Tiger93

We started off unranked and it has been five years since we were last relevant. Give it some time. If we win this week, we will start to enter all of these conversations. The goal this year is to get back to the playoffs. This team is good enough, but penciling us in as a top 15 team or a definite playoff squad it getting way ahead of ourselves. Just enjoy the season and let it play out. If we take care of business and go 8-3 or better we will be in the playoffs and ranked at least somewhat appropriately. The rankings are a beauty pageant with no substance.

This team talks about having a chip on its shoulder for being picked 10th, well this opener is a good place to start showing that this season is going to be different. I know it is not the same situation, but in 2011 we won 42-3 and had a performance that was a little preview that Towson's losing ways might be turning around. It would be nice to have a dominant performance to get off on the right foot and get people a little excited about the offense and the team in general this year.

Everyone remembers that Louisville was down that year, but what people always fail to remember is they beat a really good Kentucky team on New Year's Day that year. That was a pretty mediocre Louisville squad, but they were up and down through the year. One of the things that makes me feel old when I look at those seasons is Louisville was in the Metro and we were in the Big South. Since that time, Louisville played in Conference USA (Metro rebranded), the Big East and the ACC. As for future schedules, I understand Skerry's sentiment, but playing D-3 teams is just not a great look and it is a waste of time any time other than exhibition portion of the season.

Of the four games on this road trip, this matchup against Oakland was the one I thought might be the most difficult. Oakland lost a few times in conference play at home last year, but I watched them last Saturday against Michigan State when the caught fire behind the arc, and had seen bits and pieces of other games before that. I knew they would be tough to contain offensively in their own building. I think the personnel and pace will match up better for us against Pittsburgh tomorrow. Sounds like the Panthers most consistent player is out for tomorrow's game (http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/221/pittsburgh-panthers), and they have struggled at times this year against the likes of Mt. St. Mary's, Delaware State and lost to Navy. As Mat said, we have not played all that well lately. There are very general statements, but we need to avoid the slow starts in these upcoming road games, and figure out a way to have more consistent level of play on the road.

Amazingly, Towson is one of only 11 teams in the nation with an undefeated record as the fourth week of the season begins. Great start for the Tigers. Hopefully, they can carry it into conference play, and win the conference tournament.

Tiger Alum 90, you act like that is a new thing just attached to this coaching staff. It has been that way since I went to school from 1993-97. We had a little glimpse of hope in 2011-13, but until this team wins (which we can continue that argument whether that I will happen, I certainly accept a healthy dose of skepticism, but will bring optimism into the season) at a high level it will be tough to get fans out.

Good motivation for the program going into the year. I am not saying I expected us to be in the upper half, but No. 10 seemed low upon first glance. I guess I thought we would slide in around No. 8 ahead of Maine and Stony Brook as well. We were picked No. 11 in the conference in 2011. Hopefully, we can get back to having the chip on our shoulder that we had when everyone thought we sucked and we had to prove ourselves to the conference.

It should be fun to have Delaware as this year's Homecoming Game, although they will be a tougher team than they have been recently with the coaching change.