AMHERST, N.Y. — One of the best basketball teams in all of college basketball, at least in Division II, hails from a Buffalo suburb.

The Daemen University Wildcats are seeking a school-record season and a strong run into March.

“Connected, competitive and love,” listed Daemen University men’s basketball Head Coach Mike McDonald.

Three things that drive the Wildcats, who are the top-ranked men’s basketball team in all of DII, with a relatively short tenure in their class.

“Daemen has only been full NCAA Division II for 10 years,” he said.

More often than not down that stretch they’ve seen a post season, and this year will be the same, with the added twist of a fat 0 in the loss column.

“It’s pretty unbelievable,” said guard Andrew Mason. “Honestly, it’s something coming into the year that you never would have imagined. But obviously we go into every game trying to win that game, and we’ve been able to win 24 in a row. So I guess that’s what you’ve got to do to get to number one.”

For guys like Mason who’s making the most out of his fifth year of eligibility, the scope of this season kicked off early.

“Honestly, I think it started with [the University at Buffalo],” he said pointing to an early season exhibition contest. “Just getting a taste, beating a Division I team. Just getting a taste of how good we actually are.”

Coach McDonald cited a game out on Staten Island as the turning point between a good and a great season thus far.

“This was going to be a tough game and we came out, didn’t shoot great but we won by 20,” he said. “We just said, you know, I said after, we’re like, ‘hey, you know what? We got a special thing here.’ If somebody is going to beat you, make them have to play great to beat you for 40 minutes.”

Mostly New York local talent on the roster and no world-breaking stats from any one player, the Wildcats are a true unit with a lot riding into tourney time.

“I think we’re fresher. I think we’re able to wear some teams out and I think, you know, there’s no complaining,” said McDonald. “There’s no, ‘hey, how come I’m not playing it? It’s like, ‘hey, next guy’s going to play.’ This is working. And, it’s worked so far.”

“Guys really put their pride and their egos aside,” added Mason. “They want to see each other succeed. [It’s] really hard to get a group of 18- and 25-year-olds to do, especially, and I think that’s the main reason we’ve been so successful.”

Twenty-four wins, the potential to go undefeated in the regular season and head into conference and national competition with hardware on the line — what a big time for a small community in Western New York.

“Just keep moving along and keep getting better and keep improving and having fun and enjoying this ride,” said McDonald.