The team's energy as whole was way higher (even with some guys sick) and that all flowed down from coach to end the of the bench. At this point in the season it's clear this team has not met the lofty expectations of most but the fact that these kids can still feed off positivity from coach to win another conference game, a critical home game, is huge. They need short memories, take each game as it comes and improve on the last.
Fact is, they're just an average team this year. Currently 113th in AdjO which is above average overall, middle of the pack in the MAC. Defense is clearly what's killing them. They're not going to blow anyone out this year. But that doesn't spell doom. Gotta take the wins anyway they can get them. The focus has to be getting a little better each game on defense and on getting a seed line in Cleveland with a shot to win.