The Gunma Crane Thunders' entire history consists of 46 regular-season games — 12 wins, 34 defeats. A standard of excellence and habits, good or bad, generally take longer to form.
Head coach Ryan Blackwell has only been at the helm for 36 games, officially taking over 10 games into the season. Original Gunma coach Tadashi Hayashi was shown the door after an 0-8 start. Blackwell's assistant, Kesiuke Hirose, was on the sideline, and Blackwell watched from the stands that first weekend (Nov. 3-4) while his work visa paperwork was processed.
The first-year franchise was 0-12 before recording its first victory, an 85-80 road triumph over the Tokyo Cinq Reves, another expansion squad, on Nov. 14.
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