however, acknowledging outside factors that can and do affect performance is not necessarily making an excuse and can have as much to do with considering the actual results as well as necessary adjustments going forward to prevent future occurrences.

Anyone that watched the program decline over the years(I know you have that perspective) knows the mess does not get fixed overnight. Some may have had a false hope with the quick start but, just as things may not have been as strong as the start indicated things are not necessarily as bleak as the first series loss of the season might portend. Bryant, despite the lack of local area name recognition, has been an NCAA tourney team in recent years and their current record while decidedly subpar on paper entering the VT series is more a reflection of their opponents than the quality of the Bryant program. Just my opinion but, I believe the program is making progress, however, the true measure of that progress is not going to be confirmed(positive or negative) by one early season series. I think a much better barometer will be mid to late April after getting well in to the conference season.