MaineBull

I believe you are correct. We now have one scholarship left for next season. I am hopeful it can be used on a big rim protector in the interior. A true big who can defend and rebound inside. A player who can run the floor and defend off the high screen and role thus is not a mismatch when we switch in this situation.

I felt the effort and defensive assignments were much better last night. Still a lot to work on but a step in the right direction. As I said yesterday there will be growing pains with this team as they are young with many news faces. It will take us time for all the players and coaches to determine their roles and to get used to playing together. I suspect as the season goes along we play better and better. A few of my thoughts after watching the game last night: I think our best lineup is: 1. Segu 2. Jordan 3. Graves 4. Grant 5. Mballa This lineup is strong defensively, minus Grant, and allows us some flexibility on both ends of the floor. Segu has proven he should start and this team is more efficient on offense with him running the point. Jordan's defense is still needed, but we are a better team with Segu running the team. Free throws are a real problem thus far. MBalla looked very uncomfortable at the line last night. He will spend a lot of time at the line this season as he is so active offensively, he really needs to get in the gym and work on his free throws. Same for Jordan, we will need the two of them on the floor at the end of games. If they both continue to shoot free throws like this we cannot have them on the floor at the end of the games. I like the idea of red shirting Skogman. Allow him to put on some weight and adjust to the college game. He seems very engaged on the bench, and with the guys, love that. Savion Gallion looks to be a pleasant surprise. His effort on defense was contagious last night and really seemed to inspire the other Bulls players. He is not overly quick but can get to the rim. We have not seen him shoot the outside jumper much yet, but if he continues to play defense with this effort Coach will have no choice but to play him more minutes. Nickleberry is a good rebounder, and he got some minutes last night but he does not appear ready for this level just yet. He will need sometime to adjust. Prior to the season I had him as a starter. based on what I have seen he is only a role player at best this season. Johnson, WIlliams and Hardnett all showed glimpses last night. But to me they all are still not ready to be starters on this team. They will all be big contributors to this team this season and moving forward but at this time we have better options to start. Williams looks much improved, but still needs to work on his game. U still think a MAC POTY is in his future if he continues to work. I love to hear how hard Segu and Williams are working. When a teams best players are the hardest works it sets the tone for the entire team. They both have very bright futures and I cannot wait to see how they develop. This team needed a game like this. I am hoping we can keep ramping up the defensive intensity. I am a bit nervous about our interior defense, especially when we face a legit big in the post. I liked the style of play from last night and I like the pressure our guards placed on Nazareth on the perimeter. This season is going to be a grind and will be defined by how we handle adversity. I will be here cheering the entire way and loving each step of the way. I like this team and I cannot wait for Saturday, Go Bulls!

I can do that even if my provider does not have ESPN3?

Seems like a good player that will compliment his other backcourt running mate Chance Robinson very well. I love that we consistently are recruiting this level of player!

Things I want to see tonight in this game against a lesser opponent: 1. Not giving away easy baskets in the post on drives to the basket (especially opposite the ball) 2. Hound the perimeter players to create turnovers and push the tempo off these turnovers for easy baskets 3. Some shots go in from perimeter 4. More activity from Hardnett 5. Nickelberry play some minutes 6. Gallion get a chance to prove himself 7. Jordan make a free throw 8. Better ball movement, how about we make that extra pass 9. Not so many step backs 10. Jordan/Graves look to attack off the dribble and not settle for jumpers 11. Johnson and Grant need to prove they can defend If we do these things I think this will show we are heading in the right direction. I understand we are playing a DIII school but this game is a good chance to work out some of our issues. We are a young team with many new faces. It is going to take us sometime to define our identity as a team and for everyone of the players on the team to understand their roles. Lets hope that tonight we make a big jump towards that goal. Each game we need to build on the last. It starts tonight, play with passion and effort! Go Bulls!

Some good points on this game above. I gave it a few days before I commented and I am glad I did. My comments today are drastically different then they would have been Friday night after the game. This game was bad, in fact, I would argue one of the worst performances I have seen our team play since Reggie Weatherspoon was here. Our defense, especially in the paint was horrible, no other way to put it. We gave away so many easy buckets to a team that is not a score in the post type of team. We made no adjustments and it continued to happen deep into the game. Our shot selection was also poor, we looked like a team that could not decide to run or to slow it up and set the offense in the half court. I could go on and on about the problems we had in that game but we all saw it and we are all sick about it. I am not going to overreact after one game. I am going to remain confident in this coaching staff that they will turn around this ship and they will learn from this game. Lets not lose sight of the fact we have many news and young players on this team. If we continue to see these trends as the season moves along then I think it will be time to worry. Team chemistry is built on adversity and one of the biggest roles of a coach is to steer his team thru such adversity. Lets see how this team bounces back before we assume this is a trend of this team. I still believe there is too much talent on this team not to compete for the MAC championship. I believe Whitesell will get them there, but it is clear there will be some growing pains. Lets work thru them now so come March we are playing our best basketball. As we all know our season is defined on three days in March in Cleveland. Go Bulls!

I am unable to get ESPN3 on my cable provider. Does anyone know if this game will be stream anywhere? Thanks

I would disagree completely. Ikenna Smart was significantly more agile than Bertrum especially laterally. Bertrum does not have the foot speed to compete at this level, never will. All you need for evidence is to look at him trying to cover the big in the post last night. All he could do is foul to prevent giving up an easy bucket. Yes he got three blocks, in garbage time of the game against the second string for a DII team. I like the kid, like his leadership but he is physically overmatched playing at this level. If this was the whetherspoon era, he would be our starting center, but those days are long gone.

I know we should not judge these players or this team after one game but I am going to anyway. I simply cannot resist. I am too excited for this team. First let me be clear I did not see most of the first half. Here are my thoughts on what I saw last night: Nickelberry-I was surprised by his lack of minutes. He looked like a player struggling to adjust to the speed of the game. He looked a bit lost, especially on the offensive end. His length is going to be a huge plus for us on the wing. When he figures it out he is going to be a matchup problem for most MAC teams. Grant-This guy can really shoot it and will shoot it from just about anywhere. I liked what I saw from him last night. He is bigger than I thought and plays bigger on the defensive end. Grant will be a big part of what we do this year and he will have some games where he goes off from deep. He will help us to spread the floor with his shooting. A. Johnson-He may be an even better shooter than Grant. His stroke is pure and he shoots it quick. He seems to be more comfortable shooting off the dribble as opposed to the set shot preferred by Grant. His athleticism is also very impressive. Johnson is in for a big year for us. Graves-He looked confident and like our team leader. He took over the game in the beginning of the second half. Putting his team on his back to get them going, like a true leader does. He defends hard and rebounded the ball well also. I suspect Graves will be in the conversation for MAC POTY. Jordan-He looked in control of the offense. He controlled the pace of play and played his usual great defense. He is going to be a nuisance to all opposing guards all season long. MAC defensive player of the year this year. Gallion-I was impressed with what I saw from this true freshman, although most of those minutes were garbage time at the end of the game. He looks to be a solid player on the defensive side of the ball and has clearly bought into the concept of defending to get minutes. Segu-Wow has he made the sophomore jump. He looked quicker and more athletic. He has clearly hit the weight room as well. We have a budding superstar on our hands here in Segu. He can shoot, has a great pull up game and is very unselfish. He seems to be at his best when finding his teammates down the court on the break. I bet 8 of his assists came in that fashion last night. I see significant minutes played by Segu this year. In fact I could see his great play putting a damper on some of Jordans minutes, especially with the other strong guard play we have now in Grant, Johnson and Nickleberry. J Williams-Also appears to have made a big jump similar to Segu. He looked more relaxed and confident in his game. He limited his bad shoots to a few last night and defensively was very very active. Williams will be a HUGE part of this team and the future looks very bright for him. He becomes more comfortable taking the ball off the dribble to his right and with his jump shot and he could be a MAC POTY in the future. Mballa-I know he only played limited minutes but I was impressed with his game. He is long and athletic and can run the floor, block shots and finish with either hand. His game is perfect for the up tempo style we like to play. He was the only rim protector on the floor last night. Unless Hardnett can provide the ability to protect the rim, he will be our only interior presence when the games are on the line. That being said he is going to have to play without getting into foul trouble. Mballa is going to be a handful in this conference. I see a multiple MAC defensive player of the year award in his future. Bertrum-The rumors of him improving are true. He has gotten in better shape and appears to be one of the team leaders. But he is still not quick enough, or mobile enough laterally to defend in the post. He was schooled by the Daemen big on several occasions last night, I know he is a great Division II player. He is a great kid, who works hard but he is too slow footed for success at this level. Brock is the type of player Buffalo used to recruit back in the Witherspoon days. We have taken recruiting to the next level and he is not able to compete with the new recruits. I do not see Brock playing many significant minutes this season when the game is on the line. He is simply too much of a liability on the defensive side of the ball. Skogman-Looked long but slight. He struggled to defend in the post similar to Bertrum. Hard to judge him on one game, especially his first game. He needs to get in the weight room and to work on his post defense. I love that he can shoot and will be a large part of what we do moving forwards with his ability to space the floor and bring the opposing big away from the basket with his shooting abilities. Whitesell-I liked what I saw from him on the sideline. He looked comfortable and in control. The players played hard for him, especially in the second half. I cannot wait to see his style develop over the year. The kids on this team clearly care for him. Team-I have been saying it for a while now, this team is the favorite to win the MAC. They will have a very balanced scoring attack as we saw last night. They will push the tempo and defend. They will be a very fun team to watch. My only concern is the post defense. MBalla and Hardnett need to secure the post, if so this team really has no visible holes. I cannot wait to watch this team develop as they will continue to get better and better as the season goes on. This team is deeper than last year and has more athleticism than last years team. I would even say this team has better shooting than last years team. The future is bright for the Bulls!

Its pretty exciting to think that Buffalo will roll out players that have transferred from Memphis, Cincinnati and Texas Tech along with Graves and Jordan this season. Amazing how far this program has come. Go Bulls!

I could not agree more. This team does have more depth and length than last year's team. We have so many long athletic wings and bigs that can all be interchanged and put in positions to create a mismatch. My guess is that the lineup will fluctuate depending on the matchup and how we can exploit the opponent. Once all the players are healthy, I think the lineup will look as follows: Jordan Graves Nickelberry Hardnett Mballa The addition of Mballa to this group is HUGE. His defense, rim protection and ability to run the floor is really the only piece missing on this team. In my eyes, we are now the favorite to win the conference and this team will grow stronger and stronger as the season goes on. The future is bright for the Buffalo Bulls!

Schedule is shaping up nicely. I still don't see Syracuse! Love that they are scared to play us.

A review of this information reveals a lot about our program and the current state of our athletic department. Winning has a way of fixing everything. It is obvious that these numbers are mostly driven by the football programs. Good to see us at the top of the MAC!

Segu has turned in to quite the recruiter for Buffalo. He seems to have lots of connections on the AAU circuit and has lobbied hard for them to join him at UB. That shows me how badly he wants to win and how much he believes in this program and this coaching staff. I also see a big jump in production from Segu this year. He appears to have put on some weight and I expect big things from him on the court this year.

Looks like a very strong player. Another player who plays with a chip on his shoulder. A great athlete with an very quick ability to elevate. His athleticism would be a handful in this conference.

Well said, the best recruiting tool is winning. Win and the recruits will want to play for the Bulls!

A winning culture and program needs to be consistent and over a long period of time. Lets keep to momentum going that Hurley and Oats built, if so we can turn this program into the powerhouse we all want it to be, but it needs to happen consistently and over a longer window.

No doubt, this coaching staff has done a phenomenal job replacing the recruits we lost. Honestly, I am more excited to watch this team play for Whitesell than I was for the class Oats had coming in, especially if Mballa is granted his waiver! This class is long and athletic. Its going to be another great season for us Bulls fans. I applaud this coaching staff!

I like what I see here a lot. He has confidence and an ability to get a shot from anywhere he wants on the floor. He has a very nice pull up game and that can be a very affective tool in this conference. I like this recruit and would love to see him commit to UB. I could see this kid having a big impact here at UB, maybe even an impact as soon as he would arrive on campus.

Agreed this staff is putting together another strong OOC schedule. I hope they can secure a few solid home games as well. After our success last year my guess is a few quality home games will be hard to get. I do love the fact that Syracuse is now scared to play us.

Another quality OOC opponent. I love this matchup. Will help us prepare for conference play and more importantly tournament play.

I have been hesitant to believe Mballa will receive a waiver to play this year. This news however, does seem to imply he will be playing right away. If Mballa plays this year we are a legit threat to win the MAC again and could be looking at another year with a win in the first round of the tournament. Lets not forget Mballa was getting minutes in the tournament on the national championship runner up last year. His ability to run the floor and finish and defend will be a game changer for this team. I am anxious to get confirmation on this news.

I think one of the keys to our success in the recruiting trail will be our ability to get quality P5 players or transfers and offer them playing time right away. This is not a luxury that many of the P5 schools can offer. These recruits want to play and they want to play from day 1. We can offer this to many of the quality recruits and or transfers. This is one of the big factors that allows mid majors like us to compete with these larger schools in recruiting.

Just as I suspected, they are scared to play Buffalo!

Great point. Enough cannot be said about the job this coaching staff did to have non of our players transfer out during the coaching change. Shows how close to this group both Whitesell and JQ are. These kids believe in this staff and more importantly they believe in the system and culture that has been created here. They can feel the momentum building and want to continue to ride the wave that is UB basketball!