dutchcountry7

12 minutes ago, ed said:

 

uh, where they were the last few years was finishing (tied for) 1st, 5th, and 2nd in their conference.  😄

The conference was tougher back then.  I just looked it up.  They got a bid to the NIT with a 6-10 conference record in 1998.  The A10 had 5 NCAA bids and 2 NIT bids.

They are about the same--nationally--as they were back then. 

1 hour ago, bull_trojan said:

I get that, but it was a postseason ban for the current year, and a loss of 3 scholarships. So 03-04 is sunk, 04-05 your team jumps ship and you have no recruits. but 05-06 you pick back up.

Seeing as 1) once they were on probation their program stalled and 2) the president and board was complicit with the welding certificate thing...

I'd say they probably did a lot more stuff on and across the line to support their program, and when they were forced to play it straight, their ceiling is a .500 team with a run in them once every 4 years.

I don't think that's the case.  I am pretty sure Jimmy Barron ran a clean ship.  He took over a struggling program at Bonas in the early 90s and didn't win a conference game in his first year.   Turned them into a regular NIT team and took them to an NCAA tournament where they nearly knocked off Kentucky.   

It seem like you think they were a world beater in those days before the scandal.  They were good team but never close to winning the conference.  They were right about where they have been the last few years. 

Anyway, the problem seemed to come after Barron was hired away to Rhode Island and Bonas hired Jan van Breda Kolff to replace him.  The new coach then hired some no name with limited coaching experience to be his assistant coach.  Then that assistant coach recruits a kid to play and when the athletic department says the kid isn't eligible, the assistant coach goes to his dad, the University President, and gets his dad to make the kid eligible even though multiple people in the athletic department told the President and the assistant coach the kid couldn't play.  

The athletic department ends up contacted the NCAA to see if they actually could play him.  They learned near the end of the season they the kid could not play and had to forfeit games.  The team had a losing record even with the kid playing. 

1 hour ago, bull_trojan said:

Syracuse just recently had a postseason ban and lost 8 scholarships and they are still on probation, they're fine.

Let's not pretend that Cuse started playing it straight. 

51 minutes ago, mikescherrer8 said:

5 years, okay, again, look at where we are located, man. We don't live in an area where there is college sports culture and tradition. UB is not known for being a sports school. The first time in school history that we are ranked in basketball and now some more people are paying attention, that's great. You talk about "well if the Bonnies can do it, so can we". Okay, but, how long have they been competitive in basketball for? Since the 70's? A real near 50 year head start in Olean. 

It's going to take more time.....5 years of success is nothing. You have to grasp that. This is Bills and Sabres country. Always has been. Oats' Bulls might be the first program to change that, change the culture around here. 

You're just not getting the big picture....at all.

Five seasons back:  Nearly a Sellout to watch UB Play Bowling Green in Basketball

Three seasons back:  Nearly a Sellout to watch UB Play Akron in Basketball

Last year: Nearly a sellout to watch UB Play Bonas in Basketball

Are you telling me that all those seats were filled with Akron, Bowling Green, and Bonas fans?

21 minutes ago, mikescherrer8 said:

Man, 4 years of success isn't shit. Especially in an area where basketball is a complete afterthought, dominated by the Bills and Sabres, and with no college sports atmosphere in the Buffalo area. We as fans have to be patient. 

FIVE YEARS OF SUCCESS.

We are on FIVE YEARS.

The school graduates like 6,000 people a year.  And there are over a million people who live in the area.  Getting 6,000 people to a game shouldn't be hard.

23,000 showed up to see the football team play Army following a 6-6 season.  Don't tell me people don't turn out without years of success! 

If Bonas can sell out a Buffalo game then Buffalo can sell out a Buffalo game! 

2 hours ago, mikescherrer8 said:

Rome wasn't built in one day. Relax. 

How about after three NCAA bids in four years?

How about after first ever top-15 national ranking?

How about after nearly selling out for MAC games?

How about after people were just a month ago commenting on here about how Alumni Arena should be made bigger?

It is built.  Now the people need to come. 

This game is going to be a sell out.  No way around it.  The game is too big and the Bulls are too good not to sell out the small Alumni Arena.  If this isn't sold out then people need to be fired.  This is an easy game to get people to attend.

 

2 hours ago, BrooklynBull said:

The other big thing that could work attendance (which putting ht e game on local TV will hurt walk up ticket buying) is the date.  It is the last Saturday before Christmas and it is huge shopping day.

We have to stop making excuses.  Now is the time for sell outs.  If Alumni can't get sold out with UB being ranked and playing a tough opponent then what are we even doing here?  Might as well pack up and go home.  Seriously, Alumni isn't big.  This game is a sell out. 

10 hours ago, John said:

If we can get 4,400 for LeMoyne we should be able to sell out for SIU. Only hope there will be more media coverage by radio,tv, and UB can put more pressure on the Buffalo News to run some articles during the week. Go Bulls!!!!!

This game will sellout. It would be an embarrassment for the program if it didn’t. 

2 hours ago, MillenniumBull said:

Not a one year trend.  I think your forgetting how good the A10 used to be.  I’m talking 1 seeds in the tourney good. They’ve been raided, filled in with some decent programs sure, but the product is diluted.  Women’s BBall has already far overtaken the A10.  The men aren’t there yet for sure, give it another decade or two and I think people will be thinking, remember when we wanted in the A10? thank god that never happened.  Small privates are dinosaurs in the college sports landscape.  The bigger dinosaurs are the last to die.

and I actually do think Toledo is slightly better than St. Louis. I’ve only seen each team play once so far and that wright st loss is a head scratcher for sure, but when I watched St Louis play vs SH (I try to see every potential NCAA team at least once, reason why my work bracket pool gets smaller every year, I won 4 of the last 5) they turn the ball over like it’s their job and average at best offense.  Nutrual court, I’d bet Toledo.  UT seems to get better every game they play, and maybe WS just caught them early enough in the season coupled with a bad night.  Toledo’s OOC schedule is weak for sure.  They have 3 games Penn, Ball st then UB.  We will know where they stand better by then.

No doubt losing Xavier and Temple hurt, but they added Davidson and VCU.  Those aren't as good but they aren't slouches. 

I would love to have Davidson or VCU come to Alumni!  I suspect the A10 remains a multi-bid league. 

I don't follow women's basketball. 

On ‎12‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 11:05 AM, Jeseph said:

TBH I don't take the time to consider at-large opportunities. I think our schedule should exist to prepare us for late/post-season play. I don't love the idea of playing SIU twice outside of the fact that they're a gritty team that will keep us on our toes. For the most part, I don't see the draw unless it was a cross-town (or close proximity) rival.

UB is in a position to control their destiny but the goal should always be to win the conference championship, barring significant injury this year coming short of that would be a major disappointment. If we do get upset in Cleveland an at-large bid is still probably unlikely unless we win-out OOC.

Do you still feel this way?

SIU is a HUGE home game.  The Bulls could actually be in at-large contention this year.

6 minutes ago, mikescherrer8 said:

Bonas fans, well, A-10 fans, think they're a multi bid league this year too lol......

That's not too crazy.  They have four teams in the top-75.  Usually top-50 teams are in.  They have multiple teams flirting with it.  those teams separate themselves from the pack, I wouldn't be surprised if they had two or three in again.  But one of those teams is NOT Bonas.  They are the typical A10 powers--Davidson, Dayton, Saint Louis, and VCU. 

I am not sure the Bulls will move up much.  The AP voters do like momentum so just staying undefeated has been enough to move up but they have historically not let teams from single bid conferences move up too much higher than we are right now without some big wins over ranked teams.  We don't have a win over anyone currently ranked.  The win over WVU got us into the rankings but WVU hasn't beat anyone in the NET top-100.  USF looked good but their schedule has been really weak.  Which makes me nervous that maybe the team is over ranked and that a string of a few losses will make the committee turn on the Bulls for an at-large slot.  Need to win this week. 

 

2 minutes ago, mikescherrer8 said:

Don't let Bonas fans know that......

Isn't it amazing how the Bonas fans still think their team has the makings of an NIT or NCAA tournament team after starting the year 1-5 and currently sit 4-6.  Reminds me of SEC football fans. 

 

25 minutes ago, DooleyBull06 said:

This is the epitome of a trap game. Coming off a big road victory and right before a big road game against Cuse. SIU is playing well since we last played them and now they have actual game tape and experience playing us. This is another test. A game that can’t be taken lightly. 

Something to keep an eye on...SIU’s best player (Fletcher), who didn’t play against us the first time, was suspended for their last game. It’s not known how long he will be suspended for and if he will miss the game against us. I’d like to get the best shot, but that’s just me.

Yeah.  After everyone is pumped up over that big win at Bonas.  The team needs to remember that though it seemed like Bonas was a really good team and we all know it was really big to get a win over them, they are only rated #256 in the NCAA NET rankings.  SIU, Cuse, and Marquette would all blow out Bonas too.   These are big games that can't be taken lightly. 

We need a few more wins to secure that at-large slot.  The at-large slot is critical. 

1 hour ago, MillenniumBull said:

My point isn’t that the MAC is better right now, just that it is trending up while the A10 is trending down.  If the conferences were to combine right now the top team would be from the MAC, the bottom 3 would be A10 teams.  If UB finishes ooc with only one loss, their at large chances could survive a loss at BG, can you say the same about a St Louis loss at LaSalle or Fordham or GW?

Cureent records:

A10 67-60

MAC 61-35

One year doesn't make a trend though.

La Salle was in the Sweet 16 five years ago.  They just had a coaching change and hired Nova's top assistant.  Yeah, they aren't good, but I wouldn't say it is a trend. 

And yes, Saint Louis could lose to a bottom A10 team and still get an at-large.  Let's not forget that Bonas lost to Niagara last year who was a sub-200 team and Bonas still got an at-large bid.

Let's be honest here.  People around the country are talking about Buffalo specifically because they are a MAC team.  It is because people expect such little from a MAC team.  If it was some A10 team, people wouldn't be talking the same way.

The conferences are still significantly different.  The MAC is a competitive league with good teams but it lacks the number of top-100 teams needed to really show how good teams are.  Conference tournaments is much harder when there are many more top-100 teams.  It is the reason Gonzaga didn't get respect for so long.  The line was always "Big deal, the WCC only has a tough matchup in the finals, everyone else is expected to be a blowout."

Look. I don't want to defend the A10 and Bonas but have watched a lot of college basketball.  I would love to be playing A10 teams.  Can you imagine UMass or St Joes coming to Alumni?  That would be awesome.

Records mean very little.  Especially at this point in the season with very different non-conference schedules.

You can't compare records. 

Do you really think 5-3 Akron is better than 5-4 Dayton?  Or 9-1 Toledo is better than 6-2 Saint Louis?  

I would say 5-3 Ball State is significantly better than 7-2 Fordham, wouldn't you?

These are their results.  I have highlighted each of their best win and their worst loss.

Akron:

- W Youngstown ST

- W Chicago ST

- L Clemson

- L Illinois ST

- W Bona

- W Alabama ST

- W Detroit Mercy

- L Purdue Fort Wayne

 

Dayton:

- W North FL

- W Coppin ST

- W Purdue Fort Wayne

- W Butler

- L Virginia

- L Oklahoma

- L Mississippi ST

- W Detroit

- L Auburn

 

Toledo:

- W Oakland
- W Wilberforce
- L Wright ST
- W FL Gulf Coast
- W Louisiana
- W UC Irvine
- W North Alabama
- W Cleveland ST
- W Detroit Mercy
- W Marshall

Saint Louis:

- W SE Missouri ST
- W Troy
- W North Alabama
- W Seton Hall
- L Pitt
- W Central Arkansas
- W Butler
- L Southern Illinois
 

 

Ball State:

- W Indiana ST

- L Purdue

- L Virginia Tech

- L Alabama

- W Appalachian ST

- W Evansville

- W Tiffin

- W IUPUI

- W Loyola Chi

 

Fordham

- W City College NY

- L Houston Baptist

- W FL International

- W Youngstown ST

- W Columbia

- W Alabama A&M

- W Manhattan

- L Maine

- W Rutgers

3 minutes ago, ubxcretired said:

Before we get all high and mighty over the swearing by the student section, recall that during the first OU game after the 2005 MAC championship game, there were long stretches of chants of "F Ohio".  I do recall Reggie taking the mic a few times before games encouraging the support, but discouraging the cursing and off-color heckling.

And I'm not defending the cursing- I thought it was dumb back then when I was in the middle of the Student Section, and still think it is dumb, especially now that I have kids with me at most games.

I agree. I don’t like it but I have heard it at many college games. 

 

I am am not about to clutch my pearls and pretend I am shocked by it just to attack Bonas. Isn’t the win enough?

23 minutes ago, MillenniumBull said:

The shit MAC has a longer history than the A10.  Tournament wins by current members while also in the conference is closer than you’d think.  A10 is trending down while the MAC with more football money coming in now and more investment on the BBall side is trending up.  UB, Toledo and Ball State all could win the A10 this year.  Check the rankings, the MAC is the better conference this year.  Yes, the A10 has been the better conference for 2 decades running, but check back in 10 years.

Dude, I would like to think you’re right but what really matters is getting quad 1 and 2 games.  

Quadrant 1: Home 1-30; Neutral 1-50; Away 1-75
Quadrant 2: Home 31-75; Neutral 51-100; Away 76-135

 

top-75 teams:

MAC -1 (Just UB so no one else to play)

A10 -3 (Davidson, Dayton, Saint Louis)

 

top-135 teams not in top-75:

MAC - 3 (Toledo, Ball state, Akron)

A10 - 4 (vcu, st Joseph, Rhode Island, UMass)

 

The A10 will give more respect than the MAC. the reason the A10 is down in the rankings is because they have a few teams with really bad years—like 0-10 Lasalle—pulling the conference down.

but the committee doesn’t care about conference rankings  they care about quad 1 and 2 wins.

right not UB has one quad 1 (wvu) and one quad 2 (San Francisco).  But more chances to come with Marquette and cuse. Maybe even San Francisco will upset Gonzaga and move to quad 1 .

 

Bonnies have a losing record yet their fans turn out and think they can win any game. I wish we had fans like that. 

 

We we all know Bonas is weak this year but everyone was saying how they were worried about the game.  Really?  A sub 300 team with a losing record scares a top-20 team?

It’s clear that this is probably the biggest with for fans since the drubbing of Arizona. It helps kill that little brother role UB has been in. 

3 hours ago, John said:

Wonder why Bona  administration allows that??? You can shout a lot of things but does it have to be that type of language.  I guess I am in the minority on not to use foul language. Go Bulls!!!

What do you think they should go about it?

 

Seriously?  If UB students did it what would they do?

 

Its not like they would ban the students. 

Win over a sub 300 team as expected. Not sure why anyone was worried. 

13 minutes ago, UB85 said:

Give Bona a lot of credit for getting back in the game. Really great app cowrie cr for the guys. They let the foot off the pedal just enough to give Bona life. Now we’re presing and risking a lot of shots. Gotta slow it down and ramp up the defense. Make them shoot the jumpers, get the rebounds and run. 

That crowd is great. Can you imagine if alumni had crowds like that?

3 minutes ago, Jeseph said:

We’re playing Canisius and Niagara said no. So....

What?  I don't know what you're saying.

1 minute ago, John said:

Do agree that any game against one of the Big 4 has a different feel no matter what the records are of the teams. We have went to most of the Big 4 games over the years and for the most part just the buzz of the crowds are different. It has been just an enjoyable time to be a local college basketball fan in spite of where your allegiance is. Go Bulls!!!!

To be fair, the crowd has a different feel because they are the only games where there are any visiting team fans in attendance and have historically been the games with the best crowds.

I wonder why we don't play Niagara and Canisius regularly.  We struggle to get D1 teams to play at Alumni Arena but then we have two local teams that we don't schedule?  What sense does that make?

1 hour ago, squire17 said:

UB is 1 - 7 against St Bona in the past 10 years.

This is why this game is so big for the Bulls. 

Turns out Coach Hodgson grew up a Bona fan too.