For many UB athletes who will be competing at the height of their seasons over the course of the next month, there is no "break" in "winter break."
As classes come to a close, the athletic teams already in season will continue on their game schedules, while those teams not yet playing, will prepare for opponents that lay ahead.
Men's basketball
Picking up where they left off last season, the men's basketball team boasts a record of 7-1 and is currently on a five-game winning streak.
The Bulls are set to host Rutgers on Saturday at 7 p.m., which will be broadcast on WGR 550-AM radio. After their match-up with the Scarlet Knights, UB will then play Elton at home on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., followed by a road game at Delaware State on Dec. 30.
Over break, the UB men will also begin Mid-American Conference play. On Jan. 4 the Bulls will defend Alumni Arena against Eastern Michigan. From there they continue conference action, traveling to Northern Illinois on Jan. 7, and then to Toledo on Jan. 10.
As the winter break draws to a close, the Bulls will host MAC opponent Western Michigan on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
Women's basketball
Winter break promises to be a busy time for the UB women's basketball team as well. The Bulls will be traveling the country for a total of eight games before school resumes in mid-January.
UB will play host to Northeastern on Dec. 18 at 2 p.m., followed by a trip to Oakland on Dec. 20. The Bulls will then return home right after Christmas, on Dec. 28, to defend against Bucknell at 5 p.m.
On Dec. 30 the team will get a break from the snow as they travel to San Antonio, and the very next day they will play at Tulsa.
Like the men, the women will also start their MAC competition over break as they travel to Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 7. UB's game against the RedHawks will not only mark their opener of MAC play, but will also be the beginning of two months of strictly conference play.
Following their trip to Ohio, the Bulls will host Bowling Green on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. and have another home game versus Ohio University on Jan. 14 at 5 p.m.
Wrestling
With just over a month of competition gone by, the 2005-2006 season has marked a strong start for the UB wrestling team. So far, the Bulls have finished 5th of 11 at the Oklahoma Gold Classic, tallied three big wins at home over Bloomsburg, Findlay and Gardner-Webb, a second place finish at the Mat Town Tournament and finished in the top half of the 48 teams in the Las Vegas Invitational.
The UB grapplers will square off against 23rd-ranked Edinboro University at the Erie Civic Center on Friday at 8:30 p.m., followed by an 11 a.m. tri-meet against Appalachian State and Mercyhurst on Dec. 20 in Alumni Arena. On Dec. 30, the Bulls will host the 3rd Annual UB Open, at 10 a.m. in Alumni Arena.
The Bulls will hit the road and travel to Northern Illinois for their first MAC dual-meet of the season. Their final match of the winter break will be against UNC-Greensboro at home on Jan 15. Start time is 1 p.m.
Track and field
The Bulls' indoor track and field team began practicing early in the semester, but winter break marks the last chance for the team to get in top condition before competition begins. The student athletes are in charge of coordinating their own workouts over break, and the Alumni Arena facilities are at their disposal.
"They need to focus on everything during break. Strength, speed, stamina and proper nutrition," said Perry Jenkins, men's indoor track and field head coach.
Jenkins is optimistic about the upcoming season, but realizes there are outside factors to keep in mind.
"On paper, our team looks like they will be very good, but we won't really know until the gun goes off. We have to see who has done their homework in the off-season, and we must always keep academics and injuries in mind," he said.
Regular team practices resume on Jan. 9, and the team's first meet is at the Black Squirrel Classic in Kent, Ohio, Jan. 13 and 14.
