This past season, Macalester men's basketball had a sparkling new facility and not much else to write home about. The Scots, in fact, went 0-25, losing by an average of 22.4 points per game in a season that was completed by Feb. 18.

But did we mention the new gym and overall facility is really nice?

Macalester hasn't exactly been known for a commitment to athletics. The Scots pulled their football program out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after the 2001 season marked the second of back-to-back 1-9 seasons. They've won 17 games in the seven years since.

&&g-boxr&&More recently, the women's basketball program was put on hiatus six games into the 2004-05 season and played only half a conference schedule the following season. And the men's basketball team has lost 40 of its past 42 games.

It seems a long way from the top of Division III basketball. But that's where the new Mac men's head coach comes from, and he brings optimism with him. More in an interview with new Macalester coach Tim Whittle.