DERECK Whittenburg deflected the question faster than he let off that forever-famous airball as an N.C. State guard in the 1983 national title game.

“Coach, you’ve got a brand new contract, the buzz is back with Fordham basketball, and you have a legitimate shot at postseason play this year. How good does that feel personally?”

Whittenburg, the Rams’ affable fifth-year coach, smiled, then quickly looked over to his right, where three of his players were sitting.

“You have to understand,” Whittenburg said forcefully, “it’s these kids that we’re talking about. It’s these kids that took over a program that had no foundation. The buzz now that’s within this program, these kids created that.”

Modest or not, Whittenburg clearly had a hand in it, too. But his point is clear. His team is equipped with five senior starters who have indeed carved out a winning niche. Now, as their careers head for the homestretch, most believe it’s time for the big payoff.

“We want to go the NCAA tournament,” senior forward Bryant Dunston said. “We don’t want to leave it in the hands of the committee. We want to go out and win the Atlantic 10.”

The conference tournament is still five months away, but it doesn’t hurt to plan ahead. Especially when you’re on a team that won 18 games last season, and is off to a 2-1 start this year after being picked fourth in the league’s preseason poll. The Rams’ lone loss was a 79-55 decision Tuesday to Big 12 power Missouri in Fordham’s third game in five days.

“It’s a great advantage, we know each other so well,” said senior guard Marcus Stout, who joins guard Kevin Anderson and forwards Michael Binns, Sebastian Greene and Dunston as starters. “We spend a lot of time off the court as well, so our chemistry is great. We know where people are going to be on the court before they’re even there.”

They know who’s going to be in the stands as well: plenty of classmates. In the Rams’ 79-61 victory at Columbia last Friday, a good third of the crowd was decked out in maroon.

“It’s a very lively experience on campus right now. They want to see us, wherever we go,” sophomore guard Brenton Butler said. “Everyone has the feeling that we’re going to deliver this year. The energy has been incredible.”

It appears the Rams will try to ride that energy all the way to March.

BUCKLE UP FOR SAFETY

The NCAA’s “zero tolerance” edict on sideline etiquette has become a hot topic. Coaches have to stay in the box, they have to watch what they say . . . and this time they really mean it.

But Wagner coach Mike Deane, who’s never afraid to tell it like it is, isn’t taking any chances. You want him to stay put? No problem. Deane – who has the makings of a solid team, with the Seahawks (1-1) picked third in the NEC preseason poll – had a maintenance worker at the Staten Island campus rig a seat belt to his chair. He plans to buckle up as he gets used to the rule.

But what if opponents or officials disapprove?

“Don’t care,” he said.

Innovative and intuitive all in one coach.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Manhattan (2-0) at Hofstra (0-1), tomorrow, 4 p.m.: Barry Rohrssen vs. Tom Pecora, Part Two.

A pair of good friends, used to clashing on the recruiting trail, tangle on the court. Rohrssen’s Jaspers upset the Pride, 79-77, last year in Riverdale.

tsullivan@nypost.com