bullsbball

Is it just me or is the off court "experience" at the Men's and Women's basketball games bad.

Today during the women's halftime, there was technical difficulties for the outside dance group (of about 40-50 kids).  They stood waiting for the music to start and it never did. Lucky, they go rescheduled for after the game and many of the fans stuck around.

Also, hardly any on court promos during the women's game. Only the half court shot.

Then, for the men's games, some crazy free throw contest were the contestant wears vision distorting ski glasses. Then, you have the blind folded person at center court attempted to be directed to the prize by screaming fans.  Didn't tjhey also have for a brief time a "guess the price" game.

Only "interesting" contest was putting 3 people at center court to search through pizza boxes for a prize.

What happened to the putting contest, normal free throw contest. Or even bring back the sumo wrestling in inflatable suits from about 15-20 years ago. Even bring back the kids playing basketball at halftime.

I used to bring people to the games and they'd at least enjoy the entertainment if the game was bad.  Not true this year. Both are bad.

Was nice to at least see the cheerleaders there today (No Dazzlers or Pep Band).

Are the new event people to blame for this sad show of entertainment?

Houston Rockets 2023-24 NBA Roster - ESPN

Salary of $1,719,864

4 games for a total of 22 minutes.

A few comments. 

• They need to improve on their FT (64.5%). Especially, Johnson going 4 of 8.
• Nice to see them going 12 deep for a change.
• Nice defense to keep Pulliam to only 9 points. 
• The Spirit Team was still enjoying their turkey.
• Great half-court shot for the money.

Why 1pm on a weekday?

Not finding the supposed free video link. Flohoops takes me to a pay wall.

Stonehill lost at Niagara in a very close game 69-71 with very respectable shooting percentages. FG: 39.7%, 3P%: 30.8%, FT%: 82.6%.

1 hour ago, Blue03 said:

I’ll be honest I was hoping for more from Watson. She finished pretty strong but until late she was shooting like 30%, and she had a lot of trouble close to the rim. She could’ve been looking at a 30 point game, hoping for more teeth next game, she could be unstoppable. 

You are correct on Watson. She had a good 4th quarter. Missed her only 3 and missed 4 FT in the 4th Quarter. But on a tough scoring night, she did have a third of the team scoring.

A few more points:

• UB forwards missed many inside shots. Especially Davis and Johnson
• Criag was in there briefly and they were trying to post her up but she did nothing as well. Not impressed with her at all especially given her weight.
• Guards did well on both defense, and rebounding.
• Ojala has "happy feet". It gets her in foul trouble.
• UB needs to improve on their FT. 8 of 17 (47%) is not good.
• Good game by Watson and Ogden.
• Stonehill was bad through 3 quarters. 22.5% (9 of 40) from the field, 11.1% (2 of 18) from three. Pregame radio announcer said they were bad last game with 3s and they threw up alot of them.
• Davis and Johnson could tone-down the eyelash makeup. They look like raccoons from where I'm sitting instead of basketball players.
• And for those looking for a Dazzler update, how many outfits do they have? They changed yet again at halftime into all black pants, white shirt and a black zip-up top.

Did I just watch a high school basketball game? Way too many missed shots by both teams especially in the first 3 quarters.

That was hard to watch.

I know somebody that didn't renew because they didn't think the team would be good this year.

If you have a good product, people will attend.

Also, in another thread, somebody said that students don't show up because they don't have good seats. That argument could only be used if the students actually showed up and actually knew where they sit.

I was very impressed they could break the half court press fairly easily nearly every time. The box score doesn't show it, but I thought UB went right to the basket when they broke it and either got fouled or scored on a layup. Nice play by all the guards.

Watson got called for another lane violation while shooting a FT. She has a runners stance at the line with her right foot on the line and her left about 2-3 feet behind it. Then, when she shoots she moved her left foot up towards (or over) the line.

This game might have changed my opinion on this team.

The Dazzlers have another new addition. A Bull. Nice routine, Victor. 

On 11/11/2023 at 8:48 PM, skrabukes said:

Adams had 2 early fouls. To think that a coach would not be trying to win is ridiculous at best. While the game sucked, in pretty much every way, there's no way they weren't trying to win.

Adams just wasn't on his game early.  

He actually had two early turnovers. Then had his first foul at the 4.5 minute mark. Then sat out 3 minutes. Played only 45 seconds and then got his second foul at 8.5 minute mark when he was subbed out until 3 minute mark in the first half.

Hard to get in a rhythm when you're only playing a few minutes at a time.

Nice to see the deeper bench. Also nice to see an actual point guard carry the ball up the court.

UB basketball's James Graham III denied immediate eligibility waiver by NCAA; Niagara's David Mitchell exhausts eligibility (buffalonews.com)

The University at Buffalo men’s basketball team will be without a key transfer this season.

A little late but here are my comments:

• Nice to see 15 girls on the bench. Unlike last year when there was only 7 to 8 by the end of the season.
• The girls seemed to have a lot of energy in the pregame warmups/activities, but they died down quickly when the game started. Not sure I agree with counting up in pregame every made basket until a miss is made.
• This team needs to find somebody that can shoot the 3. With only Ogden, Watson and Lopez shooting them. 1-14 isn't good.
• I'm impressed with Watson. I like her drive to the basket. Reminds me of Cierra Dillard.
• What's with Watson's lane violations TWICE while shooting a FT?. I assume her toes were over the line.
• Lewis-Williams got into early foul trouble (2 fouls in the first 3 minutes) and sat out the rest of the first half. I thought I heard the official say, "Two hands on the opponent is an automatic foul" after both her early fouls. When she came in for the second half, she also did a good job driving to the basket. Watson and Lewis-Williams will make a good pair of shooting guards.
• Ojala needs more meat on her bones. She tries to play physical and fouls out after only 7 minutes.  Looked like Coach was only trying to use her on defense.
• On the other hand, Johnson could drop some pounds. She's going to have problems when the game is quicker.
• I liked how UB worked in the inside game at the start of the second half. Looked like designed plays. They did it a little less in the 4th quarter.
• I had my eye on Craig on the bench. She had a big knee brace on but had her playing shorts on as well. She's really going to need to get into better conditioning if she expects to get any minutes.
• At the start of the game, Elhusseini (as point guard) seemed to turn the ball over a lot. Not protecting the ball and had several steals against her. 
• The team needs to be better at FT. 15-26 isn't good.
• Why no player stats on the end-line scroreboards? Also missing a timekeeper at the scoring table. Related or just technical difficulties which they've had before?
• I really liked the Thunder of the East dressing in costume for Halloween. I especially like the guy dressed as the conductor. Or the student conductor dressed in as inflatability pig (?). Was that the Teletubbies in the back row?

Why no replays on the big board yet they have a replay sponsor?

1 hour ago, Blue03 said:

Is this exhibition ticketed/parking limited? Just want to know if I’ll have to park elsewhere

Usually don't need a parking pass for a women's events unless it is part of a doubleheader. So, all lots should be open. First come, first serve.

Usually general admission for women's games but it looks like it's free today (since I didn't get a ticket).

On 10/24/2023 at 3:24 PM, BrooklynBull said:

What the Braves left Buffalo?  When did that happen?

Moved to Atlanta and now play baseball. Bob McAdoo is batting cleanup. 

7 hours ago, rma said:

I complained last year about being made to sit in my assigned (men's) seat for a women's side of a double header. Guess I won't be trying that this year.

 

For football this year the parking lot attendant did not allow me to park in my preferred lot, Alumni B. I was told to park in Alumni A and to move to the far corner to allow other cars to fill in. The second game I was allowed to park where I wanted after the parking lot attendants realized this was not a Bills game.

General Admission seating during a women's game. Reserved seats for the men. They usually make an announcement near the end of the women's game to move to your reserved seat for the Men's game.

FYI

https://ubbulls.com/news/2023/8/17/general-ub-announces-additions-to-facility-operations-staff.aspx

I have a friend that worked as Event Staff last year at basketball and football. He (and others) resigned after the recent staffing changes. He said the previous staff was very relaxed. I'll agree with him since I usually came in courtside near the band, and they were usually there. A few times, there were technical issues with my electronic ticket (no internet inside the building) and they still let me in.

My friend said he was also never told to check people's tickets when they were sitting in their seats.

8 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.

The state (parking lot) people were just doing their job. If they let you park there for this game, you might think you could always park there. If you had a parking pass and couldn't get a space, you would have a problem with that. They leave shortly after tipoff if you want to avoid them.

About the "green shirts", the event staff has new management this year. They always did kick students out of the 100's if it's obvious it isn't their seats. If I went to my seats and found somebody sitting in them, I wouldn't be happy.

I got a "talking to" by the new head events person at volleyball because I was standing in a "prohibited" space (way far) behind the end line. 

Both are just doing their jobs.

18 minutes ago, DocCas86 said:

As for turnovers, the box I saw had 13.

You are correct. I was looking at Point off Turnovers.

A few observations:

• UB needs their guards to drive to the basket more. I think only Fulcher did.
• UB needs to be more physical especially when it comes to offensive rebounds. Too many times, UB would shoot up a 3 and there was nobody around the basket for a rebound.
• Fulcher did good at the point guard but a little less "showy" and more focus on passing.
• Sabol better find more spots to shoot from. He was waiving other players out of the deep left corner so he could shoot the 3 from there.
• Chatman looked good late in the game after getting in foul trouble early.
• Would like to have seen quicker passes around the arc to open up the lanes to the basket.
• Short bench. That's going to kill them in physical games. Is this going to be a repeat of what happened to the Women last year?
• Not sure I believe only 8 turnovers as the box score says. I think the official scorer missed a few. Several times UB had balls rolling on the court and they just let them roll away.
• Always nice when the Marching Band, Cheerleaders and Dazzlers are there.
• There were 2 guys dancing with the Dazzlers.

My parking passes arrived a few days ago. My season tickets were also automatically renewed but I don't think my Blue and White donation (to get the parking passes) was. I had to make that separately.

Bob has always been very helpful to me. Always quick at responding to emails as well.

6 hours ago, 1975 said:

Extension based on what exactly? Having most of the team and staff walk away? Win-loss record? 

Exactly. What has she done to earn an extension? Many players and coaches went AWOL last year.

4 hours ago, NC_UBfan said:

She put together a team of transfers that got decimated by injury.

It wasn't just injuries. It was players walking away from the team as well.

She gets into fights with other coaches. And on several occasion was very nasty yelling at her players during games.

Last year, they only played well the last 3 games of the season and played well in the loss to Toledo. Other than that, I didn't see much.

Be interesting to see who takes the court for this team in a few weeks.

For the record, here is the current roster according to the UB Website before it gets updated with changes.
 

0	Jessica Wangolo	Fr.
1	Rana Elhusseini	Sr.	
2	Kirsten Lewis-Williams	Fr.			
4	Ella Take	Fr.			
5	Sitota Gines	Jr.		
11	Briyanna Baron	Gr.
12	Paula Lopez	Fr.			
15	Ida Jonsson Ojala	Jr.	
20	Chryssi Gouzelou	Fr.			
22	Kiara Johnson	Gr.	
23	Alexis Davis	Fr.			
30	Katie Burton	Jr.	
33	Hattie Ogden	So.			
34	Chanteese Craig	Jr.		
35	Chellia Watson	R-Sr.