Sports - The Spectrum

Junior Ike Onwukanjo looks on at UB Stadium. Onwukanjo will play with the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation next spring and summer as it tries to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

SPORTS

UB rugby player Ike Onwukanjo to compete with the Nigerian national team for 2016 Olympics

By ANDREA WEIDEL | May 5, 2015

Onwukanjo, a right wing and center for the UB rugby team and a junior social sciences interdisciplinary major, will play with the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation next spring and summer as it tries to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. The New York native, who has dual citizenship between the two countries, is looking forward to traveling and playing with his parent’s native country.

Pablo Alvarez was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2015 Mid-American Conference Tournament and named All-MAC second team last week.

SPORTS

Redemption: Pablo Alvarez leads Buffalo men's tennis to NCAA Tournament

By QUENTIN HAYNES | May 3, 2015

Junior and men's tennis player Pablo Alvarez defeated Binghamton’s Robert Lesage in the MAC Championship match and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player to help Buffalo claim it’s first-ever MAC Championship. Now he’ll help lead the Bulls into the NCAA Tournament next weekend against Ohio State.

Kristjan Sokoli (90) setting up on the defensive line before the snap. Sokoli was drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks and is transitioning to playing center.

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Kristjan Sokoli drafted in sixth round of NFL Draft by Seattle Seahawks

By QUENTIN HAYNES | May 3, 2015

Former Buffalo football team defensive lineman Kristjan Sokoli was selected 214th overall in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. Sokoli played with Buffalo from 2011-14 and finished his career as a Bull with 95 tackles, 15 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks.

An artist's rendering of the inside of the newly named Edmond J. Gicewicz Club in UB Stadium, that will include premium seating, food and beverage access and televisions throughout the venue.

SPORTS

‘West Club’ to open in UB Stadium

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Apr. 30, 2015

UB Athletics recently announced the West Club, which is planned to open in August in time for the start of the Bulls’ season. The 400-seat section on the west side of the stadium will include an enclosed club private concourse, outside club seating, food and beverage service, private elevator access, premium parking and personalized seating.

Junior guard Mackenzie Loesing celebrates with teammates after a win.

SPORTS

Mackenzie Loesing to sit out senior year, ending her UB career

By Jordan Grossman | Apr. 29, 2015

Loesing was granted medical disqualification due to a recurring ankle injury and will sit her senior season, ending her three-year career at Buffalo.

SPORTS

UB men's tennis to play Ohio State in first NCAA Tournament appearance

By Jordan Grossman | Apr. 29, 2015

Jason Shkodnik, a former Buffalo player and current assistant coach of the men’s tennis team, said he came back to coach the Bulls because he wanted to make history. Last year, Shkodnik sat stoic and silent as a senior on the bus ride home after losing to Ball State in the Mid-American Conference Championship match, 4-3, in what players called “heartbreaking” fashion.

The UB football team runs out of the tunnel of the UB Stadium. The gap between the schools in the Power Five conferences and Mid-Majors like UB seems to be widening, raising the question if it is worth is for schools to have Division I football teams outside of the Power Five.

SPORTS

Moneyball: The cost of Division I football at UB

By OWEN O'BRIEN | Apr. 28, 2015

UB isn’t making a profit of its football team, and that’s not abnormal for Mid-Major conferences. So is it worth it for universities? The answer isn’t clear.

Sophomore Brandon Berry, a defensive back, is blitzing at the defensive line. Lance Leipold’s 4-3 system allows for plays like this and will start with the four front linemen, most of whom will be new to the position.

SPORTS

Buffalo looks to get after the quarterback with a revised four-man front

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Apr. 28, 2015

With the departure of seniors Tedroy Lynch, Dalton Barksdale and Kristjan Sokoli on the line, the coaching staff will rely on a conglomerate of younger players and experienced players who will assume larger roles to man the defensive line.

Junior outfielder Mike Abrunzo makes contact with a pitch. Abrunzo and the baseball team were defeated by Canisius and were swept by Western Michigan to extend their losing streak to six games.

SPORTS

Quick Hits: Men’s tennis wins first-ever championship, women lose in quarterfinals

By Sports Desk | Apr. 27, 2015

Recapping the week in UB Athletics.

Phil Zickl has continued playing semipro football into his fifties. Now he's has a new goal - starting his own business as a personal trainer and educator that will give him enough money to support a living and start a scholarship fund. He calls in 'Phyzical Phitness.'

SPORTS

A Phyzical life: Former UB football player Phil Zickl has played semipro into his fifties but now he has a new goal

By Tom Dinki | Apr. 27, 2015

Phil Zickl has continued playing semipro football into his fifties after overcoming his disabilities as a child. Now he has a new goal: he wants to spread to others the knowledge he's acquired as a football player, coach, trainer and educator and start a charity. He calls it 'Physical Phitness.'

The men's tennis team won the program's first MAC Championship Saturday with a 4-2 win over Binghamton.

SPORTS

UB men’s tennis claims first-ever MAC Championship

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Apr. 25, 2015

The Bulls (12-10, 2-3 MAC) are going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history after defeating Binghamton (8-16, 3-2 MAC) 4-2 at Northern Illinois’ Vaughn Tennis Center in DeKalb, Illinois in the MAC Championship match.

Shannon Evans and former head coach Bobby Hurley embrace after Buffalo's 77-75 win over Bowling Green in Alumni Arena on March 6. Evans announced on Friday that he will be transferring to Arizona State.

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UB guard Shannon Evans transfers to Arizona State

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Apr. 24, 2015

Evans announced on Friday that he will transfer to Arizona State, a move that reunites him with former Bulls head coach Bobby Hurley.

Shane Patterson looks to get the crowd excited during a UB basketball home game. The junior communication major is in the process of trying to walk on to the football team as a wide receiver while spreading his positive energy around campus.

SPORTS

UB True Blue member Shane Patterson looks to spread positive energy as football walk-on

By JAMES BATTLE | Apr. 23, 2015

Shane Patterson, a current member of True Blue and former volunteer football manager, has been training with the hopes of becoming a walk-on for the football team. He hopes he can spread energy to the team as a player the same way he has as a fan.

SPORTS

Buzzer Beater: Will Shannon Evans stay or go?

By Sports Desk | Apr. 23, 2015

The Spectrum sports editors shared their opinions on whether or not sophomore guard Shannon Evans, who was released from his UB scholarship and is speaking with other schools about transferring, will leave UB's basketball program.

SPORTS

Back to Football 101: UB Linebackers adjust to new defensive scheme, optimistic about next season

By Jordan Grossman | Apr. 23, 2015

Bulls' football head coach Lance Leipold implemented a 4-3-4 defense during the spring football season, which consists of four linemen, three linebackers and four defensive backs. The new system requires more preparation and studying and Leipold considers it going back to Football 101.

OPINION

Two wrongs don’t make a White: Danny White shouldn’t be blamed for Shannon Evans’ possible transfer

By Jordan Grossman | Apr. 21, 2015

It’s one thing to blame an athletic director for letting a coach leave a program based on money and unawareness, but it’s another thing to blame an athletic director for a player transferring out of a program because of one quick instance.

Senior wide receiver Marcus McGill makes a touchdown catch in last Saturday’s Blue-White Spring game. Head coach Lance Leipold called McGill an “incredible player.”

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Depth and experience makes UB Bulls receiving core one of team's best units

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Apr. 21, 2015

Last season, the Buffalo football team witnessed a breakout season from junior wide receiver Ron Willoughby and consistent production from senior wide receiver Devon Hughes. With Hughes graduated, the Bulls must replace the No. 2 receiver.

After a disappointing senior season, senior Laura Fernandez said that despite the team’s regular season, she believes it can play well in this weekend’s upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament game against Ball State.

SPORTS

Women’s tennis confident for MAC Tournament despite underdog status

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Apr. 21, 2015

Despite the struggles the women's tennis team has experienced this season, it's only three victories away from the program’s second-ever MAC Championship. The Bulls will play Ball State (15-5, 4-3 MAC) in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals in Oxford, Ohio Friday afternoon. Buffalo would play in the semifinal on Saturday if its advances.

Sophomore guard Shannon Evans was granted his release from UB on Tuesday. He will look into transferring elsewhere but has not ruled out the possibility of staying in Buffalo.

SPORTS

Shannon Evans granted full release to transfer from UB

By Tom Dinki and Jordan Grossman | Apr. 21, 2015

Sophomore guard Shannon Evans was granted a release from his UB scholarship Tuesday and is currently speaking with other schools about transferring. UB Athletics will allow Evans to attend any school he chooses, but the All-Mid-American Conference Second Team player has not completely ruled out the possibility of staying with the Bulls.

Sophomore outfielder Vinny Mallaro and the baseball team are in last place in the Mid-American Conference and fell to Central Michigan this weekend.

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UB Bulls baseball continues poor season, falls to Central Michigan

By MICHAEL AKELSON | Apr. 21, 2015

The last-place baseball team (11-21, 5-10 Mid-American Conference) fell again this weekend, dropping two of three to first-place Central Michigan (27-13, 12-3 MAC) at the Amherst Audubon Center.