MuchMany

Sorry to interrupt the football chat gents.

Any chance a moderator could split the football conversation into the appropriate thread/forum? Do we even have moderators? 

2 hours ago, UB Horns Up said:

UB should have paid Nate Oats period to stay with all the success UB Bulls basketball had we could have been the Gonzaga of the MAC. The heck with the $7 million dollar UB performance center that could have come later when the NCAA Tournament units were coming in yearly. Pass the hat and keep Nate Oats at UB is what should have happened and didn’t. Nate Oats wanted to stay in Western New York close to his home town of Michigan. Give Nate Oats a $7 million dollar contract he would have stayed. The Nate Oats situation was different from Bobby Hurley and Lance Leipold that had no intentions of staying in Western New York. Nate Oats really liked Buffalo and UB chose cheap which is why UB Bulls athletics will never be great or mirror anything like St Bonaventure Bonnies basketball with Mark Schmidt.

UB Bulls fans valued Nate Oats UB heavy donors and UB the school itself not so much which is really sad. The UB Bulls basketball team is like watching the Buffalo Sabres today they don’t value greatness either everything comes down to a buck. UB donors don’t understand Buffalo fans has to put up with that crap with the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres the Buffalo fans doesn’t want to give there heart to another Buffalo sports team with the same mindset that is a big part of the reason Buffalo fans stay away from UB Bulls football and basketball games not the only reason but it’s a reason. UB Bulls basketball had a real chance at greatness under Nate Oats and the UB donors and UB the school couldn’t get past doing everything on the cheap with UB athletics coaches salaries. I am the point I don’t even care anymore extend George Halcovage III with another 5 year contract because he will sign cheap. It is just not going to ever happen at UB with UB Athletics because the donors aren’t going all in. You need to spend money to grow the college sports program at UB. UB unfortunately isn’t willing to do that. UB loss is Alabama’s gain. Good luck Coach Nate Oats wish you were still at UB and UB athletics wasn’t so Mickey Mouse in my opinion. UB Horns Up! Go Bulls! Let’s Go Buffalo 

Oats was never staying here long term. He was among the hottest coaching commodities in the country when he left. Now he's solidified himself as a top 10 coach (and still rising). We're lucky to have had him here for as long as we did.

Alnutt's failure to build on the success of Hurley then Oats with his next hire has always been the story, but that's been discussed ad nauseum (as it all has).

8 minutes ago, TheCommish said:

Might be the only approach with little to none NIL or “secretive/non public” NIL

Which approach? The one we're seeing so far this year getting even younger or the one reported that we're looking to add veterans? 

1 hour ago, Big 4 Hoops Blogger said:

Have heard that Halcovage has gone into this offseason with a slightly different team building mentality. He arrived at UB last year with the intention of building the program through young players and development. I think he's aware that he needs more veterans on this team. Whether or not he'll be successful in convincing experienced players to transfer to UB is another story.

We're adding four HS seniors and a sophomore and losing a senior and four juniors as it stands. Two open spots remain. Not sure I'm seeing any evidence of the strategy you describe.

2 hours ago, Chet said:

What’s the path forward? 

Young players improve. Following the development of players is one of the most enjoyable things about following college basketball with as young as the athletes are. Will they develop well? Only time will tell, but to me there's more optimism in trying to build young players up than randomly piecing transfers together each year. Of course there's the risk of players transferring out eventually, but that's just life now and the frequency is overstated imo. Our current freshman class seems to be pretty well bonded and happy here for the time being.

Am I optimistic overall for next season? No. I do think we have the chance to be significantly better than this season with a roster of more than eight healthy players, the continuing development of our guys, and hopefully the improvement of the coaching staff after a year of tough lessons. We'll know a lot more when the last two roster spots get filled and we get some eyes on all the new guys on campus.

Just now, UBinMD said:

I never heard a commitment either. They likely knew there was a potential issue so didn’t announce until they had confirmation. Could have been a nice piece.

Yeah as much as I don't think we need another wing, he looked very talented. We were his only D1 offer so he's obviously not a world-beater, but maybe we keep the relationship up and he comes here in the future.

9 hours ago, Tee4three said:

 

 

Whoa, had no idea he had committed. I really like his tape and had been quietly hoping he'd end up here. Bummer.

3 hours ago, Ubbullsfan09 said:

Looks like a solid player, but how many wings do we really need? I feel like we need some guards that can ball handle (big issue last year) and more big man depth 

My read is that Michaels is a modern stretch 4 man at what looks like a lean and long 6'8. His highlights are mostly shooting from distance. He'd be a big in GH3's scheme in the mold of Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. Somewhere between Jo and Lloyd on this year's team, different from the glut of true wings we have.

11 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

If they play together and run some sort of system that gets good looks and not just a group of chuckers, that play with defensive intensity, I will be happy.

Sorry, but that's not the standard from my perspective. There are teams that do what you describe and win 7 games. "Try hard, play together, and have fun" is the standard for a middle school team. We need a lot more than that.

1 minute ago, ntsfinest said:

I thought Michigan but the big raise took care of that. Maybe Michigan St when Izzo is gone. 

Michigan State would make some sense, but I think he likes the south now and the SEC. I think one of his daughters is a student at Alabama now too. Plus he's closer to the major talent producing states of Georgia, Florida, Texas, and North Carolina where.

Not sure how much he'd value moving closer to "home." Can't see him going to Madison anymore either. He's turning Bama into as good of a job as any Big Ten job.

8 hours ago, DooleyBull06 said:

I’ve always thought that was his trajectory but honestly Bama has deep pockets and he is a genius at the college level. I don’t know if night in and night out pros wanna play his style. He’s perfect where he’s at. The only logical move is to a true blue blood. Otherwise he can be the next Saban at Bama.

Agreed, always saw him there someday. Ambitious innovators who can motivate are a rare commodity. I think he's 5-8 more years at Bama then NBA. Kentucky is the only job he'd leave for now imo. He's got the perfect ratio of resources to expectations/scrutiny at Bama.

Congrats to him on the Elite 8. That was a wildly entertaining game. And every red-blooded American I know enjoys seeing UNCheat's annual exit the tournament.

8 hours ago, DooleyBull06 said:

I haven’t listened yet but I plan to. Without having listened, it’s only a matter of time before those giving money wisen up and realize that they aren’t getting enough in return for their investment. Now we don’t know what the players do off the court when they receive NIL deals (what obligations they have and fulfill) but I can’t imagine boosters being happy pumping millions into a program that doesn’t win. Therefore I can see the funders essentially saying to a player, you want this money…you need to stay at this school for X amount of years. And the only way you can leave is graduation, coaching change or pro entry. Essentially NIL deals will become contracts and you will have full fledge minor league ball. 

Good thread dealing with some similar stuff.

Long Island Lutheran is the clear top program in NYS at the moment with an embarrassment of riches on the roster. The fact that Michaels started for them is a hopefully a strong indicator to offset his lack of rankings. I don't hate grabbing a glue guy with size from a program of that quality.

VJ Edgecombe, the #5 player in 2024 heading to Baylor, was the top dog. Villanova and GH3 were after him hard when he was a mere top-50 recruit before he blew up. Their 2025 group has five guys in the national top 100, including Carmelo Anthony's son Kiyan. I was banging the drum for GH3 to go hard after LuHi 2023 point guard Jayden Reid as an available sleeper last spring (had a great freshman year at USF.) Our staff should know LuHi well. 

Re: Michaels, it's hard to get a handle on his game from the little info online. He seems like a big wing that will play the stretch 4 in the system that GH3 is pursuing. Likes to shoot the three. Speaking of that system, he certainly has a type of player that he prefers. I'm just wondering if we're ever going to add players that can dribble.

Re: the Canadians and Brits, I think someone may have mentioned it already but their limited access to NIL income likely factors into our focus on them. Hopefully the staff finds some gems.

What's the lineup look like right now?

Fulcher/Sabol

Boldin/Akot

Batchelor/Wilson/Jackson

Zaakir/Michaels/McVeigh

Oboh

A lot of unknowns and some intriguing potential, but it's hard to say that's a better roster than this year's.

Not worried about seniors either, just thought it was interesting that the entire class has cleared out. However, experience has correlated with success in the covid era especially for mid-majors.

I agree that guys with two years of eligibility are ideal to fill two of the three open spots. We know we need one scholarship to free up after next season to fit Quintin Cooper '25 (our best recruit yet under GH3). Odds are one or more will transfer out after next season anyway, but I'd bet we bring in at least one senior now to guarantee that spot opens up.

Three juniors, four sophomores, three freshmen next year as things stand. No seniors. 

Excellent news. He felt like kind of a lame duck leftover from the failed roster build last year. His skills disappeared at some point between Maryland and here.

Three open roster spots now for a PG, a big, and a dealer's choice (another wingy big imo).

3 hours ago, DooleyBull06 said:

 

I know we've had the conversation a hundred times but the current transfer system is rotten. Fans having to hope that "Hill will consider a return to BGSU as he explores his options" is a crummy spot to be in. Having to rerecruit your stars every year is a thankless one-way relationship. 

While I appreciate the players embracing the opportunity for "empowerment," there is a correction coming. A semi-pro sport with uninhibited free agent movement will not have longevity. Time will tell, people don't want to root for a random collection of mercenaries every year. Fans and donors make the world of college sports go 'round and fans are getting shorted right now. Without our dollars, college kids could absolutely play basketball with each other, but no one would care, pay, or watch. A fan union might be in order to remind players, coaches, ADs, etc who's really the boss. 

9 minutes ago, trueblue32 said:

I mean yeah if we just wanna close our eyes and pretend we don't have any data on what Isaiah Adams was in the 3 years between high school and now then sure.

Good news everyone! We're going far this year! James Graham was a projected second round pick out of high school
https://247sports.com/Player/james-graham-46058803/high-school-225312/

We haven't learned anything about him between the time that assessment was placed on him and now so this is the best analysis we can do.

A+ snark. Unfortunately, Adams committed to UB 2 calendar years after being named Mr. Basketball. Hardly enough time for your "data" to prove anything. He was a disappointment here based on expectations, end of story.

4 minutes ago, trueblue32 said:

That's fine, that's always what he was. Anybody expecting a 3 year 3 & D wing to seamlessly transition to point forward in his 4th year with the least talent in UB history to support him are just day dreaming. Halcovage and fans included. It'll be what he does at a high level on a better team next year.

3rd leading scorer on the #6 team in the MAC in 2023 to "star" was never a realistic expectation. People can huff & puff about senior leaders (or whatever) but not understanding what Adams was is a failure on the staff, not on Adams

For the 2020 Mr. Basketball from a state as elite as Florida to not figure out how to star in the MAC as a junior or senior under two different coaches is absolutely a failure on Adams part, but that's not the main point of this conversation.

Re: expectations for next year, I don't think he'll match the contributions of a younger Curtis Jones on a team anywhere near as good as Iowa State. Adams is a fine player, but he hardly has any killer instinct or alpha traits. 

Adams to the portal

1 hour ago, Chet said:

While BB is not waiting until May bringing in a solid transfer. Much different vibe with the WBB team. Don’t feel like much patience is justified IMO.

Agreed that patience isn't really warranted considering how this year went and the outlook for another young and questionably constructed team. But comparing MBB to WBB transfer world is apples to oranges given the reality of NIL.

National prep champs in Canada

4 hours ago, UBinMD said:

Based upon 2022 available info, basketball was funded at $2.6 million, women’s basketball was at $2.3 million. Women’s basketball is very comparable to high mid-majors. MBB is about half. I would like all of our sports to be relevant.

Is this true?? I'm flabbergasted if so. I'm an infamous non-enjoyer of ladies' hoops so I'm biased, but how are we so off in funding for the men's program? 

8 hours ago, Tee4three said:

I'm not as confident in sabol or boldin doing the heavy lifting at point behind fulcher. Solid secondary options on the floor or if the team is in foul trouble but to be the main I'd be worried. College basketball is a guards game

Would feel more confident in being able to scheme defensively to hide the lack of size

I hear you on PG being a weak spot, especially because Adams (still on the team as of now) handled so much point. But inside we're replacing Sy and Jo with Oboh as things stand. We already had weak rim protection and suspect rebounding. Replacing a star and a vet role player with one unknown freshman is questionable.

PG: Fulcher

SG: Boldin, Sabol

Wing: Adams, Graham, Batchelor, Wilson, McVeigh, Jackson, Akot

PF: Williamson

C Oboh

It's just a very strange roster balance at this point with only one spot yet to fill.