UB Athletics had perhaps its most successful year in school history during 2013-14.
From the football team making just its second ever bowl game appearance – which included almost undeniably the greatest athlete in school history – to the men’s basketball and softball teams winning their first-ever Mid-American Conference East titles, the year was filled with accolades and something UB fans have not been accustomed to seeing in the past: winning.
A now departed senior class that shattered several school records in their final season spearheaded the banner year.
On the gridiron, linebacker Khalil Mack set the NCAA record for forced fumbles (16), as running back Branden Oliver and wide receiver Alex Neutz became the program’s all-time leaders in rushing yards (4,049) and receiving touchdowns (31), respectively. Forward Javon McCrea became UB’s all-time leader in scoring on the hardwood, and pitchers Tori Speckman and Mike Burke became the softball and baseball teams all-time wins leaders. Volleyball libero Kelly Svoboda became the first player in program history to win an individual postseason award when she was awarded the MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
And that’s only naming a few.
But despite their success during the regular season and personal accolades, no team or senior class was able to bring home the ultimate prize: a conference championship.
The football team failed to make the MAC Championship game and lost the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to San Diego State, 48-25. The men’s and women’s basketball teams were both upset in the quarterfinals of its respective MAC tournaments, and the softball and men’s tennis teams both lost in the MAC Championship game.
Athletic Director Danny White continued his overhaul of the Athletics Department, deciding not to bring back women’s soccer head coach Michael Thomas and volleyball head coach Todd Kress, bringing his total number of coaching changes to nine in a little more than two years on the job.
The success or failure of White’s coaching decisions is an ongoing storyline as the men’s basketball team enters year two of the Bobby Hurley era, and football head coach Jeff Quinn enters the second year of a five-year contract extension.
The following includes a few teams that made the most noise around campus this past year.
Football
Behind the most talented senior class in program history, the football team did two things for the second time in its history: won eight games and made a bowl game.
After opening the season with losses to national powerhouses Ohio State and Baylor, the Bulls rattled off seven straight victories. The running game and defense were staples of the team, as the Bulls averaged 167.4 rushing yards and allowed only 10.8 points a game over their seven-game win streak. The defensive production centered on the success of Mack, who was later drafted No. 5 by Oakland Raiders on May 8.
The first-team All-MAC linebacker brought national attention to the football program, beginning with his dominant performance over the Buckeyes in the season opener – culminating in a “SportsCenter” No. 1 play, a No. 1 worldwide trend and his name to rise up every draft board in America.
The Bulls faltered down the stretch, however, falling 24-7 to Bowling Green in what was essentially a MAC semifinal game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, before getting blown out in their bowl game.
Despite its disappointing end, an eight-win season helped Quinn quiet some of the critics of the five-year contract extension he received in November 2012. Quinn will have to prove himself again this season, however, as the team looks to rebuild around junior quarterback Joe Licata and move on from its historic departed senior class.
Men’s basketball
After 14-year head coach Reggie Witherspoon was fired, Hurley inherited a team poised to make a deep run in the MAC Tournament.
After a shaky 4-4 start, the team began to excel in Hurley’s new offense, finishing the final 20 regular season games 15-5 and posting a 13-5 MAC record.
A trio of now graduated seniors led the team.
McCrea averaged 18.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game en route to becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer and MAC Player of the Year. The Bulls were aided by the return of senior guard Jarod Oldham, who missed all but 10 games the year before. Guard Josh Freelove, who transferred to UB – his fourth different school – for his senior season, was a major contributor, finishing second on the team with 13.5 points per game and shooting 41.1 percent from the 3-point line.
Along with the senior trio, the addition of electrifying freshman guard Shannon Evans and steady contributions from Will Regan and Jarryn Skeete energized the program as the Bulls claimed their first MAC East Championship.
Despite the No. 3 seed, the Bulls fell to No. 6 Eastern Michigan, 69-64, in their first game of the MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. Buffalo struggled against the Eagles’ zone defense, as it limited Buffalo to just 7 for 30 from inside the arc and McCrea to only seven points.
The Bulls’ lack of depth was exposed, as the team struggled when Evans got into foul trouble and Skeete was forced from the game due to a head injury.
Buffalo received an invitation to the College Invitational Tournament but declined the offer. Hurley was rumored to be in contention for several vacant head coaching positions, but he returned to Buffalo. Hurley now has to rebuild the Bulls without the departed seniors and Evans may be the squad’s new centerpiece.
Women’s basketball
Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack continued to elevate the women’s basketball program last season.
The Bulls finished 2013-14 with their most MAC wins (10) in school history, and in two years under Legette-Jack, they have won the most MAC games (18) in a two-year stretch in program history.
Buffalo’s highlight came in January when the team won five consecutive MAC games, highlighted by two games in which sophomore guards Mackenzie Loesing and Karin Moss both hit game-winning shots at Alumni Arena with four seconds left on the clock. Loesing hit a game-winning shot in overtime against Eastern Michigan on Jan. 18 and Moss did the same with four seconds remaining in regulation against Miami Ohio on Jan. 30.
The Bulls finished the regular season as the No. 4 seed in the MAC, their highest ever seeding. The team, however, fell in its first game of the tournament, a 74-60 loss to Ball State in the MAC quarterfinals. Buffalo shot just 30.6 percent from the field, including 7 for 32 (21.9 percent) from beyond the arc.
Buffalo will return all but one starter from last season and will be aided by the return of sophomore forward/guard Rachael Gregory, who missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL.
Softball
Before this season, the UB softball program did not have a decorated history.
The Bulls finished with a winning record only once in Division I play and only made the MAC Tournament twice. They went 3-45 and 1-17 in conference play in 2007.
Then entered first-year head coach Trena Peel.
Peel brought a new mindset of “swagger” and immediate success to the softball program, leading the Bulls to their first MAC East title, the most wins (30) in program history and their first-ever MAC Championship game appearance.
A historic season class of players led the softball team.
Speckman set the all-time and single season wins records, and became the first player in program history to throw two no-hitters. Senior infielder Sammi Gallardo set the all-time and single season records for home runs. Speckman, Gallardo and fellow senior Holly Luciano were named to the All-MAC First Team last season; Buffalo previously only had three players ever named to that list.
The Bulls started off the season 6-0 for the first time in program history and scored 29 runs in their first two games alone.
The team did not win its sixth game or score its 29th run until its 28th and 14th game, respectively, in 2013. The Bulls went just 15-20 after the 6-0 start, but regained their form late, finishing the regular season 6-0 to claim their first-ever MAC East title.
After getting the first three MAC Tournament wins in its history, the Bulls fell in the MAC Championship game to Ohio, 4-0, the second time Ohio shutout UB in the tournament. Buffalo scored 20 runs in its three tournament wins.
Despite the disappointing ending, it was remarkable season for a program that had accomplished very little throughout its history.
Men’s tennis
The men’s tennis team has been one of the most successful teams on campus since the arrival of head coach Lee Nickell in 2009.
This past season might have been the team’s most successful season yet, as it received its first top 75 ranking by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and came within a third set tiebreaker of bringing home a MAC Championship.
The top 75 ranking was propelled by the Bulls’ season-opening upset win over the Cornell, the No. 53 team in the country at the time.
Buffalo went just 1-3 in the MAC, but its lone win was crucial. The Bulls defeated rival Western Michigan in a winner-take-all tiebreaker on senior day at the Miller Tennis Center. The win ended up being the tiebreaker for the Bulls to make it into the MAC Tournament as the fourth and final seed, knocking out the Broncos.
Despite struggling in the stretch run of the season, Buffalo pulled out an upset 4-2 win over No. 1 Northern Illinois in the semifinals of the tournament. The Bulls fell to Ball State in the championship game, however, on a winner-take-all third set tiebreaker.
The Bulls return most of their starters from last season, including reigning MAC Player of Year Damien David.
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