John

34 minutes ago, bullsbball said:

Heard on the radio it was a separated shoulder diving for a ball and was day to day. Maybe ready for the Michigan State game.

Thanks for the update. 

16 hours ago, MuchMany said:

True story!

Fun watching Ceaser and Mading get to do their thing. Plenty of talent. 

Good to see the younger guys get some playing time but are they going to get any rotational time in the MAC season?? I noticed Powell was not dressed and seemed like he was not walking around very good. Does anyone have an update on him.  Will be interesting how UB will react against Michigan State when their shots will be contested against a very physical Michigan State team. Really looking forward to the MAC season and how this team compares to the teams. Go Bulls!!!

7 hours ago, UBinMD said:

Said Johnson hurt her leg in practice, was in a pretty hefty boot and out for the season. I a shame for her, she was a presence down low. Hopefully she can get a medical redshirt since she only played in 7 games. Would suck to finish your career that way.

Winfield just outworks everyone on the boards. She is generously listed as 5'7 but she is so quick and does the dirty work and is quick, which leads to the rebounds. With her Jaz and Stone now emerging, it's nice to be able to get some balance. I have been a little disappointed in Ogden, I thought she would be a better shooter, but she is only a freshman with 7 games, so hopefully she rounds into form.

Bucknell definitely has a style on offense, lots of motion, etc. but sometimes it felt like they were moving just to move and not really setup a shot, then they get under 10 seconds and start to try to score. It's weird, but if you play stingy defense like they do and use the shot clock to limit your opponent's opportunities then it's a winning formula in their league I'm sure. The backbreaker for them was when UB came up with a few steals at the end and got transition layups. When you have a slow methodical offense, that's tough to come back against. It was a really nice win especially after the slow start. They played very solid defense throughout so that is what kept it close and allowed them to take over in the 4th. I will say they are a well conditioned team!

Do agree with the comments on the game. UB started out the game with way better ball movement but really missed a number of close to the basket shots. Defense definitely won the game for them and they really don’t have any strong, athletic bigs so it looks like they will struggle on the boards. Ogden along with Salmons look like the first year players that will struggle against better D1 players. Mashaire did hold her own against a very stout Bucknell center. With a very short bench and no real substitution pattern yet it will show up when Stone, Winfield and Young have to play an entire game. Still have not heard anything about the two players that are not in uniform yet and with Johnson lost for the year our frontline looks very weak and inexperienced. Winfield does seem to be the real deal and will just have to be patient and enjoy the year. Go. Bulls!!!

4 hours ago, TML1000 said:

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.

I do agree. Not really knowing what goes into these kids making a decision on a college. Is it the education or the chance to play on a big time environment and what they are being told by college recruiters. I bring up DeBerry because our family seen her in high school and being highly touted and was a big time player at 6’5’. The little bit we have seen her at UCONN she is a shell of herself. Still a little baffling that a kid would not want to not only get a education and not want to play the game they love instead of sitting on the bench and be a cheer leader. Hope that the local teams can continue to keep more of the local talent on our teams. Go Bulls!!!

1 hour ago, TML1000 said:

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.

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!!!

Nice to see a game in the win column. Better ball movement and mental attitude when the game started to unravel for us in the last few minutes. Truly this whole year looks like a roller coaster season. Again we look like a team that will live and die on how Winfield plays. When your top scorer is your leading rebounder and your point guard has nine turnovers and the team has 35 turnovers it looks like a long year is ahead. Niagara is a total mess with only the Parker sisters the only players on the team. Would of loved to see these two players here at UB. Wow!! What a difference a few years look like when UB and Central Michigan were great teams and now Central with only one win is in a worst mess than we are. Patience and just enjoying basketball could be the keys for this year. Go Bulls!!!

23 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Matchup zone can be very effective and when you watch them play, that seems to be what they are doing. It's actually fun for the players too, a bit different that the SU zone. It's also not as susceptible to 3 point sharpshooters. I think it's a good change of pace from time to time. I do this man-to-man is a good staple for the MAC.

With the MAC almost entirely man to man conference I think a zone could be effective since most teams are not exposed to it. The zone should help on the rebounding side since UB is not a very big, physical team on the front line. If the coaches can get the team to buy into a zone ti could be very interesting and as you said a change of pace to what other teams do offensively. Go Bulls!!

3 hours ago, enrique14150 said:

I was on the road this weekend, so all I could do was monitor the score.  What a delightful win!  When I saw the final, I laughed like Sideshow Bob when he was elected mayor.

I still think this team has a lot of work to do.  They're capable of good performances like this, and still capable of some duds.  Still a work in progress - but clearly, progress is being made.  Curtis said in the Buffalo News that he's been just trying to be more consistent and let the confidence flow.  I feel like they're getting better at the defensive end and that's going to bode well when it's time for MAC games. Jonnivius Smith said in the News that he worked a lot on his defense lately, that with his stature, he needs to bring the intensity.  I agree with the posters who've said that Powell is a wild card - but he hits his foul shots.  I think Caesar at this point, as a true freshman, is a spark off the bench but he has a lot to work on defensively.  And that's okay, because he's 9 games into his first season, I'm not expecting the finished article yet.  

 

 

I agree with the Caesar opinion. After seeing him play he looks like he can become very good offensively with his speed and athletic ability. He is lacking defensively and have seen him beaten on several occasions. In high school he probably played or needed to play very little defense. If he can improve like Jones has he cold become one of our better players. On the team defense it is curious and interesting how this team has started to play a zone defense when all of our past teams played hardly any zone. In several games it looked like they have embraced the zone and actually played better in that defense. Interesting to see how that plays out in the MAC. Go Bulls!!!

On 5/19/2022 at 12:11 PM, trueblue32 said:

Dom Welch. Funny that he was one of Oats’ first offers while he was at UB then we stopped actively recruiting him because we were so loaded (his freshman year being our top 25 year), but now Oats needs him at his SEC school lol

Welch is now injured but do not know if it is serious or not. So much for leaving Bona for the land of Oz.

1 hour ago, bulls2684 said:

 

Patience is the word alright. It looks like defense will be the key for any wins they can muster. The offense showed how it will be when Winfield has a tough shooting game. There was very little ball movement and Drexel really fronted and pressured Winfield all over the court. This has been Coach Burke’s track record of taking a team that is the lowest of the low and after a couple years of good recruiting turning them into a very good team. With her recruiting class coming in we can only hope there will be some diamonds in the rough. All the defensive effort in the world will not translate to wins when you only make 4 shots in the 3rd and 2 shots in the 4th quarters. All the best coaching will not help if the players can’t make shots. Patience, Patience will be the key and trying to enjoy watching basketball at it’s finest. Go Bulls!!!

2 hours ago, Chet said:

Easy to dump on Whitesell and Co. after that performance. I think this team will be a work in progress and will be fun to watch as the season continues. Will probably be ups and downs. But that had to be one of the worst performances in my 20+ years going to games at Alumni. Whitesell is not a very good coach. He's been a mediocre head coach his entire career. I assume he will continue to be that.

I think he is a good assistant coach just not a good head coach. But there are very good assistant coaches all over the landscape. Would love to know what Whitesell and staff are drawing up for the players because there was nothing that worked against JMU. Whatever the plays that were drawn up if the players don’t hit the shots or make the right play it will look like it looked against JMU. Wil just have to see how these next few games go before the team comes back home. Go Bulls!!!

1 hour ago, Tee4three said:

No idea why they haven't adjusted their offense against the defense

After seeing the last two games some observations: JMU are much quicker on both offense and especially on defense. Agree there were no adjustments made by UB. UB would come out and try and pick the JMU player/players and just sort of fake a pick and run toward the basket and then both JMU players would smother the UB ball carrier and he would have no place to go and even see another UB player to pass too. Overall with that many turnovers combined with poor shooting and no ball movement spells a disaster . Happy to finally see Williamson play the last 6 minutes or so. It looks like he is over his injury problems from last year. I wonder why he is not getting some minutes with some of the starters?? Still think we have to give this team some time to play some more games before truly evaluating both the coaches and players. Go Bulls!!

1 hour ago, UBinMD said:

I liked their killer instinct and attacking at the end. Last years team would have lost that one after Colgate took the lead. No panic which is what I liked most 

With just one game as a sample size this team appears to have more players with offensive skill and ability. The main question is their team all mentality and spreading the ball around and of course can they lock in defensively. Should be interesting and hope a lot of fans can have some patience and try and enjoy the ride. Go Bulls!!

4 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Coach Burke has 3 of her recruits for 2023 inked already today, hopefully the rest will fall and out team will complete for next year!

Another positive step and wherever Coach Burke has gone she seems to be able to recruit high caliber players. After all these years with Coach Jack it is very interesting to see a different coaching style and philosophy. Go Bulls!!!

15 hours ago, DaBulls99 said:

It’s also in the Horns Up app and there were QR codes in various places around the arena. Was easy to find. 

I wonder if all colleges have gone paperless and was it because of the pandemic?? At any rate not everyone has the capability to do that. Another I guess example of saving money in the wrong places and in many cases UB runs their operation like a D111 program.  I guess a sign of the electronic age. Go Bulls!!!

19 hours ago, UBinMD said:

No killer instinct. They assumed Canisius was going to roll over after getting down by 8. That 4th quarter was tragic. No flow, terrible execution, missing FT. I hope the men didn’t watch that one 

Agree. Our family was there and it was no surprise on how the team looked. Very unorganized and many times looking to the coach on what play to run and really no team ball or player movement on many occasions. We were overwhelmed in the front court by the quicker more athletic Canisius front court. With only Johnson and Salmons as bigs we will be in big trouble especially in the MAC. The other bigs Coach Burke were probably counting on are not even suited up. Will need to give Coach Burke a chance to come up with some answers and keep in mind every place the coach has been she has turned the program into a winning team after the first year or two. Will keep the patience and continue to support our teams. Go Bulls!!On a side note the Canisius crowd was surprisingly large and loud and not sure where all the fans came from and one total embarrassment was when the team came out after halftime no one could find the ball rack until a few seconds left to start the second half!!! 

6 hours ago, bullsbball said:

I was very surprised how empty the season ticket area was especially sections 101-105. But it was great to see the student section filled in. Most of the season ticket holders around me in 113 seem like they didn't renew and/or were a no-show.

With that said, the crowd really got into it especially near the end.

Our family have season tickets in the 114 section and do wonder if all the seats in and around 114 being empty mean some have not renewed for this season and wonder how many in the 101-105 sections have not renewed?? Considering how both teams are almost totally new still wondering how many fans have lost interest?? I think if both teams can show improvement and win some home games it should create some interest. Of course the marketing efforts of this administration have been marginal and with many new faces there should be an added increase to market the product. Are we going to get some programs on game days which should be a given with all the new players?? Maybe some promotions for our home games to get more fans in the stands?? Patience might be the word to see if both teams can improve during the season, Go Bulls!!

1 hour ago, promotherobot said:

The shooting was abysmal. They had a chance to win it twice; on a layup and at the foul line, even just tie it for OT, and couldn't do it. These are recruited D1 players that don't shoot any better than I do. (Canisius was just as bad.)

This looked like a team that has not played together in a real game atmosphere. Many times during the game there was no player movement and they were really unsure of where to be and who to go to in critical times. The frontline is not very athletic and not deep at all. With Johnson and Salmons are only options we will be in big trouble. Again only one game but this will be a work in progress for Coach Burke and staff. Still not heard about the status of a couple of the other bigs that were not available. Went to both games and the atmosphere at the Canisius game was the best we have seen in years. Go Bulls!!!

12 hours ago, DocCas86 said:

I only saw the second half.  Overall I am encouraged.  Nice opening win against a tough Colgate team.  Hope they continue to build on this.  Also hope they get Chatman back soon, will make them deeper.

Do agree. Just a totally new team with some very good quickness and athletism. Seems really thin in the front court and really did get pushed around by the bigger and stronger Colgate bigs. What is the status of Chatman and whatever happened to Williamson from last year? The big question is can Whitesell get all these players to play together as a team but again there seems to be a nice mix of talent and was impressed with their quickness. Will be a very interesting year to see how this all comes together. Go Bulls!!!

3 hours ago, DooleyBull06 said:

I'm tempering expectations this year.  This is essentially an entirely new team.  Its going to take months for them to develop an identity.  I don't even think coach knows who the starters will be and what the rotation will be.  Which is fine at this point, but furthers the point that we can't expect this team to hit the ground running.  There are gonna be growing pains.  We can have all the individual talent and athleticism in the world but the players have to buy in on both ends of the court.  Quicker we do that the better.  But for now, let us use the non conference to develop and grow.  Yes I wanna win games and maybe pull an upset along the way, but I honestly don't know what to expect. Therefore I am I'm just going to hope to grow and develop and really turn the corner come February and make a push for Cleveland. It is what it is at this point, we've had so much turnover on the roster that all we are left with is "if".  If this player does this, if we hit some 3s, if we play better D.  If.  So lets enjoy the ride.  Go Bulls!

Do agree. With so many newcomers it will probably take a number of games to see who are going to be the main contributors. What is the status of Hardnett and Chatman? They could be the two players that could help our frontline. Go Bulls!!

On 9/21/2022 at 10:41 AM, dj_paige said:

I called the ticket office. They say the ticket renewals will be sent out by e-mail in the next 2 weeks. No paper mail (and probably no paper tickets, so much less time needed to get everyone's tickets to them).

We received our notice for season renewals and also we were told you can get paper tickets at an additional cost for people that don’t use the app and don’t have cell phones!! it is going to be interesting with all the turnover from both teams. Just the start of the next chapters for UB basketball. Go Bulls!!!

18 hours ago, rma said:

No offense, but literally everybody knew Fair was going to be amazing at UB. She was highly recruited and instantly put up unbeatable numbers. Possibly the best/most coveted recruit UB has gotten in any sport.

No offense taken. Again we all can have a different opinion and perspective. I knew her track record but again there are players all over the landscape that have great success in their previous colleges but it does not always translate in their next team. I am so happy that it did turn out great for us with Fair and our family did not miss any of her home games and games in Cleveland. Just a great and exciting couple years. Go Bulls!!!!

On 5/28/2022 at 4:17 PM, DooleyBull06 said:

All the more reason why there should be excitement. And understanding of the growing pains. 

Do agree with the excitement level especially after Coach Jack left and took all our top players. Just have to wait and see how all these new players develop. Who could of forecast how good both Fair and especially Woolley would become. If McEvans did not have injury problems and if Christie would of improved and given solid minutes Woolley might not of seen many minutes at all. That is both the crazy and exciting aspect of college basketball. Go Bulls!!!

1 hour ago, Dabulls said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZMoODHLTFa/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= 
here’s a highlight video of him

Pretty impressive. Can drive to the basket using both hands and looks like can shoot the 3’s. If our coaching staff can get all these new players to play team ball along with some defensive energy it could be very interesting.  Go Bulls!!!

21 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Hopefully she will do well there. Hard to say what she would have been at UB, but I’m of the camp she may not have been coach Burke’s type or player.

I do agree. Both Christie and Wilson probably were not quick and athletic enough for how Coach Burke wants in her players. Again no knock on these former players who have positives in how they play. Good luck to them. Go bulls!!!