Buffalo is a young team that has no seniors in its regular rotation; its top four scorers consist of three sophomores and a junior. Knowing this, it would make sense that the team had to learn how to win.
Up by four with less than fifty seconds left against Western Michigan on Jan. 29, Buffalo saw its lead quickly fly away. With the game tied and less than 20 seconds left in regulation, Rodney Pierce failed to connect on a game-winning shot.
Faced with the same situation late in the first overtime, Pierce again failed to make a game-winning shot. Eventually the Bulls saw a certain victory drift into a 10-point, double-overtime defeat.
Up by the three with 45 seconds left in the game against Central Michigan on Feb. 2, Buffalo allowed a game-tying three pointer. The team then turned the ball over, failing yet again to convert a game-winning opportunity. For the second straight game, Buffalo lost in double-overtime.
Tied at 64, with the ball and 48 seconds left in regulation against Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon, Byron Mulkey made a jump shot to take a 66-64 lead. Mulkey then made two free throws to put Buffalo up four and ice the game. Buffalo had finally made a game-winning shot; they had finally pulled out a close game, and, for the first time since 2007, had finally won a game at Alumni Arena.
As the buzzer sounded, ending the game, head coach Reggie Witherspoon finally allowed himself to relax, letting out a large sigh of relief.
A nine game losing streak seemed to suck the spirit out of both the team and its coach at times. However, a starting lineup that consists of one freshman, one sophomore and three juniors (one of which is new to the program this season) has since helped Buffalo to two consecutive conference wins for the first time since March of 2006.
"I think that you hate to go through some of the things we went through, but at the same time, these guys are on the floor, and they're getting the chance to play," Witherspoon said about his young players. "There are some other guys in the league that are sophomores that can't get on the floor cause they have seniors in front of them."
While the two overtime losses may have hurt at the time, they were necessary hurdles in order to reach the final destination.
Despite Buffalo's porous 8-14 record, and even more unseemly 2-8 conference tally, the Bulls have talent. Sophomore forward Calvin Betts has averaged over 10 points and nine boards 10 conference games. Despite Betts' 6-foot-3 frame, Betts owns the paint and his aggressive play allows him to grab many loose balls. Betts leads the team with three offensive rebounds per game in conference play.
However, Betts cannot be relied on in the offensive end because of his size. In most occasions he is unable to make offensive moves, and scores most of his points on putbacks and jumpers. Betts also leads the team with 68 personal fouls this season due to defending players sometimes several inches taller than him.
With Betts' limitations, most of the scoring falls on Andy Robinson. The best word to describe Robinson is "streaky." After scoring 35 points on Tuesday night against Northern Illinois, Robinson could not find a rhythm on Sunday, making only four of his 13 shots for 12 points. If the Bulls expect to turn this season around, they will need to rely on Robinson, as well as forward Max Boudreau. Sunday marked the first time in the past four games that he did not score in double figures, but Boudreau did finish with six rebounds and four points in 21 minutes of work.
Buffalo's next opponent, Ball State, has won only three games this season, and is 2-8 in conference. While this season has largely been a disappointment, Buffalo can still salvage the season with some wins down the stretch, which judging by their win on Sunday over Eastern Michigan, they are learning how to do.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
