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Right, but this is my point. We're two games into a season where we're projected to be at the top of a very strong MAC. Yes, we're only performing at an average level so far. We went ice cold and fell one game short of NCAAs last year. We just pulled one of the best recruiting classes in program history. 2,000+ people came out on a rainy weeknight to watch us play Medaille. That's hardly a program fighting to maintain relevance and hardly comparable to a Premiership side battling relegation. The season is eight days old and the doom and gloomers are already dominating game threads for games we end up winning as road underdogs. I just don't understand how that could be an enjoyable way to follow a team. What's the point of it all then? Piss and moan until the moment we're dancing in Cleveland? To each their own I guess.

Using Barttorvik 'Game Score' you will see that there tends to be improvement over the course of the season. Here are the two years under Whitesell: Looking at prior years one will often see this upward progression, which is possibly a combination of the team improving and the level of competition being a little lower. So I am optimistic that the team will improve. That said - so will other teams. We will have to improve more to attain goals we have set, including contributions beyond starting 5. Nothing has changed for my perspective as a result of first two games - not a large enough sample. Ohio and UB are still likely the teams to beat. It comes down to how you define a successful season - is it a MACC win or nothing, or is it the collection of the season. Quite frankly I would not want to be judged for my performance for the year on something that is 2/3rd likely not happening. Repeating what I have provided in past comparison of team rank for last four coaches. With some modest improvement over our current rank of 77 to say 65, would be in top 3 rank for program history. Would I be satisfied with a rank of 65 without an NCAA tourney appearance, as a fan - no way. But I don't think you need to fire the coach in that instance. That doesn't mean your critique and others are invalid, but I would say approach as 'feedback for improvement' rather than 'criticism' One other point I have made in the past - Oats is a special coach - not a dime a dozen. You are not going to just be able to find a coach the caliber of Oats every 3 to 4 years. Look what he has done with Alabama:

Out score them.

To this point we are going to play back to back games in Cancun. The big 3 can’t play 36-38 minutes each game. And every game having led into those games. Long season we don’t wanna peak now but we wanna establish the roots for a deep March run. These next two games we definitely should look to get others minutes. With the goal remaining to win at all cost.

I'm hoping the Rider game will allow a deeper rotation and those guys can get some touches and feel a rhythm together. It's hard to sit on the bench for 2-3 games and then come in and immediately contribute. That's not the way it works. I think we will get bench production, but we need to be in a position to expand the bench in a couple of upcoming games to figure out the lineups that stay productive. I'm looking forward to seeing this team evolve because I think it's there. We just need to put it all together.

It's not so much that I'm doom and gloom. It's that I want to see this team maintain a level of success that our athletics department ride. Football is going to take time to rebuild. FLJ is likely on her way out. It's early in the season yet with a number of new additions we're seeing the same core issues (offensive/defensive inconsistency and lack of depth) that we saw last year. Last year us "doom and gloomers" were told to give it time. We were told the team just needed to gel. Well, we saw a flash of improvement and then it reared it's ugly head in the MACC and we were out. Sorry if I'm hesitant to "give it time"... again...

I made that trip all the time when I was a student at D'Youville and my brother was playing football at UB in the 90's - used to get on the Metro at Summer-Best station and then the UB bus back then never asked for identification to ride between North and South campuses - games, parties, concerts, friend visiting, etc.

Heartbreaker. Love the fight.

This would be monumental comeback win if we can pull this off. The D needs to stay stout. The deep depth players are getting their chance.

I do agree the depth issue could be a concern. How this coaching staff handles the rotation and gets some other players into the mix could be the key to our success once the MAC schedule starts. Go Bulls!!!

I can’t believe we are discussing Brock Bertram. I think by this point we know what he is. He is the 12th man. Last resort who somehow starts. He brings smarts on the court but he has no athletic ability. Is somewhat a brute defensively and just sets screens on offense and fumbles when the ball comes to him on a screen and roll. Skogman, Hardnett, Mading and/or Williamson should all play before him.

While I agree with this statement in some capacity, I don't think it's fair to suggest that a midmajor basketball program fighting to maintain some semblance of relevancy is comparable to one of the most stable and successful professional teams in the world. If Liverpool was ever being threatened with relegation I don't think their fans would be singing. And if we miss the tourney for the 3rd year in a row after making it 4 of the previous 5, I don't think we should be singing either.