BullBoy

1 hour ago, mikescherrer8 said:

Wonder if we see Brock Bertram play. He was warming up last game so I wonder if he gets the green light for some minutes.

If we can get Brock in there, it can totally change our offense. Play the 6-10 Bertram at the 5, move Mballa over to the 4 which is probably his more natural position.  Have Williams play the 3, Graves the 2, and Jordan the 1.  Then Johnson can come off the bench, which might be a welcomed change for him.

1 hour ago, UB85 said:

Oats was building something special. There was real momentum. His leaving was a set back. Hopefully this team will get better and play exciting basketball the rest of the season perhaps winning the MAC tourney. That more than anything by continuing the programs success will do more than anything to bring more fans and loyal fans. Before with Reggie team was usually a non contender with a couple of exceptions over his tenure. Combine that with playing MAC teams there was little opportunity to grow the program and build a winning culture and tradition. After Reggie we’ve seen consistently and unprecedented success. That’s what it takes. 

This just seems like an unnecessary attack on Whitesell the day after he accomplished something no Buffalo coach has ever done, go a perfect 3-0 against the Big 4.  Oats didn't do that, Hurley didn't do that, and well Reggie sure didn't do that.

Everyone here does realize we don't have Josh Mballa on this team with Oats as head coach.  

16 minutes ago, skrabukes said:

after missing most of the 1st quarter due to a bloodied outer eye, not bad.

So she took 17 shots in three quarters then. 22 points should be easy when you take that make shots. 
Serious question...does she lead the nation in shots taken?

I hate to say this because I do believe she is is really good, I just hate watching Dyashia Fair play basketball. I thought the way she treated Dartmouth in the final minute of today’s game was disgraceful. You are up 20 points, just run out the clock. There is no reason to rub it in against an opponent like that. 
 

Maybe I am in the minority, but it just seems to go against everything else this team stands for. 

With the tempo this team plays at turnovers are going to happen... I agree 19 is way too many, but games with 10-13 are probably more realistic for the pace of this team.

Nice bounce back from Graves and I agree with everyone that this was Jeenthan's best game and he is showing a ton of potential. 

Guys were are playing another Big 4 opponent in four hours and it is crickets on this board... 

What gives??

9 hours ago, promotherobot said:

Not to mention having only two weeks to put together a trip. It's nuts. But at least the teams have a nice vacation.

Speaking of, I see that Lance blew off a practice for beach time. I hope that doesn't bite us. I don't want to see a team 7 seasons into D1 win their first bowl game while we drop to 0-4.

From what I have heard the practice fields down there are in terrible shape and the coaching staff was worried about injuries. 
 

They still had their meetings and walkthroughs at the hotel but decided to allow the guys to have some more time for fun than traveling out to a terrible field for practice. 

5 hours ago, MaineBull said:

I am finding it very hard to not be really disappointed in this team.  I would like to think the Harvard and Depaul games were what we should expect from this team.  But thru 11 games they have made it clear that those games may be the outliers and the reality is this team is the other team we have seen.  A team that shows flashes but cannot put it together for long periods of time.  They clearly lack a leader and the killer mentality needed when things are not going our way.  My biggest concern with this team is how we handle adversity.  We seem to be like a turtle that crawls into our shell.  Coach and or a leader on this team need to fix that immediately.  We have too much talent to disappear.  My other two concerns are the ball movement on this team.  We show it well in flashes but for the most part we struggle to move the ball to be an effective offense.  See below where I lay into Grant and Johnson again, they are glue when the ball gets in their hands.  Hard to have any ball movement on this team with either of them on the floor.  My final concern is our ability to give up too many easy baskets.  We never, and I mean never gave away easy baskets last year.  Because our team was tough, hardnosed and physical.  This year we are not that and coach needs to turn that around.  Stop giving up easy baskets, move the ball and keep your head up when things are bad, fix those and I think we can be that team that we saw versus Harvard and DePaul.

I saw a lot I did not like in the game and a lot I liked.  Some positives, we had 50 rebounds and got contributions from all positions.  We limited turnovers in second half but still finished the game with 18, that's too many.  We finished the game with 19 assists, that's a reasonable number but still would like to see better ball movement.  7 for 24 from 3 (29%) is not going to cut it against good teams, this team needs to shot the ball better.  Free throws are bad, again we shot 9 for 18 as a team, that is the kind of thing that makes u lose a game in march in Cleveland.  Each of these kids needs to be in the gym everyday shooting free throws.  Mballa and Hardnett are going to spend a lot of time at the line in the next 3 to 4 years, they need to get dialed in from the line. 

I am so tired of Grant and Johnson.  The style of play each of them plays is just gross.  it goes against everything that UB has become known for.  We all know why coach continues to play them, he got them here by promising them playing time.  To me we have gotten to the point where their play no longer warrants the playing time.  At this point each of them is hurting the team.  The coaches job is to do what is best for the team, and right now that means limiting minutes for both Grant and Johnson.  I will break down each with some numbers:

Johnson-I think he deserves some minutes as I would argue he has been better than Grant but not much.  I do not think he should be starting.  Segu should be starting.  Johnson is much better defensively than Grant but he makes some very dumb mental mistakes each game.  Defensively he is too aggressive and it burns him a few times a game.  Simply put, he is not going to be a consistently affective player at this level.  He has taken the second most shots on the team with 119 prior to last night.  He has only made 40 of those shots, meaning he has missed 79 shots on the season.  That is more shots that both Mballa and Segu have taken on the season.  He is shooting 33% from the floor and 25% from 3.  These numbers do not deserve playing time.  If he was putting up these numbers and was a great defender I would understand him playing but we all can see is an average defender at best.  No doubt we have kids on the bench who can shot much better, move the ball and play better defense.  Segu should be starting in his place and if you need another bench player I think its time to give Gallion a shot with some meaningful minutes, it cannot be as bad as Johnson has been.

Grant-He is the worst defender I can remember in the last 10 years at UB.  He and Brock are currently battling for this award!  he simply cannot defend at this level without either giving up an easy bucket or fouling.  His shot selection is terrible.  How many times do you see the ball swinging around the perimeter from one side to the other trying to switch the defense and when it gets to Grant the ball movement stops and he chucks up some deep ill advised three and he bricks it.  With a player standing in the corner wide open waiting for the reverse pass.   ON the season he is 14 for 50 from the floor (28%) and 9 for 33 from 3 (27%).  Those numbers along with his terrible defense do not warrant a single second of playing time.  I don't care what coach promised him to get him to transfer here, he does not deserve to be on the floor.  His minutes should be given to Hardnett and Nickleberry. 

I am so tired of watching these two guys be anchors on this team.  Coach needs to wake up and make the changes needed.  Sometimes a coach needs to make these hard decisions and now is the time.  UB is about defense, effort, passion and ball movement.  Why play two guys who play the complete opposite of who we are as a program!

Some thoughts on a few of the other players:

Mballa-I love this kid.  He plays hard at all times and is willing to do whatever he can to help this team.  Without him inside this team would likely have only a handful of wins.  Thanks goodness he was given his waiver.  This kid has a bright future and I cannot wait to see it develop.  His game is meant to run up and down, he is at his best when we are running.

Williams-Another solid game.  he hit a big three at the end and he did not take a single ill advised shot in the game (he was 5 for 7 from the floor).  I love his ability to defend and rebound especially on the offensive end.  I still think he needs to be able to attack off the dribble to his right!  Williams also has a bright future ahead.

Graves-He is either hurt or going thru something emotionally.  Two games in a row he has acted disinterested, as if he would rather be someplace else.  I have never seen this from him in his career here.  I am very nervous about what is going on here.  This team needs Graves to be who he is, aggressive and athletic.  Time for coach to have a heart to heart with this kid to get to the bottom of what is going on.

Jordan-He saved UB in this game!  We have seen him take over the leadership role from Graves in the last two weeks.  Jordan is the leader of this team.  He does what he needs to do to help this team win.  He hit some big shots in this game and his ability to get to the rim and finish are a dynamic this team desperately needs.  Jordan has come so far with his jump shot in 4 years, when he arrived here he could not shoot at all.  Its very impressive.  Jordan is going to blow up the MAC when we get to MAC play.

Hardnett-This was by far his best game.  He rebounded the ball well, he defended well and finished around the rim.  He continues to get more and more comfortable on this team.  I would like to see him hit his free throws, but I like what I see from him and he also has a bright future.  When we get a legit big inside he will be fun to watch on the perimeter.  He deserves more playing time.

Segu-He continues to impress.  He defends, moves the ball, is one of our better shooters.  He defines everything that UB basketball is!  He deserves more playing time immediately.  I am tired of the argument that he is our only backup pg.  Coach can stagger him and Jordan and have them both start.  Both Graves and Nickleberry are also capable to run the 1.  Segu needs to start as this team is better when he is on the floor.  His ability to create his own shot or a shot for a teammate is unmatched on this team.  When the shot clock is running down he is one of our best creators.

Nickleberry-He is starting to figure it out.  You can see his confidence building.  he deserves more minutes as stated above.

Gallion-Time to give this guy some meaningful minutes.  Lets see what we have in him.  I like what I see defensively and on the bench from this kid. 

I am frustrated with this team and how it has been handled thus far.  It is time for some hard decisions and time to tweak the rotations.  This team will be much better in the long run for it.  Give these guys a few games to figure it out before MAC play begins.  As we have said here this season is about one thing and one thing only, getting prepared to play our best in Cleveland.  Despite all my frustration, I continue to love and support this program.  I cannot wait to see the Bulls play on Saturday. 

This makes zero sense.. Nate Oats brought these guys, not Whitesell.. He hasn't promised them everything.. Let's stop blaming Whitesell for everything on here.. people need to get out of their minds that we won 32 games last year so we should do that every season.  With two wins, we have a chance to go into MAC play at 9-4.. That is a good non-conference record. You guys are so quick to rip on Johnson, but seem to give Graves a pass when he has been terrible the last two games.

And i hate this talk of no leader.   DAVONTA JORDAN IS THE UNDISPUTED LEADER OF THIS TEAM!!  last year we had five seniors who could lead on any given day, which was a luxary to have.  This year we are asking one guy who has been in this program and is 21 years old to do it every single day.  That is a lot of pressure to put on a guy and I think he has done as well as any of us could have hoped for.

Guys this argument is super petty and is taking away from a thread that is about our biggest win over the season...a road game against an undefeated BIG EAST team.

Johnson and Grant have their flaws, and if we are trying to compare them to Massinburg and Caruthers 2.0 then we are all wasting out time. I am sure if we look back we can find deficiencies in both of their games too.

Let's look at Grant this week...he did a lot of really good things and averaged 6.0 rebounds off the bench against an SEC and BIG EAST schedule.  That shows growth and effort.

Johnson as I mentioned earlier, I thought was the second best defensive player on the floor on Sunday after Jordan.  He stopped one of the top guards in the BIG EAST in Charlie Moore and like he did against Missouri State knocked down some big free throws when the game was on the line.

Both of these players are helping us win games this season.  

30 minutes ago, MaineBull said:

Hardnett and Nickleberry deserve these minutes, Grant and Johnson are hurting this team!

I am shocked at how much people think Johnson needs his minutes diminished. Does he take some bad shots...yes, but he is arguably the second best defender on the team. 
 

He drew the assignment of Charlie Moore yesterday the top scorer for DePaul not Jordan or anyone else and Moore preceded to turn it over eight times and foul out. Johnson has to play. His shot will come,  but his defense is there every night.  

19 minutes ago, 961819 said:

But they work pretty well in the MAC 

They only work in the MAC if they are good players to begin with.  I am starting to see that class was extremely over rated and i think we are fine without them.  Give me Mballa over Hawkins any day of the week,

While i agree with you guys about post defense I also think there is a good chance that might be one of the five best bigs we play against all season. 
 

He could easily play for us and I don’t think a team in the MAC has a true big as skilled as him. 

I don't think it can be understated that by starting Perk has to battle the top big man on every opposing team, which at times have included current NBA players.

While Cacok has looked good, he is able to do it against back ups in each of the first five games.

Congrats to Coach Whitesell and staff.

Whitesell took a lot of criticism from members on this board that he couldn't recruit and that we were crazy to not hire Hodgson, but when all is said and done, it is obvious now who the recruits make a connection with when they are on campus.

We are now getting a kid in Hardnett, who has four years of eligibility plus one season of full practice with a high level D-I program.  Add Mballa in the mix and this class can be scary.  Now we just need the NCAA to work their magic and get these dudes waivers.

I believe White is still taking his other visits... Hopefully UB is the frontrunner still, but for Javan there is no rush so he might as well do his due diligence 

53 minutes ago, UB05 said:

Certainly isn’t anything concrete, but Jordan was retweeting and liking all the posts announcing and congratulating Whitesell getting the promotion. Appears as if he’s at least happy with the decision. 

Jordan is good.. I've heard he is rehabbing a minor injury, which is why he isn't practicing.

Whats the red flag with FLJ?

Seems to me, schools would be foolish not to hire her.. I would think she would crush the interview process with her personality.

Seems like she was banking on leaving too, since they hardly have any kids signed here to play next year.

58 minutes ago, Kevin said:

He was, as per Bryan himself.

Well good thing we can look up salaries on See Through NY website

Hodgson - $134,632

Whitesell - $178,615

26 minutes ago, skrabukes said:

So you think that Jim and Jamie aren't actively talking to these guys? A "recruiter" has to be the only one who takes care of these items? I highly doubt it, especially in the off-season. 

The term "recruiting coordinator" is really overblown right now.  It is the offseason, Jim and Jamie are both recruiting coordinators.  The point of that title is in season, that one coaching staff member is still recruiting and looking ahead to the future of our program.  Bryan did that well, but that came with the caveat that he misses a lot of practices and had very little interaction with game planning on a game to game basis.

4 minutes ago, Bullions said:

Same. This took too long.

 

For reference

Apr 9 2015 - Hurley announced he's leaving

Apr 9 2015 - Oats named interim

Apr 13 2015 - Oats made permanent

This is a terrible argument.  It is only April 6... Hurley was still our coach for three more days.  Oats was named coach on Apr. 13, one full week later than right now.

It is is totally different situation.

The point is, the administration wanted Whitesell to go up against some of the top names in the business for this job and not just hand it to him if he wasn't the best fit.

This should make us even more confident that he crushed his interviews over everyone else

26 minutes ago, Kevin said:

According to sources:

Coach Hodgson is not having his phone call returned by Alnutt. 

Clearly, leveraged himself out of the equation. 

Alnutt was caught off guard, so I guess that means we are all naive. Maybe this has something to do with the exit the way it happened?

Hodgson acted like a child during this whole event.. I wouldn't return his call either.

Really bad look for Hodgson. He is on UB's payroll and he is down in Alabama working for someone else.  I have no interest in this guy being my head coach.

Hodgson is a mistake in my opinion.  He doesn't have the basketball IQ to be a head coach.  While he can recruit, we need someone who knows how to manage a basketball game and get results on the floor.. Jim Whitesell is a no brainer.

Quote

 

Signing Day is actually April 17: http://www.nationalletter.org/signingDates/index.html

He is announcing on 3/30 his verbal commitment because according to that article, that date is significant for him.