LOUDONVILLE - There has been a lot of criticism from fans and people in the area about the struggles that the Siena men's basketball team has had so far this season.

It seems like people are wondering if Mitch Buonaguro was the right man for the job, when Fran McCaffery left for Iowa, and questioning if Buonaguro can consistently win.

In my opinion, it's way too early to judge Buonaguro. The team has played just nine MAAC games (half of the league schedule) and sure they've struggled.

They've also been without their second leading scorer, Clarence Jackson, for seven games.

The Saints have also posted some good, solid victories over teams like Georgia Tech, Florida Atlantic and Iona.

While the Siena players don't really get into what people are saying about the program, junior Kyle Downey defended his coach before Thursday's practice.

“We’re not winning games,” Downey said. “That’s on us. That’s not really on him. He’s doing everything in his power. He’s watching 10 hours of film a day. He knows what he’s doing. It really comes down to us making shots. He’s not shooting the ball for us.”

The Saints (4-5, 7-12) say that they are still feeling confident in the team that they have, as they prepare for Friday night's matchup at Loyola (Md.).

“Everyone’s still upbeat and feeling pretty good about themselves,” said sophomore O.D. Anosike. “We have to go down on the road and get a good win against a good team and try to get back on the right track.”

One player who should be feeling confident is senior Ryan Rossiter, who is averaging 19.5 points and 13.1 rebounds per game.

On Tuesday, Buonaguro said that Rossiter, who was selected as the MAAC's preseason Player of the Year, has lived up to that expected vote.

"He's the best player in the league, hands down," Buonguro said. "...I can say that emphatically."

While Rossiter has great numbers, he's still focusing on team goals.

“You have to win if you want the personal accolades,” Rossiter said. “That’s how I’ve always felt. My first goal is going to be a MAAC championship and anything else just comes with the success this team has.”