Frustrating, aggravating, discouraging, disheartening and let’s not forget about baffling.

These are the feelings felt among players and fans of Binghamton basketball, and the regular season hasn’t even started yet.

But the two exhibition games are over, and the Bearcats, who played two Division II teams in the span of five days, looked dreadful.

So what is going wrong?

Are they just playing down to their competition or is it something more?

Two years ago, the Bearcats dropped another exhibition game to St. Rose 82-76. The Bearcats responded the very next game, by outplaying a heavily favored Michigan team; even though they lost by 13, the Bearcats held their heads high, knowing that they went into halftime leading a Big Ten team on the road.

Can this year’s team make the same 180-degree turn from the two exhibition games and come out with some heart, intensity and determination against Long Island University this weekend?

Definitely. This year’s team has a lot of individual potential and talent, but the talent has yet to show much of its face. Each player has shown small streaks of solid play, but the team needs to bring it all together at the same time for some chemistry and cohesion. You can’t have one person trying to take over a game while everyone else stands around watching.

The Andre Heard era is over. No disrespect to him and Sebastian, but the team needs to move on. Yes, those two were great players. Yes, they were leaders and valuable to the team without a doubt. There is no arguing that, but that is not an excuse for this year.

This is Mike Gordon’s team. He is the captain, the leader, and must take control. The duo of Gordon and shooting guard Troy Hailey has the potential to be one of the best backcourts in the conference.

Binghamton needs players to step up and make plays. If the big men can establish themselves in the post, the guards can do what they do best, slashing to the basket and getting open for shots. On the main page of the Binghamton Web site, the men’s basketball preview is titled “Men’s Basketball Counting on Backcourt.” That should read frontcourt because that is clearly where the most questions marks remain, and they need to perform for the backcourt to succeed.

Walker insists that the offense be built around Ian Milne. Milne is a skilled player, but lacks a dominating personality. You cannot force someone to be dominant. He has to want it and that is yet to be seen from Milne. So instead of throwing the ball down low to Milne and letting him try to back his defender down while the other four guys just watch, let it come naturally. Pass the ball around, cut to the basket, be patient.

The Bearcats are strong, quick, talented and have the athleticism to match up with any team they face. Our frontline is 6-foot-8, 230 pounds (Lazar), 6-foot-8, 245 pounds (Olomo), and 6-foot-9, 235 pounds (Milne) with 6-foot-6 Duane James and 6-foot-11 Jaan Montgomery ready to come off the bench. There is no reason why this group of guys should get pushed around and out-muscled.

The season will not come down to talent. It all comes down to one thing that cannot be taught: heart.

The Bearcats need to come out this weekend and play as hard as ever. I do not doubt that every player on the team wants to win, but they need to start playing like it. And that starts this weekend at LIU.