johnson and Chet Mason returning, along with forward Danny Horace.

Last season, the media picked Ball State and Ohio to win the West and East. Central Michigan won the West and went on to beat East division winner Kent State in the MAC tournament finals.

The Associated Press