Collegiate athletes are accustomed to competition. They’re used to competing everyday in practice, in the gym and during games. And when the most integral part of their lives is taken away from them, they adapt.
Kristen Maines knew something was coming — she just didn’t know what it was. On March 12, the women’s tennis coach led her team in a scheduled practice at the Miller Tennis Center. But at the same time, leaders from the Mid-American Conference were discussing how COVID-19 would impact their ability to hold future competitions.
One of the top junior college transfers in the country could be joining the UB men’s basketball team next season. Chipola College point guard Malik Zachery has offers from 17 schools and has narrowed his options to Ole Miss, California and UB. He is set to make his decision on April 15, according to Stockrisers.
The Bulls will enter the 2020 football season — if it takes place on time — with two of the top-10 returning edge rushers in the nation, according to Anthony Treash of ESPN. Using a combination of Pro Football Focus grades and PFF’s wins above average metric, Treash placed UB defensive ends Taylor Riggins and Malcolm Koonce on his list of elite returning edge rushers.
Rachel Barich couldn’t wait for her final season at UB. The senior distance runner was ready to show what her lifetime of work had built up to. She was ready for her moment in the spotlight. But the NCAA cancelled all spring-sport seasons on March 12 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, leaving senior athletes without their senior seasons.
Over the past few months, COVID-19 has sent the global economy into a freefall. On Thursday, the virus found yet another economic victim: Division-I athletic programs. The NCAA Board of Governors voted unanimously Thursday to distribute $225 million to Division-I member schools, a 62.5% decrease from the expected $600 million.
Athletic Director Mark Alnutt has led his program to new heights. And now, he’s tasked with guiding it through COVID-19 and the various financial, logistical and communicative hurdles that come along with it.
UB women’s basketball senior forward Summer Hemphill announced on Twitter Monday that she will be staying on the team for an additional season.
Two weeks ago, Jayvon Graves walked into head coach Jim Whitesell’s office with a surprising announcement. He would be entering his name into the 2020 NBA Draft.
Men’s basketball junior guard Jayvon Graves announced on Friday that he is planning to declare for the 2020 NBA Draft, with the ability to return to college next year if he withdraws his name no later than 10 days after the scouting combine.
Troy Keller was preparing to make a presentation in his field ecology class last week when he discovered some shocking news: the NCAA canceled its Division-I college wrestling championships. Keller, a back-to-back 165 lb. Mid-American Conference champion, was looking forward to competing for the school’s first All-American honor since 2004. But instead, he was told that his career would be ending, but “not on his own terms.”
Three-star men's basketball recruit Josiah Freeman asked for a release from his commitment to UB and UB granted it, according to UB Athletics. Freeman signed his national letter of intent with the Bulls in November, after turning down offers from nine other schools, including Old Dominion and Siena.
The Mid-American Conference canceled all remaining regular season and championship competitions for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year, commissioner Jon Steinbrecher announced Thursday. “During this unprecedented health crisis that continues to evolve daily, we fully support the decision made today by the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA,” UB Athletics Director Mark Alnutt said in a press release. “While we are disappointed for our student-athletes, coaches and staff who have worked diligently to prepare this spring and have had their seasons cut short, their health, safety and well-being will always be our top priority.”
The UB men’s basketball team had three student-athletes earn Mid-American Conference postseason honors, the league announced Wednesday morning. Senior guard Davonta Jordan was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, while sophomore guard Ronaldo Segu was named the MAC Sixth Man of the Year and junior guard Jayvon Graves was named first-team All-MACAll-MAC.
In the first round of the MAC Tournament, the No. 12 seed Miami (OH) Red Hawks upset the No. 5 seed Bulls, 85-79. After the Bulls started the game up 8-0, the Red Hawks stormed back and took a 49-39 lead into the half, led by junior guard Nike Sibande’s 23 first-half points. Sibande ultimately earned 31 points, leading the Red Hawks past the Bulls.
The Bulls (18-11, 9-9 MAC) celebrated their only graduating senior Theresa Onwuka on Saturday’s senior night, as UB closed out the regular season with a 72-58 win against Kent State (18-11, 11-7 MAC). Onwuka’s final regular season game for the Bulls came with a milestone: her 1,000th career point.
As the regular season ended Friday for UB men’s basketball and one stat stood out among the rest. UB led the nation in rebounding during the 2019-20 season, despite fielding a smaller lineup than some of its competitors.
Bowling Green, OH — UB men’s basketball (20-11, 11-7 MAC) defeated Bowling Green (21-10, 12-6 MAC) 88-84 Friday night at the Stroh Center during the last game of the regular season. Two of the top-four-ranked teams in the MAC battled as the 4-seeded Bulls got the best of the 2-seeded Falcons on their senior night.
As a high school freshman, Dyaisha Fair made her coaches a promise. She was going to be the best player they had ever seen. But she wasn’t being arrogant. She was simply stating the truth.
UB men’s basketball (19-11, 10-7 MAC) defeated Miami(OH) (12-18, 5-12 MAC) 75-69 at Alumni Arena on senior night Tuesday. In honor of the occasion, head coach Jim Whitesell gave senior forward Gabe Grant the starting nod over sophomore forward Jeenathan Williams. Grant hit 2 3-pointers early in the game, proving he was worthy of the starting spot.
Solutions by The State News
