DooleyBull06

Lol. I want whatever gets us in the tourney every year. Especially after our 5 seniors are gone. Next year we will take a step back, how big a step depends on the talent we have coming in and how they all gel with each other.

Beals seems to be a good coach. Did a great job at Stony Brook. He might have to re-recruit his own players. But hey the MAC East keeps getting easier for us.

Agree. People are hung up on this notion that Fagan will bounce. As you said he would have to give up a year just to have one left. When he can have two left here and earn his minutes when minutes are up for grabs. Utomi is a grad transfer so I can’t blame him there. But Sibande and Adaway are shameful. We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes but on the surface they might be over inflating their own value. Miami has a lot of potential but not anymore if they both leave.

I think the only way Brock transfers is as a grad transfer. Once he completes his 4 years of schooling. Which I think would be after next season bc he is a redshirt. Much like Smart did. As for the notion of Fagan transferring this is only a wise idea if he hasn’t redshirted. Bc otherwise he would have to sit one season and only have one season of eligibility. Upon checking he is a redshirt sophomore. So the likelihood of him transferring just to play one season elsewhere are slim. Unless he wants out that badly.

That was interesting for the few years it lasted. Didn’t it also gaurantee a return game the following year?

What is this pact? I have been on record as saying Wofford is over rated. Should I be cheering for them? Will me hating on them give us bad karma, if so let know. I take it all back.

Know whats cool...is that Tulsa is close to Dallas so hopefully all of CJ's family comes out strong and loud.

Keep in mind some of these games were on CBS. Which naturally reaches more viewers than ESPN2. Games like Utah St/San Diego St, Houston/Cincy, Bona/St Louis and the Big10. Don't know how the Horizon League got more viewers than us. Was that game on CBS too? And it was mentioned that we went up against the Big East final which was on FOX and almighty Duke too.

One Buffalo! Buffalo is a grind it out city that just wants a winner. The Bills legends have adopted us. We must be united as one Buffalo. Totally agree. The only thing I wanna see change is having games on the same night in which the Sabres play. That way we can maximize off community interest. But totally agree we must be one with the pro teams and community. The only us versus them is UB versus the other schools in the state for NY basketball supremacy. We are NY's powerhouse! (this is coming from a NYC alum)

Scheduling is always an uphill battle for mid majors. We always have to cater to the big programs. Even if those big programs are the bottom feeders of their big conferences. They want games on their terms. So there are things we can do to circumvent this: 1) Get into these non conference tournaments. These are vital. They give us potentially 3 games against solid teams. That's 3 less games we have to schedule. For example next year we are in the Charleston Classic with a good field (hopefully we play some combo of Miami, Florida, Xavier and UCONN). In 2020 we will be in one too that Nate in an interview slipped up and referenced. In the past we played Cincy and one of the Dakota St schools (can't remember which one but they beat us and were a tournament team at season's end). Also these tournaments provide exposure in terms of recruiting and media attention. 2) We can't be afraid to go on the road to take on big schools. Think Wofford this season. They played numerous tournament teams on the road. The only reason they got Carolina at home was because Roy Williams was gracious enough to play a return game because Wofford beat UNC at UNC the season before. Imagine if Boeheim did that for us next season. Doubt he would. 3) The MAC has to establish a home and home conference versus conference series. This will help ease scheduling. Also its becoming a thing that most big conferences are doing. We have to keep up with the haves and not become a have not. That's both us as a program and as a conference. The MAC must step up. 4) We have to keep our local rivalries going. That means the Big 4 schools. Those games should all bring in high attendance numbers. 5) I don't like games against non D-1 schools. To me they are glorified scrimmages that don't provide valuable experience. I understand we schedule them just to get a home date. And I understand that they are pretty much guaranteed wins which is better than losing to a Q 2 or 3 team at home. But I don't like them. The less of them I see the better. 6) In season home and homes are cool. I dig them. They aren't something I would do every season but I like them. Perhaps we can use some foresight and schedule teams who are on the come up. I can't stress this enough...good mid majors can't be afraid to schedule other good mid majors. 7) When I attended UB we got Pitt and Rutgers to come to AA. I see no reason why we can't get a team like Northwestern, Penn St, or Temple to come in. Obviously we'd have to pay so then it becomes a money issue. So whats the answer, is it bringing in sub 200/non D-1 teams just for a home date or shelling out some cash to buy games? Maybe the answer is one season dish the cash then the next penny pinch. Those are just some thoughts. Our schedule this season was suppose to be better but WVU had a miserable season. St. Frances, PA failed to win their league. SIU underachieved and subsequently fired their coach. But the construction of the schedule to me was solid.

What we can’t have is a disengaged Perkins. His actions at the end of the BG were unbecoming of a senior. We need him focused and not in foul trouble. Jeremy Harris making outside shots takes this team to another level and allows him to be a duel threat of being able to drive and hit outside shots. Jayvon is the unsung player that can make shots. CJ will hopefully be CJ. Dontay just bring the fire and defense. Jordan can’t be afraid to drive and get fouled. Yes his shooting at the line is an issue but that can’t deter him. If we can get whichever team in foul trouble that’s great. Any contributions we get out the freshmen would be a bonus. Lets go Buffalo!

LaPhonso Ellis just raved about us. He has us going deep making a final 4 run. Spoke about our defense and the big 3. Seth Greenberg has ASU beating us. He says we take bad shots.

Just look at Gonzaga...how often do they get big teams to play them at home. Rarely. They have to go to neutral sites. So lets just face reality here...no one wants to come to UB to play us. We can get crap teams but forget P6 teams coming to town. Next year we can face some really good teams in the Charleston Classic. And Nate slipped up and said that in 2020 we will be in a similar style tournament with a good field. Non conference tournaments are important going forward. They grow the program and give exposure nation wide. The MAC commish also said he's working on a conference versus conference type deal. That's also important. And building local rivalries will be huge too. The final component is not being afraid to go on the road. I don't back down from a challenge. I don't mind playing 2-3 road games against powers like Wofford. Obviously we should do what we can to get teams to come here (scheduling a home and home) but realistically we can count on a team just coming to town for a one game situation.

And they should be lit again on Friday and every time either teams wins.

Forget the experts. At the end of the day they will always pick the big programs. Just look at Vitale's final four picks. Heck look at the errors they make when they write or talk about our team. All I know is whats in front of us. And right now ASU to me is more dangerous than St. Johns. And if we can get by the 1st round I feel we match up very well against Texas Tech. But ASU makes me nervous.

Women: Friday 3-22 4:30pm ESPN2 Men: Friday 3-22 4:00pm TNT Sucks. Lets go Bulls!!!

ESPN's show going on right now. 4:30 Friday afternoon the game before UCONN takes the floor.

This means a need for Hawkins at Arkansas. Hopefully he chooses us.

I wonder how the band, dazzlers and cheerleaders are going to be divided up? Or will we have to borrow another schools band like last year lol. Hopefully fans that don't go to Tulsa get out to Storrs to support the ladies.

Both games are on Friday roughly at the same time. Why!!!

All true. As was the case with the Boise fans supporting us last year but I’m more hoping that the cougar fans will want to cheer against Texas Tech and support anyone who plays them. Yea I know they clear out the arena but maybe some will have tickets. Idk just want some support. Specifically the Sunday session our games will be one session? SJU is a NYC based team ppl generally hate NYC. Hurley isn’t a likeable figure on the sidelines...so maybe the locals there can gravitate to us. 538 website (that predicted us upsetting Arizona last year) said we have a 66% chance to beat ASU and a 73% chance to beat SJU.

The more I’ve let it sit the more I’m ok with. Whoever wins that play in game is gonna have a very short turnaround. ASU/SJU play the last play in game at 9:10 Wednesday then travel and play us at 4 on Friday. My only fear is that we’ve seen a play in game winner win a few games. But we will be rested and focused and ready to run wild. All that said I still don’t know who I rather face. But my gut says give me SJU...they don’t defend at all, rebound well or shoot from 3 well. Also now that I’m looking at it if we can get the Cougar fans to jump on our bandwagon that could be cool. Houston plays Friday after we do, I assume that might be the case again on Sunday. If we get to Sunday we could use all the support possible bc playing Texas Tech in Tulsa is basically a road game. Just a thought.

Boy does the committee have a sense of humor. Ugh...I hate having to wait and prepare on short notice for whichever team wins. Wish we could devote all our prep focus on one team but it is what it is. I rather play St. John’s bc they don’t play a lick of defense. Go Bulls!

UB is a basketball school!

What are your guys thoughts on possibly being a 6 seed having to play the winner of a play in game (an 11 seed underachieving P5 school possibly)?? In recent years there’s been a play in winner who has won a game or two. Or is it better to play them bc they would have already played and hopefully would be a bit fatigued. Thoughts?