TML1000

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

13 hours ago, skrabukes said:

The 4 state workers guarded each lot entrance as if it was Fort Knox. Had to make sure the 1000 people in attendance parked in the proper lots. Much like the attendants in the green shirts who kicked numerous people out of the 100 level seats into the endzones, for the scrimmage. Way to make those students feel welcome (likely in their first game attended), even though 101-105 was maybe 1/3 filled at the most.

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.

42 minutes ago, everlast2504 said:

I put on an extra tin foil hat for this one. 

I have a guess what happened it involves Scott Johnson and Wyatt Foust doing some pretty nasty collusion to try and damage the program, along with influence and pressuring these kids to do what might not be in all of their best interests. 

It's to inflammatory to come outright and say. I know lame by me. 

I will just leave it at it includes recent events at the school and the state of divisive politics currently in the US.

 

+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.

23 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

For Assistant Coach Tweet:

Asia Dozier @AD_theCOACH 34m

 

Anxiously waiting to re-recruit kids

 

Is this officially a shit show yet?

Is she even on a staff rn?

33 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

From a decommit's parent: Just don’t believe anyone that attempts to throw the girls under the bus.

I do not like that at all.

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.

37 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Then, my natural followup is why? Is it the 100% assistant coach turnover? To lose basically your entire class is jarring at this stage of the year. It also means the HC did not make the necessary effort to build the direct rapport necessary to retain them.

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.

28 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Question is, did the decomits come first or did she continue to look and found better (in her mind). In either case, not awesome.

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.

15 minutes ago, John said:

I wonder what the transfer portal will look like next year?? Maybe theParker sister and DeBarry from UCONN ?? Still do not understand one of the best local players and highly touted in DeBarry would still want to stay at UCONN and get absolutely no playing time. She can get an education anywhere and be able to play basketball!! Wow. Playing back home like so many of the former UB players did!!! Looking forward to the MAC season and go Bulls!!!

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.

Yes there are nearly all new players on the roster but the players themselves are largely experienced(Five 5th years). Of course time will tell how quickly they can gel and learn to play well together but this team will certainly not be out of place in the MAC by any means.

Just going on feel, I would think both Winfield and Stone will see alot of time and am expecting contributions from both Ellis and Ogden, at least by the time conference season rolls around. If the forwards can keep up with the pace of the guards, I like our chances in the MAC against nearly anyone.

The non-conference schedule is a good mix that should provide some stiff tests (Princeton, Drexel, Bucknell) with the chances to get some early wins(Stonehill, LIU, Bona, Canisius).

The 2023 class incoming next year looks very strong on paper so hoping this squad can lay the ground work for another run of MAC titles.

Awfully negative here after a big win...clearly Miami are compromised without their top qb but still a great win. I'm not worried about "winning ugly" in the 2nd season of a coaches' tenure. What I am worried about is learning how to win and building momentum.

The MAC seems truly wide open this season...no great teams but also no clear bottom feeders as has been the case in many recent seasons. After a 2-0 start, a 5-3 MAC finish would be solid. 

I went to the game against Akron this past Thursday. UB is clearly on another level than the rest of the MAC teams at the moment.

The defense, anchored by Tess Ford, and with Emily Kelly in net, play at such a high level with major confidence...their positioning is near perfect and rarely give up a good scoring chance.

The midfield and forward play is at a very high pace compared to many other mid-majors...Coach Burke uses substitutions well and the players up top are constantly fresh. There is no drop off when going to the substitutes up top, in fact, the subs have been scoring most of the goals lately, which may be part of the plan in tiring out defenses.

 Barring injuries or a major drop in levels, this team should be the top seed in the conference and host the MAC tourney. If they go unbeaten in conference play, an at-large berth could be possible. The Thursday/Sunday MAC schedule is always tough, especially Sunday road games but they have already gotten one of those out of the way. Miami, BG and Ball (probably the best other three teams in the MAC) are all road games so it will be tough to run the table but with the lack of scoring chances this team allows, I wouldn't rule it out.

One of the hardest workers in program history, pushing through terrible injury luck. Wish Summer all the best.

I feel like some euro league team should just sign all of these guys together to win a few titles in a row. You just don't find this togetherness and buy in.

Not a ton in the way of stats this past season, but at this point, a post is a post. If what we suspect about Burke's desired style of play is correct, I would assume only one of Johnson, Gaba and Salmons will see the floor at once with what should be a guard heavy, push the pace type of lineup.

Also, it looks like Salmons will have three years of eligibility. We could use at least a few holdovers after this upcoming seasons for continuity sake.

Dependent on the new commit, one more big, specifically one with an athletic and/or defensive upside, would be ideal. We will be very strong at guard.

Can likely get away with playing a smaller lineup in the MAC especially if we are able to turn teams over at a good clip.

As long as all of these student-athletes get to tell their story, I'll be fine.

Lol...probably pulled a Fair and took a few visits just for show.

At some point, if a player truly believes they can play at the next level, they need to bet on themselves that they can earn a spot at the top programs. At South Carolina, Baylor, etc, Fair would have assuredly gotten plenty of playing time and had every opportunity to compete for a starting spot....which is exactly what she would need to do at the next level.

Additionally, this was an opportunity to play WITH some of the best players in the nation, instead of just playing against them. That would also go a long way to getting to the next level.

I'm not mad, just disappointed.