Swarm at Bandits • 7:30 tonight • Radio 1520 AM
Bandits suffering from a total breakdown in 0-4 start
Published: January 29, 2010, 8:29 pm
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It's the question that every indoor lacrosse fan in Western New York is asking: What's gone wrong with the Buffalo Bandits?
Darris Kilgour, the coach of the 0-4 Bandits, has the answer.
"Everything's gone wrong," he said. "The defense can't get a stop, the offense can't get a goal, Kenny [Montour, the top goalie] can't make a stop."
That about covers everything. The Bandits figure to be in an ornery mood tonight when they host the Minnesota Swarm in HSBC Arena.
"I'm obviously not really happy with the start," Kilgour said. "It is what it is. We have to bear down. The next four games are so important for our season."
The coach isn't kidding about that, even though the season is less than one month old. The Toronto Rock is already 3-0, which puts it 3½ games ahead of the Bandits in the East. The Rock defeated Rochester, 17-3, in a first-place battle last week; keep in mind that Rochester has two wins over Buffalo already this season.
Even in a league in which three of 11 teams miss the playoffs (two of six in the East), the Bandits can't afford to continue their losing ways for too much longer.
"We haven't played well enough to get the W's," Kilgour said. "We have to show up for 60 minutes — not 15, or 30, or 45. It's got to be 60. Once they get that through their heads, we'll be better and we'll get some wins."
When asked to be a bit more specific about his team's woes, Kilgour pointed at the offense. The Bandits led the league in scoring last year at almost 14 goals per game. So far this season, they are averaging 8.5 goals per game.
"Three times we've gone into the fourth quarter down by at least three," he said. "The defense starts to feel pressure, and tries creating something on their own. That ends up backfiring. They get caught trying to create something to start a fast break.
"We've been working on the offense. We used to be a good five-on-five team. This year I don't know what's happened. They aren't seeing what's going on around them. They are playing as individuals. Until that straightens out, that's going to be a really major concern for us."
Part of the problem is the loss of John Tavares, who hasn't played this season because of a calf injury. Tavares, who was tied with teammate Mark Steenhuis for the league lead in goals last season, is expected to miss another three weeks of play. That won't help. Roger Vyse, a 2009 National Lacrosse League All-Star, missed last weekend's two games with an injury.
In an effort to turn the situation around, Kilgour made a flurry of roster moves earlier in the week. Forwards Delby Powless and A.J. Shannon were released; both are former first-round draft choices. Powless was scoreless in his one game in 2010 after spending the last five seasons in Buffalo. Shannon was signed as a free agent in the offseason. He had a goal and two assists in three games.
The replacements came from the practice squad. Defender Joe Smith is back for his third season as a Bandit. The Orchard Park native has played in 12 games for Buffalo in his career. Kyle Clancy, the team's first-round draft choice, also was activated.
In addition, defender Clay Hill was signed and placed on the evaluation period list. That gives Buffalo two weeks to evaluate the 34-year-old defender.
"Right now, we need to find some guys that don't have any quit," Kilgour said. "It seems like guys are accepting defeat on the floor instead of finding a way to get around it."
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