Senior guard Zach Filzen hit a 3-pointer in the first half of Saturday's 68-64 win over Bowling Green. A media time-out immediately followed and the fans that lined the length of the court gave him a standing ovation. It wasn't just for that shot, it was to show appreciation to a senior that has worked hard for a program for four years.
But, with the students on opposite ends of the court, who were those people? One of them is Dr. Richard Lynch, D.D.S., a Buffalo basketball season ticket holder since 1998.
Lynch graduated from Buffalo with a B.A. in psychology and biology in 1979 and then received his D.D.S. in 1983 from the Dental School. Then, 15 years later, his passion for basketball and Buffalo brought him back into Alumni Arena.
"I love basketball," Lynch said. "I believe that Division-1 sports is important to any big school."
Since 1998, Lynch has been to many of the men's and women's basketball games. He went to both Mid-American Conference Championship games the men's basketball team has played in and is planning on going this weekend to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament.
Although the men's team is doing really well, Lynch always attends as many games as he can regardless of the teams' records.
"I missed two games this year but if they were 5-20 I'd miss two games also," Lynch said. "It's always fun to go to the games. I always have a great time and it's a great value. My kids love coming."
Lynch has watched seniors Dave Barnett, Mitchell Watt, Titus Robinson, and Filzen grow over the last four years. He's met them at True Blue events and even had dinner with some of them. Lynch feels those four – along with the rest of the team – demonstrate what he loves so much about the basketball program at Buffalo and why he has been a season ticket holder for so long.
"They're great kids," Lynch said. "I've been watching them since they were freshmen and just play hard, hard, hard and that's all I can ask. It's nice that they are winning but as long as they represent the school that's all I care about and these guys have done a great job representing the school."
The character the team displays is a testament to the values that head coach Reggie Witherspoon implements in his program. A minority of critics wants to see Witherspoon's 13-year tenure at Buffalo conclude. But Lynch believes Witherspoon has built the program to point that the university and the community can be proud of.
"Here's his deal," Lynch said. "His guys play hard for him, he does a great job recruiting, and his teams are always in games. That's all you can ask for. He does a nice job."
Lynch spent $700 on two tickets to each of the 28 men's and women's basketball games this year and it is games and players like the ones he saw on Saturday that make him keep coming back.
Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
