John

21 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

I’m very excited about the Coach Burke era. I’m confident we will have a competitive team this year. Onward and upward!

Do agree. As the year progresses let’s have the majority of opinions about our UB team with the coaches and players bringing a renewed energy.  Go Bulls!!!

47 minutes ago, 121Merrimac said:

Me too.  I was just sharing the opinion that the team may not need (or expect?) them all to be successful in their first year. 

Personally I don’t think the banner had much to do with the outcome.  Her love of the area/school/program was forged much earlier.  I’d even say it would have been cool for them to raise a banner for the current coach.  

The banner was the final straw for her to go back to Syracuse and it is well deserved.

3 hours ago, bulls2684 said:

Ty Perry signed with D2 New Haven College

Here’s another player that just wants to go to a school where he can play some meaningful minutes and get his education. It is crazy how there is no mention of an education or degree for any of these players. The sad part is there will probably be a great number of these players that won’t even have a scholarship to fall back on when trying to transfer. Is it going to be a real life learning experience for many of these kids?? Time will tell and will be interesting to see all the facts about how many of these kids in the transfer portal actually find new schools and teams to go to. The big question is are we going to get the honest facts or are things going to be sugar coated to the general public. College sports is now a business just like pro sports.

13 hours ago, UBinMD said:

McNabb was always going to be in orange. Her signing with UB was a wink wink. As soon as FLJs Jersey was in the rafters it was a done deal. She graduated more than 30 years ago. The timing was too perfect. The only reason she didn’t jump last year is that Maceo came to UB and maybe Summer’s swan song.

I do agree that having to bring a MAC team with you isn’t a great sign, but maybe she really feels they are ACC players. Hopefully SU treats her better than Indiana if they aren’t competing for championships in 2 years.

I do agree. McNabb being recruited by FLJ to UB was the precursor to her then going with FLJ to Syracuse which was probably discussed with FLJ.  As soon as FLJ name went up at Syracuse it was a foregone conclusion. On the positive side we got a coach with tremendous upside with great energy and enthusiasm. Go Bulls!!!

7 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Agreed, shame to Mballa and Skogman playing elsewhere, but they have kept Caesar for almost 2 years (impressive alone). These 3 are all quality gets. Plus 4 unproven but theoretically talented players. If we can get Hardnett right, I think we could get back to a 4 seed.

Agree. If Mading and Williamson turn out to be good players It could turn out to be a very interesting team. Again we just really do not know how players will turn out to be productive players. When they turn into very good players the coaches are geniuses and when they do not the coaches don’t have a clue about recruits. Go Bulls!!!

On 4/28/2022 at 4:58 PM, Dabulls said:

This is a huge get, former mr basketball in Florida I believe. Had a tremendous freshman year at UCF but slowed down his sophomore year. Hopefully a change of scenery will get him back to form. Absolutely a great signing

Kudos to our coaching stafff. I guess for all the criticism they are continuing to try and get players to come here. Coaches all over the country are in the same mess with the transfer portal. The mess at Bona appears to be worse than at UB. At the minimum their coach is getting a big salary and can laugh all the way to the bank.

1 hour ago, DooleyBull06 said:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/i-dont-know-what-the-solution-is-isaiah-wongs-money-demands-exposed-college-sports-complicated-nil-issue/
 

Great article.

I somehow wonder if the NCAA even had a clue that the NIL would turn out to be like this. I guess another case of the NCAA not having a clue of what this is all about. Another case of all the millionaires really only caring about their fortunes. Unless someone comes up with an intelligent and common sense answer college sports will go the way of pro sports. Fortunes to be made and no middle ground when it comes to the fan who does not have the money to attend events or buy merchandise. They will alienate the may fans like our family and will lose younger fans from families that will not follow or support sports teams. We will find better avenues for our money and entertainment. Again there will be many that will continue to follow and support sports but there will be many of us that will be lost for the rest of our lifetimes. Just a sad commentary in the life of what sports have become.

15 hours ago, bull_trojan said:

The tragic thing for me is the P5 (and/or every journalist in NY went to Syracuse) bias.

If kept Jack, Fair, Wooley, McEvans etc it wouldn't have made a blip. Put those pieces on Syracuse and there is a noticeable buzz. 

Is this on us? Do we need a cheerleader ADDW type that pumps up our teams?
Or is this just one of many growing straws that will ultimately break the G5 camel's back?

There is only so much we as fans can do but winning does solve some of the exposure. The media is sometimes the biggest problem and the best solution. We have voiced our displeasure with the BN before. There were many instances where they did not even mention a game was scheduled and only on the day of a game ran any kind of story. I know many on this site said this is a Bills and Sabres town and the BN covers high school sports sometimes better than college sports. We will continue to push for better coverage and support our UB teams. Go Bulls!!!

1 hour ago, UBinMD said:

My same sentiments for you. This was posted on Twitter today. I know Fair is a very reserved player and person, emotion isn't her thing, but this picture is weird to me:

Agree. I have met Fair and talked to her on a couple of occasions and she was very quiet and really did not show much emotion. We seen her down at the MAC in Cleveland with her family and was really just the same. Everyone has so different type of personalities but that is what makes the world go around. Good luck to her and will be interesting to see if she gets the same kind of freedom as she had at UB. She should come up against more athletic and quick players in the ACC.

15 hours ago, DooleyBull06 said:

After all that she ends up at Cuse

The whole transfer portal can be a total rap shoot for all involved. It still comes down to who a player is listening to and in the final analysis I think a player has to be honest with theirselves. With all those top P5 teams I would think Fair was not going to get 30 plus minutes of playing time and be able to get 20 plus shots a game. Does the player want to risk sitting on the bench and playing minimal minutes just like a DeBerry at UCONN or try to find a team that you can contribute but still play some positive minutes. Who are you going to believe?? Friends,family, coaches?? Bottom line a player has to perform and help a team succeed.  

1 hour ago, John said:

That is very possible especially when watching their practice. Only my opinion but Christie was a good role player but really lacked any quickness or court sense. What she lacked in athletic quickness she was able to compensate because of her overall size. I was not sure she fit the type of player Coach Burke needs in her uptempo style play. Good luck to Christie at her new venue. Go Bulls!!!

I see there are quite a few of foreign players on the tam and even the coach played in Sweden. She will fit in nicely.

14 hours ago, UBinMD said:

Maybe coach Burke is too intense or her practices are too hard.😃

That is very possible especially when watching their practice. Only my opinion but Christie was a good role player but really lacked any quickness or court sense. What she lacked in athletic quickness she was able to compensate because of her overall size. I was not sure she fit the type of player Coach Burke needs in her uptempo style play. Good luck to Christie at her new venue. Go Bulls!!!

5 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Laney Bone and Kaelonn Wilson are now in the portal. Any word if Loren Christie and/or Casey Valenti-Paea are officially staying? They are still in the portal officially. 

Thanks. So if they do leave that leaves us with even less front line players. On the positive side with the 100’s or 1,000’s in the portal there should be some good players that would want to play with one of the better MAC teams with a new and energetic coaching staff. Still crazy to think that all these players are going to find a school to not only get an education but to get a scholarship and continue to play basketball. Still confused with the transfer processs. After this transfer free period if a player wants to transfer do they have to sit out a year before playing?? It will probably take years to see how this crazy process turns out for not only the players but how fans feel about this. Go Bulls!!!

1 hour ago, UBinMD said:

If she gets them to play with the intensity and adds a couple more pieces and retains a few of our portal players, I’m hoping for a minor dip, not falling off a cliff. The women she has brought in are winners and scorers. I think they will play hard and be a fun team to root for.

Was thinking the same thing. The three additions appear athletic,quick and can shoot along with having some intensity attitude. We only have five left over front line players and all with very little experience and with limited minutes. I would think Coach Burke and staff are looking for some good front line players that can play defense and can rebound. An exciting start something to really look forward to when all appeared lost when Coach Jack left. Go Bullls!!!

27 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Coaching Staff Announced:

Wyatt Foust - Assistant Coach (Formerly Director of Basketball Operations @ Murray State)

Candyce Wheeler - Assistant Coach (Played at Louisville, NCAA Championship game with Coach Burke, Drafted into WNBA, Coming in with Coach Burke from USC Upstate)

Asia Dozier - Assistant Coach (Played at South Carolina, HC at Cardinal Newman in SC, won back-to-back Class 3A championships)

Erin Sinnott - Director of Basketball & Recruiting Operations (Played at Daemen, Intern at University of Minnesota)

 

Looks like a solid group for her to build the program with.

Agree.Coaches coming from winning programs like Louisville and South Carolina and some with recruiting experience and also Erin from our area with local contacts. Also singing another recruit who was Div 2 player of the year averaging 17 per game with good assist totals. Exciting to see a new chapter in Women’s basketball. Go Bulls!!!!

8 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Coach Burke has said she spoke to Lexi, hopefully she can sell her on the vision she has for UB and that she could become a key cog to this transformation.

Thanks for the update. Still no rumors or any information on who Coach Burke is considering for her assistant coaches?? Go Bulls!!!

2 hours ago, skrabukes said:

Glad to see UB 2.0 competing in orange next year. Mcevans,  woolley, Wilson. Who's next?

Sort of surprised we have not heard about McNabb going to Syracuse with Coach Jack instead of staying at UB!! I I think Coach Jack only had seven players left from the Syracuse team. Still will be interesting how these former MAC coaches and players can adapt to a better overall ACC conference.

44 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

If nothing else, she brings the passion. I think the team is going to be very exciting to watch.

Do agree. Each and every coach has their own personality and temperament and has to be judged on their own merits. Coach Burke has her own passion and looks different than the Coach Jack passion and am looking forward to this new chapter of UB basketball. Any word on any potential coaching hires by Coach Burke?? Go Bulls!!!

On 4/7/2022 at 8:09 PM, UBinMD said:

Maybe Oats is looking for guys.who will actually buy into what he’s selling. That takes guys coming in with something to prove. We will see how it plays out. 

You can have all the 4/5 star recruits but if a coach can’t get them to play some kind of team mentality it will be tough to win at a high level as evidenced as to what happened at Alabama last year. As far as Sears, yes he was a very good player in the MAC but when he came up against the better quick and athletic players he struggled. The SEC has more of those type players so it will be interesting how he will fit in.

On 4/6/2022 at 9:34 PM, DocCas86 said:

I had forgotten that we were expecting Maceo to do that...if only...there are plenty if onlys from this past season...which if they had happened we wouldn't be talking about about how bad the team has to be this year to get Whitesell fired.  If only...sigh.

That is the fun and also frustrating aspect of college basketball. With the transfer portal it can make it even more crazy. The Hurley and Nate years we hit on some big time Juco’s and transfers and under Whitesell not so much as evidenced by the Grant, Brewton and Jack performances just to name a few.  You just never know how the individuals and the team will come together and perform. With this crazy environment there are many teams that will be starting over and how all these players will contribute is the big unknown but of course we will all have our opinions. Hope springs eternal. Go Bulls!!!

18 minutes ago, TML1000 said:

Young was one of the 5...not sure on McEvans and Camp as they have not yet entered the portal to my knowledge but did not see them today. Possibly, some had class? 

Thanks for the updates. It looks like Coach Burke is full go on recruiting both freshman and looking at the portal. Go Bulls!!!

2 minutes ago, rma said:

She's aware of the timeframe at stake here. Talking about the brand of basketball that will be played here for the "next few years"

Seems to have talked to the team quite a bit already. Mystery coach appears to be "G"

Spectrum Question about portal: First priority was talking to players in the portal. No specifics on players.

Lenzi Question about what makes UB appealing: Small town kid from Scranton, PA. Familiar with the region in recruiting. Being able to take over a program with recent success. "Be somewhere and sustain something for the long term"

Looked like only about five or so current players in the crowd. Do we know who they are? I think a good first impression. Like any change in life Coach Burke said it will be different than the past  but the work ethic and love for the game is the same. Excited to see the next chapter in UB basketball. Let’s build new memories for both our programs. Go Bulls!!!

7 hours ago, UB2014 said:

I agree. I think the delay in committing to SU like Woolley and Wilson did means she was waiting for the tourney to end and evaluating all of her options. She quite literally may get offers from Final 4 teams, and I think even FLJ will want Fair to do what’s in her best interest.

I would think Fair is doing what all the transfers are doing in weighing their options. Will they be sold a pie in the sky sell where they can get a ton of playing time and then if they don’t succeed personally or team wise willl they look for greener pastures again and again. However these next few years turn out many fans will possibly just support their colllege’s athletic programs instead of becoming too enamored with individual players and coaches. Go Bulls!!!

1 hour ago, UB2014 said:

I would say CJ Massinburg was a big reason the Bulls made the tourney his freshman year in 2015-16. Averaged 11.3 and was the leading scorer in the MAC Championship game. There are diamonds in the rough out there to be had, albeit few and far in between. 

Agree they are out there but we rally don’t know how they will fare until they start playing. We can only speculate and give our opinions on how these young players who did not get any playing time will perform. If they perform positively we should give credit to both player and coach. I wonder if the entire coaching staff will still be here??

1 hour ago, ChubbyHubby said:

Now, she should start by getting Fair back in the fold.

Wonder how many of our current players and even the portals she has talked too?? Have not heard or seen anything from Syracuse about coaches and other players except all the players in the portal!! More interested now on UB.