Nov. 7, 2007

Game Notes for James Madison Game

Just two years ago, head coach Fran McCaffery inherited a team that set a program record with 24 losses and scored the fewest points in the league.

Expectations were simple: rebuild the program - as fast as possible.

Fast forward to the present, when McCaffery's Saints are coming off a 20-win season and a MAAC title-game appearance. Behind McCaffery's offensive-minded vision, Siena scored the most points in the conference last season, reenergizing the program and electrifying the Capital Region.

Expectations, as you may have guessed, have changed.

The whirlwind transformation has raised the excitement level surrounding the upstart Saints to an all-time high, while also raising the proverbial bar.

A Wharton School graduate, McCaffery is smart enough to know he is in a better position to succeed than he was when he arrived at Siena's suburban campus. But he is also smart enough to keep things in perspective.

"I'm very pleased with the direction we are headed," McCaffery said. "The players have really bought into what we are trying to accomplish. We have been fortunate enough to have had great leadership in each of my first two seasons. That will again be a key this year, as we have a very young team."

Indeed, the Saints are extremely young for a squad surrounded by such ambitious goals. Tay Fisher is the only senior on this year's squad, and 11 of the 14 players are playing out just their first or second year of eligibility.

"We are very young, but people have a reason to be optimistic," McCaffery said. "We enjoyed a great deal of success last season and many of the key contributors are back. Whenever you have that scenario, people are going to expect a great deal. Our focus has to be on improving each day and remaining focused throughout the season. If we can do this, I'm confident we will be in a position to meet the highest expectations - our own."

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