UBigbobby

Harris has been absolutely garbage tonight.

Absolutely shitting the bed in the 2nd half.  This is not looking good at all.

1 minute ago, yussi1870 said:

What is wrong with Harris? He used to be so good

No idea. Really thought he would take the next step and be dominant this year.  You can argue he's been worse offensively this season, or at least far more inconsistent.

Looks like UB decided to take a nap at the half.  Oof

Not a fan of the important minutes for Jeenathan who still looks like a flailing baby giraffe out there.  Still, good half.

Haha, it means Too Long, Didn't Read.  You can use it after someone posts or links to a long article or spiel and then summarize it for folks that don't want to read the whole thing.  

4 minutes ago, dk2414 said:

Probably a long shot they would pick UB, but shouldn't the Big12 be looking to expand by 2 given they only have 10 teams? They've already expanded East with WVU, could pluck UB and another eastern-ish team that plays both football and basketball at a high level like say Cincinnati. It's probably more likely they would pick a regional team like Houston and maybe UCF makes the jump to a power 5 conference. 

Given the Big 12s expanding footprint, that's a possibility.  Though I would expect them to be more likely to pluck a school like UCF or Houston as you mentioned from the AAC.  This would work out well for UB, however, as that would potentially leave a spot or two open in the AAC that you would have to think Ub would be a top choice to fill.

2 minutes ago, MillenniumBull said:

So BSU sucks at basketball because their players are dumb or just surrounded by too many dumb people?  Makes some sense actually.  

TLDR

12 minutes ago, UB92 said:

We think alike.  You win the day for me.

I wonder...is there is a way for the powers that be to include Toronto in their view of Buffalo's athletic impact?  I mean, it's about 2 hours away and (IIRC) has about 10x the population of Buffalo.   UB profiles, academically, as a B1G school.  Of that, there is no doubt.  But the comparisons start to go downhill from there.  Investment in athletics, facilities, fan base, what is considered market impact, etc.  I think that smarter people than I am can really pitch UB in the right way that speaks to what others have called this "sleeping giant" from an athletics standpoint.

 

Beating Ball State is fine.  However, I would have liked UB to beat Indiana last night at home.

Buffalo's problem in terms of becoming a Big Ten school IMO isn't just athletics investment, it's also regional loyalty and appeal.  This is what Danny White was trying to address with the NY Bulls initiative that people were trying to run him out of town for.  Big Ten school's are all the flagship institutions in their state.  In all but a couple cases, their official name is State University at/of/, etc. However they simply go by the state name due to their size and prominence.  The University of Michigan isn't actually called just the University of Michigan.  it's The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  Wisconsin is The University of Wisconsin, Madison.  Minnesota is the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, etc. Hell, even Penn State.  The Penn State we know is Penn State, University Park.  There are like 20 Penn States (I work with them).  Penn State, Erie Behrend College.  Penn State Greater Allegheny, Penn State Beaver, etc. Of course we're the State University of New York at Buffalo.  Same deal, however due to history and the Buffalo inferiority complex, we insist on going by Buffalo, rather than New York. For UB there is, IMO a limiting factor on the University's branding reach due to the local population being so hostile to transitioning to UB becoming the Minnesota, Twin Cities of NY State.  This damn Buffalo inferiority complex is getting in the way.  By branding themselves as New York, more than Buffalo, just as Wisconsin brands themselves more as Wisconsin than as Madison, and then combine that with actual athletics success, you can start to build towards becoming the state university that EVERYONE in NY gets behind, like in those Big Ten states.

Without that, I fear that UB will never have the marketing appeal or support beyond WNY.  People in Poughkeepsie, or Hampstead, or NYC would likely get behind the University of New York, but I'll be damned if they're going to buy in to rooting for Buffalo, for example.  As a result, I don't think UB will ever join to Big Ten because of issues like this.  Honestly, I think we shot ourselves in the foot by putting up so much resistance to Danny White's plan.  

This is also why I think UB maxes out as an AAC school and despite being a peer institution to the Big Ten...UB just doesn't, and likely never will have the statewide marketing reach needed.

My thoughts on the game.  I took a lot of flack from some people for questioning the defensive effort, focus and tenacity vs NIU and Kent.  Please, objectively look at those games and compare them to last night and tell me they were on the same level.  They just weren't.  Vs. NIU and Kent they were slow, and fairly weak on the ball.  Last night was a return to that UB punch them in the mouth mentality and play that Oats preaches.  Their defense was on another level.  I was reading the BSU board and their fans were complaining how on offense they would have to work and work and work against UB for 28 seconds just to then have to put up a CONTESTED shot, because UB's D was just to good. That simply was NOT happening the NIU and Kent game.  That tenacity returned on D last night.

When you're playing such tight, high energy, tough defense, a team with the talent of UB can have a bad shooting night and still blow teams out.  As an example, Harris was OFF last night off offense. He was throwing up bricks.  However, he had 8...EIGHT rebounds in the first half alone.  UB dominated the glass, especially the offensive glass.

If UB can continue to keep the heat turned up on defense as they did last night, they will be able to weather bad shooting nights and if they combine that with a good shooting night, they'll run teams out of the goddamn gym.

Ball State is like the 5th or 6th best program in terms of name recognition and historical performance in the state of Indiana. With programs like Purdue, Indiana, Indiana State, Notre Dame, Butler...who the hell is going to support and pay attention to Ball State?  At least in Ohio you have only 1 or 2 big programs, and the rest are all about the same mid-major MAC level.  In Indiana they're stuck at the bottom of the barrel with Valpo and IUPUI.  Announcers said like night that pretty much the entire team other than like 2 guys are from Indiana.  So they're fighting for the scraps in the state. Add to that, while they are a large institution, they're not a particularly good one.  Ball State is so academically poor that in the 2019 WSJ rankings they don't even get an actual ranking number.  They just get thrown into the pot of 501-600.  In contrast, UB is #120 in the nation.  In terms of best public universities, UB is #28.  For contrast, #25 is Penn State, #26 is Virginia Tech, and #27 is Minnesota.  Ball State isn't in the top 100.   The only similarity between UB and Ball State is that they are both public and both in the MAC.  It ends there.  Buffalo is a Big Ten school playing in the MAC.  Ball State is a bad MAC school playing in the MAC.

No.  I don't think that's realistic.  The Big East 10 years ago before the split with the AAC?  Sure.  Today's Big East are mostly small to medium privates and I highly, highly doubt they would consider adding a large public unless it was a big name.  While you're right, they don't have a footprint in upstate NY since Cuse left, a footprint in upstate NY is also not particularly attractive either.  They already have a presence in NYC, so it's not like getting Buffalo would help them there.  Out of all the big conferences the Big East is probably the worst fit for UB all around.  

From an institutional perspective the Big Ten is the best fit, but UB is pretty far behind athletically still.  It would be a big jump.  Second best fit would be the AAC.  I think UB could jump into the AAC and compete from close to day 1.

22 hours ago, 121Merrimac said:

As a student, I got to watch Martinho and Young in their underclassmen years. At the time, I didn’t realize how high they would soar. 

It’s odd, I follow college sports more now than I did when I was in college.  

The bias toward recent players in this vote, particularly for these two, feels wrong to me. 

I would counter that, though, by saying the modern players they're up against are fairly clearly better.  Young and Martinho were the best players on some very bleh-bad Mid-Con teams.  Mitchell Watt was a MAC player of the year and an honorable mention All-American and played in the Reese's College All Star Game.  While I'm sure you have fond memories of guys like Young  but it's tough to argue that he was better than Watt.  

1 minute ago, Jeseph said:

I was in a dark place, ok?

...I feel like I am missing something...

3 minutes ago, Jeseph said:

I think enough big names have been talking about us that beating a 15-4 team on the road keeps us on. The top 25 has lost almost every night

So maybe the loss came at a good time afterall

All I know is that a significantly worse UB team with no WVU, Cuse, or USF wins was the last team out of the NCAA after losing to Ohio at the buzzer. That team was 23-10 and 11-7 in the MAC.  This team has been ranked for 11 straight weeks and has a road win over a likely tournament team in Cuse that beat #1 DUke, a neutral court win over a possible at-large, San Fran, and handed WVU their first home opening loss in like 30+ years.  They've been ranked as high as #14 twice and have been projected as a #4-#6 seed much of the year by the pundits.  Provided they only lose 1 or 2 more times in the MAC but keep it close, there is almost no way they're not an at large if they slip up in the conference tournament. Their NET and KenPom are just far too strong. If they only lose 1 or 2 more games they would be going into tourney time 28-3 or 27-4.  They will be playing in the NCAA tournament.  

1 minute ago, skrabukes said:

I will agree with it in regard to Graves and Harris tonight, they were clearly not on their game, on either end of the floor. The others looked pretty tough out there. Kent made many contested shots throughout, just have to tip the cap when they defend for 29 seconds and Walker makes a fade-away 3 from 26 feet with a hand up on D.

Certainly.  Nothing you can do about that.  Losing your man, being slow to react, and letting Kent drive the lane uncontested at will, however, you can do a lot about, and that happened too much tonight IMO.  It was similar vs. NIU.  These were things that UB simply didn't allow teams better than Kent do earlier in the season.

I still think it's 50/50 if they're still in.  MAC teams generally aren't going to get the benefit of the doubt like more established power conference programs will, unfortunately.  Running up the margin at the end vs. Kent might help them because most voters likely did not watch the game tonight.  

If they play like they were earlier this season?  Sure.  If they play like the last few games, they probably get bounced in the first round.  Single elimination tournaments and playoffs are not about finding the BEST teams.  The final four is rarely made of the 4 best teams in the country.  Was Loyola Chicago one of the 4 best teams last season?  Of course not.  They were, however, one of the four best over 4 games in March last year, and that's all it takes.  

3 minutes ago, skrabukes said:

I'm not going to say the games were perfect, missed FT, some poor rebounding at times, less than stellar games from Graves and Harris, but it's a 40 minute game and the guys did more than Kent to get it done. Kent was channeling Markus Howard early in the game, but beyond that, UB  won by 20 or so over the final 33-34 minutes. Winning at Kent State on the road is not a guarantee, for anyone, regardless of whether or not we have a # in front of the team name on the scoreboard. Walker had some sick shots off the dribble that no one was stopping. I just find it degrading to question their effort, because I think that it was pretty strong throughout. Dontay and Davonte were running their behinds off on Walker and whoever their 2nd option was at all times when they were out there. CJ had some beautiful D at times getting hands on the ball. Just because they blow by a guy who gets caught flat footed or is having an off night doesn't make me think that the team as a whole isn't focused or playing without effort.

I thought the defensive effort was slow, poor and unfocused for most of the game.  You can disagree, that's fine.  Neither of us know, because we're not them.  

1 minute ago, skrabukes said:

I guess the Tennessee fans  probably figure their team sucks too, since they got taken to OT vs. 150+ ranked Vandy the other day, a "mediocre competition" team that beat them at their place earlier in the year. When Nevada lost to a 150+ team, did they just get considered to suck too? C'mon, these games aren't going to be all one sided. The other team is trying to win too, and these teams are neot nearly as bad as some of you think they are. We're not playing Canisius/Niagara/Marist, the MAC is a very solid league. Is it Big East or ACC? No, but it's not one where you can just expect to go out and rout teams every game. 

This team is good. Can they be better at times, of course, so can Duke, Virginia and everyone else. We have our flaws, but over 40 minutes, I'll gladly take this team versus any other in our league and they can go toe-to-toe with the non-"mediocre competition" in the NCAA.

Yes sure...however you have to admit the last couple games they simple haven't played up to par.  Admitting that doesn't make you a bad fan.

Good gutsy win, but some major issues again like the NIU game that will continue to haunt them in the MAC if they don't figure it out.  For very long stretches the offense was languid with no ball movement, and every player just wanting to take on all of Kent.  Lack of imagination and slow.  Very un-UB.  On defense they looked slow and not at all sharp until near the end.  Like they're a step behind.   Let Kent drive the lane repeatedly with little resistance.  

It's frustrating because we all know we're better than this.  I take a lot of flack for holding them to a higher standard, but whatever.  This team has some issues right now that will bite them in the ass if they don't figure them out. Still, good win, and hopefully they are able to reset and show everyone they made it through their funk against BGSU

Just now, 121Merrimac said:

Is the screeching woman better, or worse, than NIU's court?

There are no women in Kent, Ohio.  Only lonely men and cows.  That must be one or the other.

Just now, trueblue32 said:

*typing furiously on keyboard while drinking a beer and sitting on their couch*

"This team is playing with such low effort"

Submit reply

You too?  Fist bump.

1 minute ago, skrabukes said:

Looking like no focus/effort now too I'd imagine  

Nope.  They're locking it down more now.