everlast2504

16 minutes ago, Bullsboys said:

I think I read that Alumni Arena did not have AC, which is one of the requirements set by the TBT to host the regional site. 

I understand the school not wanting to pony up for the AC, for a TBT team not affiliated with the school. However AC is needed in the Arena, the place is unbearable in the summer. It would have made sense to pay for the AC now.

The school in my opinion has not taken advantage of the National success that Blue Collar U has had, through lack of social media (Essentially free PR), inability to provide AC to host and overall notable lack of interest by the administration and the University.

UB is not going to rush an AC for in a single event over one summer. An A/C would be a capital improvement on the scale of 100s of thousands if not a few million. 

The larger assessment is what is the demand of AA as a venue in the short hot summers of Buffalo? The cost benefit analysis of it, etc. It's a lot more involved then dropping a few units in the windows. 

I know it's a hill i'm gonna die on but we need to disconnect TBT from UB. It's a great story and headline for fans. But I think we are over estimating the PR value. The focus should be on current student athletes, and NILs.

1 hour ago, clodney said:

Let me see if I have this right. TBT wanted to use Alumni Arena for the defending champs to be able to play on their home court, yet BlueCollarU couldn't gather somewhere in the range of $10-$15k to pay UB whatever they charge for an event in AA? Is that for real?

1.) Was a discount offered by the University on the facility? Why would we charge full amount for a massive publicity event for the school?

2.) Was anyone on this site approached for donations to support this cause? It seems like such a small amount of money for a ton of good publicity.

3.) Didn't these guys win a million dollars last year? They can't get a few thousand together to rent the damn arena?

How does this stuff keep happening?? Either our PR is a joke and there are all sorts of secrets being held back that would explain these disasters or we have fallen off a cliff and have a support level that rivals a D3 school.

1 hour ago, BullBoy said:

It's the lack of support again from Administration.  It is extra work that they don't want to do for the basketball programs. I am sure some employees would have to give up summer vacations and cushy hours to put this event on and they didn't want to give that time and support.

If Blue Collar U was a football team, you know ADMA would be putting all his resources into it.

 

I think we are missing the fact that this is 100% not affiliated with the school on any level at all. There may be some legal issues regulations on why we can't shift money around to support a private event to be hosted over the summer. 

IMO its not the Admin's job to offer support to former athletes some of which have are approaching 10 years removed from the school. The Admin should be charging money to rent out Alumni, that money can go on to support current athletes and not a summer basketball tournament that has zero connection to the school. I'm talking about the tournament as a business not the one out of the 64 teams that has some players on the team that used to go to UB. 

12 hours ago, ub2019 said:

Don’t think we’ll be getting anyone from this AAU program while BB is the coach 

Putting on the tin foil hat for this one:

There is a lot more here under the surface. He only had one player going to UB and is talking about kids? Did he have contact with our other players? Something just doesn't seem right about his statement. 

3 minutes ago, rma said:

I don’t have the patience to read all that but I really don’t think UB lets Alumni Arena sit “empty”. There’s UB events there all the time. Could they have used another event? Sure.

I think ChatGPT gained consciousness and started trolling our board. I read it, their starting to cross a line from mildly annoying to our right rage troll posts and insulting to our community and members. 

9 hours ago, UB92 said:

 Let’s focus on the guys that have committed and the guys who are here, rather than desperately following the portal guys.  It’s a bad look. 

Gotta agree with this point somewhat. We have several threads about former coaches, players, etc that get more attention then our actual players and coaches. 

24 minutes ago, DooleyBull06 said:

I love your analogy. That’s a perfect description of it. Musical chairs. Spot on. I love Dickie V but he can be old man get off my lawn sometimes. The Portal is basically free agency. And after this final 4, where you had FAU and San Diego St in it, are mid majors in trouble or finding ways to thrive with the perfect balance of experience and portal hits. Meanwhile schools that employ one and dones (Kentucky and Duke) are sitting at home. To me, teams with older players, experience and years together have been winning lately.

Furthermore, look at Arkansas. Mussleman works the portal more than anyone. He’s had success. I believe back to back elite 8s but hasn’t broken through yet. Is it a matter of time or is that the ceiling for a mostly portal’d roster?

2 hours ago, UBinMD said:

There are 1,500 players in portal. Dick Vitale is loosing his mind about it and the gutting of the mid majors. It will be interesting how this game of musical chairs plays out. Will there be enough seats?

Just as many bench players at a P5 will want to transfer to a school were they will be a starter.  You have players who out preform moving to a better school. Players who just hate it an want out. 

I the end I think it will end up doing nothing. There are only so many Curry's and Morant's that slip through the cracks and end up at mid-majors. To then be able to transfer to a top P5 where the NIL would make them millions. 

According to this https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/one-year-of-nil-how-much-have-athletes-made/3765040/

The money in NIL still isn't there for 99% of the college athletes. No school is losing a player over a couple thousand.

I also see more of this happening 

https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2023/04/13/cavinder-twins-hanna-haley-decision-to-leave-miami-college-basketball-today-show-wwe-rumors

The students leaving the school to pursue the endorsements, modeling etc, after the pipelines have been set up. This may cause the schools to pull back the NIL money a little to keep their star athletes playing for the school.  

2 hours ago, dj_paige said:

UB did not pay for food. UB did not pay for drinks.

The school would not have to pay for anything.  Work with the venue to market the event properly. 

1 hour ago, trueblue32 said:

The event was clearly not intended for students, nor should it be. It's like a 45 minute trip each way on bus/train (not including wait times), most students aren't old enough to (legally) drink, most students don't have the desire/money to be paying for craft beers, the athletic department doesn't want college kids getting sloppy drunk at a department happy hour event. They didn't have True Blue put anything out about it on social media. Let's be realistic.

I'm sure there will be plenty of student outreach in the run up to the season. We don't need to invent things to be mad about lol

The fact you thought it was being viewed as a “Department happy hour” is what is wrong. 
there are plenty of student of legal age. Underage students can get food soda. It also doesn’t cost money to ask the place hey can you do a deal if we try and get this place packed? 
 

It’s more about the effort and commitment. UB also has several thousand students that live on campus. Ellicot is one of the biggest dorm buildings in the country…
Calling it a commuter school is an excuse. 

6 minutes ago, dj_paige said:

Unlike @MuchMany, I thought the crowd was kind of light. We're in essentially a bar, the people were not packed in very tightly, not packed in at all, you didn't have to squeeze between people to walk over to the bar or back to your seat. I was hoping for more. In addition, lots of the people in attendance were UB Athletic Dept employees, I'm going to guess 25% were UB employees which isn't bad but I kind of wish the non-employee turnout was higher. No sign of ADMA, Satish, Coach Mo, Coach Burke (perhaps they were out of town and have valid excuses, but it sure would have been great to see them there as well).

Maybe they should of sent out more emails 😛 

Jokes aside I think it was a good thing that the other coaches were not there. The focus should be on GHIII and not the other coaches. I think ADMA should of been there but its not an event for him. 

The place should of been packed. It's a bus and train ride away for students. The Athletic dept marketing and PR needs to get much better. It should be a simple sell of "Downtown + Beer + meet the new coach" get a 20% off your tab..... Or something. Free growler with UB student ID and valid 21+ id. Otherwise enjoy the food and the experience. 

20 minutes ago, DooleyBull06 said:

To @trueblue32 point, over 20% of D1 basketball players are in the portal. Recruiting is no longer a two month operation. It’s year long. There’s plenty of time. Now that we have a complete staff I’d assume we will not only see activity for this upcoming season but for the season after that. One thing I’d like to see this staff do is offer kids for the future. Get in early, develop relationships both with recruits but establish a pipeline. I feel that’s been missing. 

15 hours ago, MuchMany said:

Really nice event with around 100 people in attendance. Will listen back to hear GH's comments, sound was tough in person.

Halcovage - seems truly excited to be getting his shot. Not sure how much of that has to do with UB itself, but I don't really care. He's ready to go.

Tibbs - friendly guy, has good connections, hitting the road recruiting asap. Said they're looking for culture fits, mature guys, as much as talent.

Cage - awesome guy. Warmed up to me when I mentioned Dickinson, said that's who helped kick off his coaching career. Said we'd have a chance except Kansas has a million dollar NIL deal on the table lol.

Presutti - very polished, personable. Was excited about my Sabres goathead hat, asked where he can get one. Said his three boys are big Bills fans and are all excited to be here. He might be the first man on the bench.

Saunders - bright young guy, seems excited for the chance to make something happen here.

I like Cage's statement here. Speaks more to we have the staff with connections and the confidence to go after anyone. I don't think were looking at good enough for the MAC and hoping we get lucky. With the connections some of the coaches have to AAU and the like programs across the country we are looking for better.

I don't think Cage would of been hired if his only connection was former UB player. It's the team and league he coached those high school players in was the reason. The fact that he played here was the bonus, not the other way around. 

44 minutes ago, Jeseph said:

It seems like Jay Wright was mentoring him as a HC-to-be for a while now. On paper this feels like a coach ready to lead his program and filled a staff with guys who are complementary instead of those that provide program experience/guidance.

It also helps a lot that he does have Jay Wright on speed dial. 

7 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

First one I have heard. 6'6", 180lb, 12 games, 1.5 ppg, 0.3apg, 0.3rpg

Diamond in the rough or a good player on a stacked team? Team is 29-3 and 12-0 in conference, so it may be full of D1 talent.

Might be on to something. He looks to be on the shorter side in this clip. At 6'6" in high school I would expect him to be one of the tallest out there. 

55 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Feels like the wheels are in motion and direction of the program is starting to take shape.

I would be happier if this came in response of a few new players signing right now or new that a lot of other players removed themselves from the portal. This makes player 7 that is leaving and the first after we have a new coach. 

34 minutes ago, SGBull said:

I have always been very surprised we don't have a D! hockey program. Feels like we could be a very solid team with the local talent.

Rumors I hear is it always comes down to cost and facilities. From what I understand club hockey is just as good as D1 at large schools too.

1 hour ago, UB Horns Up said:

Why would you say that? It’s not the St Bonaventure Bonnies basketball fault some UB donors refuse to understand that NIL and transfer portals are part of the college game now. I actually feel sorry for George Halcovage that he has to deal with some these people ruining it all the other UB Bulls basketball fans because they live in a alternate reality of the real world of college basketball today.

UB is state university and we have some of our UB Bulls fans on there knees please don’t go to the St Bonaventure Bonnies basketball go anywhere else instead Isaac Jack. I am sure Canisius and Niagara are on UB alums list of basketball teams too. Worry about UB athletics problems from some of there wealthier UB donors with in which is lack of NIL and more loyal the state politics than UB Bulls college sports which is unfortunate.

If Isaac Jack went to the St Bonaventure Bonnies basketball and won Western New York our first undisputed NCAA national championship Buffalo would go crazy for joy. I don’t understand why UB wouldn’t want that for Buffalo if UB just can’t do it because some of there UB donors are more worried about politics and what New York State and the New York Times might write. If heaven forbid oh I forgot I can say heaven today I am on a New York State athletics board not a private school athletics board sorry. If UB hired from the Nate Oats coaching tree oh my scandalous how could UB Bulls basketball go on? UB alum should worry about that toxic stuff that makes it impossible to hire anyone that isn’t really raw coaching experience wise. Rick Pitino no way he would be hired by UB or Nate Oats now if they said they coach UB for free of salary both of co coaches they wouldn’t be hired. That is the kind of toxic stuff where UB why UB will never be big time. Because it’s one thing if UB had the money to be picky like that but they don’t. You want me to bow down to the New York Times and New York State agenda show UB athletics the money. See that is why UB New York Bulls, “Mr Wonderful” Danny White and New York Public Powerhouse from of the UB donors was bull and most in Western New York knew it. Be better UB Bulls than that. The Bonnies are in a different conference and it doesn’t matter because UB struggles to beat $275,000 Reggie Witherspoon Canisius Golden Griffins basketball. I hope Isaac Jack goes to the Bonnies if he is leaving UB Bulls anyway it’s good to stay in the Buffalo family so to speak. Isaac Jack is raw basketball experience wise but he will look great in the brown and white of the Bonnies.

At least he will get better coaching with Mark Schmidt than with Jim Whitesell who wasted Jeenathan Williams NBA player sick. If I could I would stop that $500,000 buyout of Jim Whitesell for that what a bum who should have been fired at the very least two years ago with no contract extension crazy. That is why I said the hire for UB Bulls basketball was to hire Mark Schmidt away from the Bonnies but UB basketball unfortunately doesn’t understand they are in a sports tuff battle and they continue to lose that battle to the Bonnies basketball. UB Bulls are pathetic for a state school while up the road the Connecticut Huskies basketball won another basketball NCAA championship with Danny Hurley while we watch good coach after good coach walk out the door. Oh I know it’s the Buffalo Bills fault or the Buffalo Sabres fault or it’s Buffalo fans fault or it’s BSF fault he needs to be silenced banned and canceled for speaking the truth in my opinion. UB Horns Up! Go Bulls! Let’s Go Buffalo 

We could go undefeated in every sport and win every MACC and National title and you would still find a way to complain and make thinly veiled backhand compliments  about how UB is only a public school for the poors and we should just be happy our basketball hoops have nets. 

11 minutes ago, bullsbball said:

So the UB Distinguished Speaker Series at UB should also be sent out through the UB Men's Basketball Email list?  If they did, I'd unsubscribe.

I already get emails from UB Athletics, UB Men's Basketball, UB Women's Basketball, UB Office of Alumni Engagement, UB Ticket Office, UB Engineering, among many others.   I don't need more emails.

The UB Office of Alumni Engagement did send out an email in March about the MAC Tournament. 

Yes, it would be nice if there was a way to "opt in" to these lists. But, if you're really interested in UB sports, you'd just need to follow this forum!!

4 minutes ago, Jeseph said:

Are you telling me the alumni office doesn't have access to donor/affinity data which could enable sending a segmented email to interested/active alumni+ donors?

UB has Alumni has very high net worth people. They have no idea this forum exists. They also don't care it exists, will put no effort into visiting this forum, nor think about it ever. 

What they do have is money that they are willing to spend. We need to do much better outreach. A meet and greet with the new Mens Basketball coach isn't a Men's Basketball event. That is thinking mid to low major. It should be considered a major university event and treat as such. 

6 hours ago, BrooklynBull said:

Emails were sent out by Athletics for the  introductory press conference.  Emails have also been sent out by Athletics about a meet and greet at Southern Tier Brewing Company for Wednesday night.  These are Athletics events and not Alumni events.  Not sure why the Alumni Association would be sending out announcements fort these events/

 

Because they should. Any school event open to the public should 1000% be an Alumni Event. It's how you set up pipelines and get the money flowing in. 

42 minutes ago, Chet said:

It's absolutely remarkable that none of the Bama coaches ended up at University at Buffalo. I would imagine Adam Bauman gets a promotion after the dust settles. Will be very interesting to see how Coach Oats and the new head coaches do without each other. I'll be rooting for the Bulls, but will continue to root for the Oats coaching tree.

For what Adam did with TBT I'm shocked he didn't land as a head coach or top Assistant somewhere 

14 minutes ago, DooleyBull06 said:

I definitely think once the staff is rounded out the recruiting stuff will start to pick. Love that the staff News is coming fast and furious the last two days. Give it time, he’s gotta assemble a staff that can go out and hit the trail. I’m sure he’s also formulating a recruiting plan in the mean time. And I agree with the energy. Already a stark contrast. Being active on social, not necessarily the coach, but the coach and the program is super important to kids these days. Hate it or love it.

So far these hires seem to be above what we would normally get. I'm liking that. I have a feeling the last coach is gonna be a big wig in either coaching or a former NBA player. 

12 minutes ago, rma said:

Bio: https://und.com/coach/hamlet-tibbs/

Coached under Brey who's son player TE for UB 2006-2009...

25 minutes ago, Jeseph said:

https://villanova.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/tim-saunders/3971

more pieces to the pizzle

Young kid. History is he was part of Nova for the past 7ish years. I like it. 

54 minutes ago, MuchMany said:

I'm rooting for it, but Bradley coming to UB would be a stunner - he was a top 20 recruit nationally and has only lost a bit of luster since then. I know he still reps Rochester even though he finished high school in NC. If Halcovage can convince Bradley that he'll develop him the same way he did Jalen Brunson, he'll have earned a raise after week one. 

 

I wouldn't touch anything close to this murder. Let's start this new era off with a very clean slate and no hints of stink. 

23 minutes ago, ub2019 said:

First assistant coach hire. Obviously a UB basketball alum, but was hoping for someone more inspiring than a Canisius assistant. 

That 90s old heads comment was kinda a massive hint. 

While Canisius might not be impressive. He helped coach several players going to big time programs while at Team Takeover. 

https://basketball.realgm.com/aau/circuit/1/Nike-EYBL-17U/team/50/Team-Takeover/players

Notables being 

Justin Moore for the 'Nova connection

Hunter Dickinson for the yes that Hunter Dickinson....

1 minute ago, trueblue32 said:

IMO the most likely scenario is he finishes the season with the Blazers (who are tanking) then they waive him because the second year is non-guaranteed. That said, he profiles as a 3 and D wing and NBA teams are always looking for someone to fill that role on the cheap. While he's playing with G-Leaguers on a tanking team, they beat a playoff team in his first game and gave another playoff team a run for their money in game 2. He is playing against legitimate NBA players and he's been active on defense with the 3 steals and 2 blocks (I also thought he had a block in the first game that he's not credited for). He's only 1-4 from 3, but he shot over 40% from 3 in the G League. Basically he's a 24 year old undrafted rookie, I don't think any team is going to commit much to develop him, but he's getting his shot to be somebody's cheap roster filler next year.

Thank you 

5 minutes ago, DaBulls99 said:

4 pts, 1 rebound, 3 assists. 0-3 from 3, though. Had 29 minutes played so he’s really getting some time!

I know nothing about the NBA. 

How good is this for his chances to be on an actual NBA roster for the long term?