This looks like a possible rebuilding year for the basketball team, but what team wouldn't be rebuilding after losing five or six starter-level players? Coach Salata and the team deserve our patience. Based on what I've seen at one practice and one game, this team doesn't resemble any Benedictine team I've seen in many years. Coach Salata's X's and O's expertise (and that of his staff) was immediately apparent to me at the John Hay game (I missed the opener). The team has bought into what he is teaching, and I expect them to improve at executing it. The team's passing was crisp and quick. They always seemed to identify the open man. In the half court, they ran plays that left players wide open. No matter what the opposing defense did, they never looked confused. It was refreshing. There was no 1-on-1 offensive basketball. They have a system and they play like a team. Once they figure this out, they'll be solid. And, once the overall skill level increases, they will be scary. Give them some time. Perhaps they won't make a deep playoff run this year, but I believe that will happen soon. They finally run an offensive system that doesn't rely on one or two studs to bail us out. I know it's very early in his tenure, but Coach Salata looks like a long-term answer to me.