11.   Donnan had believed this might be a rebuilding year for the Dogs.

12.   He expected this would be a transition season, which is management-ese for a rebuilding year.

13.   He lived through several rebuilding years, but maintains he never asked for a trade.

14.   If politics were baseball, this would be a rebuilding year in Arizona.

15.   In his seventh year as coach of the Hawks, Wilkens has been unable to win with the assortment of players Pete Babcock gave him in a rebuilding year.

16.   It became a rebuilding year when center Mario Bennett left a year early to turn pro.

17.   Last season the Yankees were defending champions and the Mets were in yet another rebuilding year.

18.   Portland, whose fans are dreading what they see as a tough rebuilding year, beat the Celtics like a drum.

19.   Rutgers, a national contender last season, faces a rebuilding year.

20.   Still, as a baseball manager might say, this is a rebuilding year.