Eric Moore: A rising guard

Not since Turner Battle was a sophomore has head coach Reggie Witherspoon trusted an underclassman to run the offense for the Bulls basketball team.

"My role on the team is to be a leader and to orchestrate on offense and defense what coach Witherspoon wants me to do," said sophomore guard Eric Moore.

The point guard is an extension of the head coach, barking offensive and defensive calls to his teammates, relaying messages and strategies from coach to players.

In recent history, the men's basketball team has relied on upperclassmen to carry such heavy responsibilities. This year, that duty rests with Moore.

As the point guard, Moore is automatically a team leader despite his lack of experience. Yet, Moore's leadership style is changing as he develops in his role.

"I'm more of a leader by example because that's what I've always been," Moore said. "You know, I've never been really much of a vocal leader but Coach Spoon stresses every day for me to be a vocal leader, so that's what I'm trying to do every day."

After starting only three games as a freshman, Moore has started all eight games in his second year at Buffalo. He is second on the team in scoring at a clip of 13.1 points per game and leads the Bulls with 3.5 assists per game.

But Moore has been inconsistent at times, placing second on the team in turnovers with 29. Moore views his performance thus far as a work in progress.

"I think it's going alright," Moore said. "I think there's a lot of room for improvement but it's been going pretty good so far."

Since high school, Moore has watched his game develop from a supporting role player's assists to the drive of a featured weapon.

"I think I'm more of a scorer now," Moore said. "In high school, I didn't score as much but now I've been given the opportunity to score more.."

Despite the difference in roles, Moore has flourished in both thanks in part to the coaching he received. Along with the tutelage gained from Witherspoon while in Buffalo, Moore was also under the guide of talented minds at both Morristown-Beard High School and St. Benedict's Preparatory School in New Jersey. The six-foot one-inch guard draws a parallel between his past and current coaches.

"They're very alike," Moore said. "They are tough on their players and they demand a lot but they make sure they get the best out of them."

Coach Witherspoon believes that the young floor general is progressing in his game and his maturity. Thanks to this growth, Witherspoon has given Moore an expanded role on the court.

With his new responsibilities this season, Moore has made the most of his chances. Buffalo's new point man has logged career-highs in nearly every category. He reached career bests in points, minutes and three-pointers made against Temple with 21 points, 39 minutes played and five three-pointers. He also registered career-high six rebounds against Iona and a career best five assists four times so far this season.

Moore has made the most of his extra opportunities and has given the Bulls a consistent threat from the point position. Thanks in part to his increased production Buffalo is off to a 6-2 start, with victories over the Atlantic Coast Conference's Miami Hurricanes and the Atlantic-10's Temple Owls.

Even with the early success, Moore agrees that like his own game, the team has areas in which it can improve.

"The team has been doing pretty good," Moore said. "I think just like myself we can improve on some things and I think once we do that it can be a more successful season than what we had so far."

Success is part of the reason that Moore came to Buffalo.

"The atmosphere, the fans and the way they were winning," Moore said. "I thought this was a competitive school and I thought they could compete and go to the tournament."

With upcoming games at Conference USA's Tulane on Wednesday and at home against nationally No. 2 ranked Pittsburgh on Saturday, Moore will get the chance to prove he and Bulls belong on the national stage.