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Having games at the arena is a joke. Perhaps if Jim is able to maintain the level of play, ie tourney appearances in consecutive years and perception in community that we’re building something big, then playing in the arena would make some sense. But there has been very little interest among the general public for Big 4 double headers the last few times they’ve been held. The atmosphere was terrible for those games. I much prefer games at AA, KAC, Reilly and Niagara to those poorly attended affairs at KBC.

He isn’t Oats. And that’s not a bad thing. Oats was very blunt and direct. Bordered on arrogant. Not crazy like Hurley. And that was fine. Two prime examples...against Arizona at half he said we should be up double digits. Low and behold we blew them out. He then said we can take advantage of a youthful Kentucky team. I don’t think that sat well with coach Calipari and we know what happened. Coach Whitesell has a different personality. A more mature one some might say. Bottom line is can he coach and can his message reach our players? He may not excite some but it takes nothing away from the job and the staff have done. Let the coaches coach and players excite. Go Bulls!

One of my next-door neighbors asked me today if I was going to renew our season tickets. I said, “Yeah”. He said, “ I don’t think their new coach has the persona.” I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant, but further discussion elicited this comment from him (knowledgeable sports fan/ not a Bulls follower per se): “He doesn’t project a strong image...one thing for sure - he’s no Oats”. I told him what a tremendous job Whitesell and staff had done in retaining the returning players and the magnificent job that they did in replacing an entire recruiting class in such a short amount of time with some great recruits. It didn’t sway his impression. FWIW, he’s a looong time season ticket holder for the Bills - talk about a dumpster fire... Only Whitesell can dispel the impression that my neighbor, and others, have of the next edition of the UB men’s basketball program.