Sports - The Spectrum

Buffalo Athletic Director Danny White has been hired as the athletic director for the University of Central Florida.

SPORTS

Report: UB Athletic Director Danny White to interview for UCF opening

By Tom Dinki | Nov. 16, 2015

Athletic Director Danny White is one of three finalists for the AD opening at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and will interview for the job Monday in Chicago, according to a report from the Orlando Sentinel. The report said UCF President John Hitt will also interview DeWayne Peevy, Kentucky deputy director of athletics. White signed a five-year contract extension with UB last fall in order to show “commitment to the Buffalo community and this university,” he told The Spectrum at that time. White was the highest paid athletic director in the Mid-American Conference in the 2013-14 fiscal year with a pay of $301,625, according to USA Today.

Sophomore middle blocker Cassie Shado spikes a shot between two Bowling Green players. in a 3-1 win on Nov. 6.  Six of the Bulls' seven victories came in MAC play, as they head into the conference tournament.

SPORTS

UB Bulls quick hits: Men’s and women’s basketball start seasons, volleyball headed to MAC Tournament

By Sports Desk | Nov. 15, 2015

A weekend recap of UB Athletics, as the basketball teams started its season and the volleyball team is headed to the MAC Tournament.

Senior midfielder Marcus Hanson in Buffalo's 1-0 MAC Tournament Championship loss to Akron Sunday. Hanson is the only impact player that the Bulls lost to gradation.

SPORTS

UB men’s soccer loses to Akron in MAC Championship Game

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Nov. 15, 2015

The Bulls (8-7-4, 2-2-1 MAC) lost to Akron (15-3-2, 4-0-1 MAC), the No. 3 team in the entire country, 1-0 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field in Akron, Ohio Sunday. It was their third MAC Tournament Championship Game appearance and first since 2007, where the Bulls also lost to Akron.

Junior guard Joanna Smith drives to the basket. Smith finished with a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball defense leads way for season-opening victory

By Jordan Grossman | Nov. 14, 2015

Despite a less-than-stellar offensive performance, the Bulls (1-0) picked up a season-opening 55-38 victory over LIU Brooklyn (0-1) on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena. Buffalo shot less than 40 percent from the field, but was relieved by a stellar defensive performance. The 38 points allowed are the fewest for Buffalo since Feb. 23, 2013.

SPORTS

UB Bulls rout Pittsburgh-Bradford in first game of the Nate Oats era

By Jordan Grossman | Nov. 14, 2015

The Bulls (1-0) routed Division-III Pittsburgh-Bradford (0-1) 109-49 in Alumni Arena to open the 2015-16 season Friday night. Buffalo shot more than 50 percent and had six players score double-digits in what was Oats’ first game and win as head coach.

Russell Cicerone (7) celebrates a goal against Northern Illinois last season. Cicerone was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year for his play this season, the No. 1 moment in our top-10 list.

SPORTS

UB men’s soccer headed to MAC Tournament Championship

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Nov. 13, 2015

The Bulls (8-6-4, 2-2-1 MAC) defeated Western Michigan (11-4-4, 3-1-1 MAC) 2-1 in overtime of the MAC Tournament Semifinals Friday to advance to the championship game against Akron for just the third time in program history. Buffalo got the game-tying goal from junior defender Daniel Cramarossa with about four minutes left in regulation before Cicerone, a junior forward, scored in overtime.

OPINION

The UB Bulls will be back in the NCAA Tournament

Nov. 13, 2015

Overall prediction: 19-11 (11-7 MAC) It’s rather easy to be down on the Bulls this year.

Junior guard Joanna Smith (left) and sophomore guard Stephanie Reid (right) compete in a 63-60 victory over Western Michigan in MAC Tournament Quarterfinals last season. The dynamic backcourt duo will be crucial for Buffalo this season.

SPORTS

Backcourt duo of Stephanie Reid and Joanna Smith usher in new era of UB women's basketball

By REUBEN WOLF | Nov. 13, 2015

But this is a new season for these two guards. They are playing without the veteran personnel they played with last year. They each have one more year of basketball knowledge to their names. Both were already named the starting guards for the Bulls. It’s now their team to lead into another postseason opportunity.

Men's basketball head coach Nate Oats (center) coaches Buffalo from the sideline during an exhibition game against Daemen last week. Oats enters his first season as a Division-I head coach Friday after studying the game for as a coach for 18 years.

SPORTS

UB head coach Nate Oats is a student of the game

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Nov. 13, 2015

And now, after 18 years of being a student of the game, and just before he makes his debut as the head coach of the Buffalo men’s basketball team, Oats is ready to be the teacher.

OPINION

UB men's basketball is hitting the reset button

By Tom Dinki | Nov. 12, 2015

Well, it was a good story while it lasted. That’s what I can’t help but think while looking at the Buffalo men’s basketball team.

Kristen Sharkey, one of the most prolific players in UB Bulls history, looks on as an assistant coach under current Bulls head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.

SPORTS

UB Bulls' Sharkey goes from post to the sidelines

By Jordan Grossman | Nov. 12, 2015

Sharkey is one of the most prolific players in program history. She ranks fifth in program history in both career games (120) and free throws (305), 10th in rebounds (759) and 11th in blocks (98). Sharkey returns as an assistant coach to teach the young wave of new Bulls what it’s like to play in Buffalo.

Lamonte Bearden, a sophomore guard, dribbles down the court during a preseason game in November. Bearden will be in the starting lineup Tuesday after missing two games and coming off the bench in Buffalo's last game.

SPORTS

Reigning MAC champ UB Bulls are underdogs

By Romulo Romero | Nov. 12, 2015

The men’s basketball team, the reigning Mid-American Conference Champions, isn’t even nationally ranked in the top-100. That’s according to CBS Sports. And even Buffalo’s own conference’s media has picked it to finish no better than fourth – in the MAC East. But it’s nothing of concern for first-year head coach Nate Oats.

SPORTS

Don’t count out the champion UB Bulls

By Jordan Grossman | Nov. 12, 2015

As soon as the Mid-American Conference Championship banner was revealed on the wall of Alumni Arena, something changed.

OPINION

UB Bulls women's basketball are bits and pieces

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Nov. 12, 2015

This is a young women’s basketball team, but let’s backtrack for a second. Buffalo is coming off its best season in program history, winning 19 games and making its first-ever Women’s National Invitational Tournament appearance.

Junior wing Willie Conner slams down the ball during Bulls Madness. Conner is one of many new players for the Bulls this season.

SPORTS

The new kids on the block: UB Bulls newest players

By Jordan Grossman | Nov. 12, 2015

Two true freshmen and a junior college transfer combined to score 55 points in the men’s basketball team’s first and only preseason game against Daemen College last week. And they are less than half of Buffalo’s new players this season. The Bulls’ roster is filled with new players after an offseason of turnover with the transfer of star point guard Shannon Evans, the expulsion of MAC Player of the Year Justin Moss and the graduation of impact seniors like Will Regan and Xavier Ford.

Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack coaches in a game in Alumni Arena last season. Legette-Jack wants to create a "village" of support for her young Bulls team this season.

SPORTS

UB women's basketball looks to create 'village'

By Tom Dinki | Nov. 12, 2015

Legette-Jack wants to use the same mentality used to help raiser her to raise her Buffalo women’s basketball program.

SPORTS

UB Bulls’ comeback not enough against Northern Illinois

By Tom Dinki | Nov. 12, 2015

Despite a Bulls’ (5-5, 3-3 Mid-American Conference) comeback, Northern Illinois showed why it is the superior team and claimed a 41-30 victory at UB Stadium Wednesday night. The loss puts an end to Buffalo’s three-game winning streak, as the Bulls will have to wait another week to try for its sixth victory to make them bowl eligible for just the third time since rejoining Division I in 1999.

Against, Central Michigan on Oct. 3. Northern Illinois running back Joel Bouagnon ran for 104 yards on 26 carries with two touchdowns. The Spectrum gave the Huskies the edge in running backs.

SPORTS

UB Bulls vs. Northern Illinois: Who has the edge?

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Nov. 11, 2015

The Spectrum has your scouting report on who has the edge in Wednesday’s matchup.

Junior running back Joel Bouagnon runs the ball up the middle during an Oct. 3 matchup against Central Michigan. Buffalo meets Northern Illinois on Wednesday night as Buffalo seeks its fourth straight win.

SPORTS

Needing one more win for bowl eligibility, UB Bulls take on Northern Illinois

By Jordan Grossman | Nov. 10, 2015

The Bulls (5-4, 3-2 Mid-American Conference) seek their all-important sixth win of the season when they take on MAC West powerhouse Northern Illinois (6-3, 4-1 MAC) at UB Stadium Wednesday night.

Senior Marissa Prinzbach (left) and senior Akelia Lain (right) celebrate a point from earlier in the season. The Bulls clinched the No. 7 seed in the MAC Tournament, their second berth in as many years.

SPORTS

UB Bulls quick hits: Men’s soccer gets No. 3 seed, women’s soccer season ends in semifinals

By Sports Desk | Nov. 8, 2015

A breakdown in the week of UB Athletics.