AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — Coach Mike MacDonald had a good feeling about his Daemen University team coming into the season. But he wasn't certain how soon success would come to fruition. Losing their leading scorer in the transfer portal along with two other top contributors from a team that won 25 games including its NCAA East Regional opener, the Wildcats were scheduled to play six teams that reached the Division II men's basketball tournament in its first 11 contests.
Daemen rose to the occasion with the strongest season start as an NCAA program, putting itself in early contention for a deep postseason run. One of five unbeaten teams remaining in D-II, the Wildcats won their first 11 by an average of 22.6 points and are ranked No. 3 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
"It's gone pretty well I would say," MacDonald said with a chuckle. "Surprising a little bit given the teams on our schedule and their pedigree."
The Wildcats gained confidence by holding their own in preseason scrimmages against Army and Colgate, then won an exhibition game at University at Buffalo, the second victory against a D-1 opponent in 11 years under MacDonald.
"This is the most connected we’ve been as a team in the three years I’ve been here," said junior guard Justin Glover, whose connection to the Daemen program goes back to his time as an All-Western New York player for St. Joe's, when his older brother Jordan was a Wildcats assistant. "I feel like that’s been a huge role into our success on the court. Our bond off the court is why we are playing so well on the court."
Glover is one of seven players averaging better than 7.5 points, with 6-foot-10 center Ben Bill from Hamburg leading the way at 16.7. The ball-sharing Wildcats are shooting 51% with assists on 60% of their baskets.
But they've been even better on the other end of the floor, leading the country in holding opponents to 36% shooting and ranking fourth in scoring defense (60.1 ppg). Nine of the 12 teams Daemen has played, including UB, have scored 61 points or fewer.
"I’d like the think it’s me pushing all the right buttons, but it’s not," MacDonald said. "There's a really good vibe with this group. We've got a group of guys who are really happy to be here, they really like each other, and they are connected. They're very unselfish. We could have a different leading scorer every night. It's a different five-man lineup from game to game that makes the big run. But we always have five guys on the floor who are connected on offense and defense."
MacDonald, who got 13 of his 428 career victories at the start of the 2009-10 season with Medaille College, has accepted the challenge of trying to maintain a perfect record.
"We’re embracing it," he said. "There's only five unbeaten teams left in Division II. Let's keep winning and be the last one standing."
At the same time, MacDonald recognizes the likelihood of an eventual loss. "And that'll be OK," he said. "We'll lace up our sneakers the next day and go play."
MacDonald laughed with disbelief when the Wildcats rose near the top of the national rankings, understanding the resources gap between Daemen and the national powerhouses. Forget NIL budgets, the Wildcats have barely a half dozen scholarships to spread around the roster.
"We're hoping this is another step in the progression of our program," MacDonald said. "We do what we do. As long as we can keep being us, the other stuff will take care of itself."
Along with its highest-ever national ranking, Daemen also is No. 1 in the East Region for the first time. If the Wildcats can claim their first East Coast Conference championship and remain atop region, they would host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament at Lumsden Gymnasium.
"We are a humble team," Glover said. "We're taking it one game at a time. Keep coming together, keep working hard every day to reach the ultimate goal. But we want to win the conference and host. Then hopefully, go win a national championship."
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.
