TML1000

Good bounceback from a poor loss...also nice to get a win over Kohler after she bolted for a rival MAC squad.

Everything about the gameday experience for football and basketball has continually worsened over the past 4-5 years.

Women's soccer has quietly picked up the baton as top team at UB from women's bball after coach Jack. For many programs, losing the most decorated player in program history(and probably the best keeper in MAC history), along with a good amount of their starting back line, would lead to somewhat of a rebuilding year. However, Burke has consistently recruited well every year now for quite a while and also plays his young players which not only leads to the most impactful on pitch performance but also natural year over year leadership. If the core of this team can remain healthy, I would expect another romp through the MAC with an even more potent attack/more goals scored.

Buff State had modest success for a few seasons under the past HC's tenure, largely due to two standout players, Katie Villarini and Liv Lebaron. This past season, after both graduated, they only won 2 games and did not seem to have much in the way of recruits incoming. It will be a reclamation project for sure...the same goes for most of the Buff State programs at this point. The recruiting base should in theory be there but it is getting tougher and tougher due to the sustained success of not only other SUNYAC programs (Geneseo and now Cortland), along with other top D-3 programs in the region like Fisher, U of R, etc. Also, throw D'Youville into the mix as an up and coming D2 along with Daemen(at a higher level of recruiting than Buff State would be) as well as the region's top JUCO team in NCCC who has been grabbing plenty of solid to very good area players over the past 5-7 seasons.

+1

Hard ass coach and current college athletics environment don't mix...some players will buy in, other won't and still others will be told they shouldn't.

Is she even on a staff rn?

Assuming that is referring to ppl potentially throwing the decommitting players under the bus? To me, until someone outside the inner circle has a true idea of what the hell is going on, the players, especially those who never set foot on campus(other than a visit) are not to blame.

I'm sure it has a decent amount to do with Foust's departure...which leads to the question of why did he leave? Have not heard anything as to his next move/what were the issues. Just is so odd on all fronts.

This for certain.

Still very early in MAC play, but with the state of the league this season, and the consistent level of competitiveness and willingness to defend, I would be somewhat shocked if this team did not finish at least .500 in league play. Ball, Toledo, Kent and BG are probably the top 4, but none are close to unbeatable (all 4 already have a league loss)...Akron seems like a paper tiger at this point. With numerous freshmen incoming next year, I would expect a similar type of potential slow start/learning curve, unless a few really pop from the get-go. However, based on Coach Burke's track record at other programs and again, the high level of compete, I am expecting legitimately competing for a MAC title within a few seasons.

Not sure what is up with DeBerry...she could certainly play just about anywhere in the nation. For sure would be a massive boost to a mid-major like UB but very unlikely in my mind. The bigger issue over the past 12 months IMO is failing to retain any of the top local talent within the 2023 class. Players like Clara Strack, Gretchen Dolan, Kaylee Kryzstof, not to mention some top players from the Rochester area. Sure, Strack and Dolan are headed to power conference programs(Va Tech and Illinois) but it is not as if either was such an "untouchable" level of recruit like DeBerry was or Madison Francis is showing herself to be currently. I am not sure if UB was even in on any of those players...Kryzstof is committed to Binghamton, basically a Canisius/NU level program, but is a pure shot maker, something UB sorely lacks these days. I know Shay Ciezki had an early offer from UB and Coach Jack years ago and she already looks like a budding star at Penn State. Imagine the difference she could've made on this team. That said, maybe none of those players ever seriously considered UB for whatever reason, but it would be nice to retain more local players. Basically Summer and Fair were the two locals to play under Coach Jack and look what happened, they were the two best players over that tenure. The incoming recruits Coach Burke has coming in next season are sure promising and now with the commitment of Bri Barr-Buday from Nichols for 2024 I am hoping that there will be more locals to come in the coming years.

Hoping for at least a somewhat respectable MAC season, that sees some growth and improvement with competitive games. This season is more about just weathering the storm in advance of a crop of promising recruits coming in next year. Of course it will be a process but hoping within a few season we will be back to competing for MAC titles.

The first '24 boom is a local, Bri Barr-Buday, 6'2 F. I have seen Bri play first hand numerous times...she has good athletiscm for her size and is a tremendous rebounder with a very strong frame for her age. She has expanded her offensive game and range recently and that should only to continue to improve. This could prove to be a very good get. Also, hoping this begins a trend of keeping more Buffalo area players at home. The girls basketball scene in WNY may not have the depth of players as other areas in the region but the top end talent is tremendous, with plenty more younger players in the pipeline.

Good to see Volleyball having a solid season to go with the great success in soccer and football. Likely need a sweep at home this weekend to have a realistic shot at a top 6 finish...certainly in play with the current form of the squad.