We’ve all been spoiled. I think many, if not all, of the fans who attended Monday night’s 99-88 exhibition loss to the NBC Thunder left Lantz Arena disappointed.

It’s hard for most fans not to be disappointed, with most anticipating the same excitement that came from last year’s NCAA tourney squad. The Monday night loss was Eastern’s first at home since February 2000, although technically the Panthers still hold a 14-game home win streak since Monday’s game was just an exhibition.

I don’t think the loss is what was most dissappointing to many of the fans that turned out for the second and final exhibition game of the season. After all, the final score doesn’t mean anything. I think what’s most upsetting is that many, myself included, may still have visions of Kyle Hill and Matt Britton, senior guards from a year ago, dancing in their heads.

What needs to be realized is this is a much different team. The Panthers are not necessarily a much worse team, and certainly are not less talented. But they most certainly are less experienced.

It will take time, likely a good couple months, before this current group meshes and learns to play with each other.

“Everyone’s still getting used to each other and getting a feel for the offense,” junior guard Craig Lewis said following the loss. “We’re going to get better game by game.”

They will get better, but it may be hard for many to tell. Eastern starts the regular season Friday against St. Joseph’s. That should be a cake walk, but things get much harder down the road. After the home opener, Eastern will see the likes of tought non-conference opponents Illinois, Georgia Tech, Penn, Indiana State, Evansville, Oklahoma and Ohio State within the next month.

Lopsided scores may be likely throughout the month of December, but January is the start of the conference season, and that’s what Rick Samuels’ Panthers are locked in on.

“We have to become familiar with two things. No. 1 is that this won’t be the same team in December this year as it was in December last year,” Samuels said Monday night. “We had a great continuity of kids returning last season that were coming off playing 10 games overseas plus practices.

“No. 2 is we have a very tough December schedule. These kids will go into every game and battle, and we’ll grow up,” Samuels said as he left the postgame press conference Monday night. “Don’t give up on these kids. They’ll be alright.”

And you know what, I think Samuels is right – as long as the Panthers don’t adopt the mentality of a Toys R’ Us kid.