UB Athletics is ready to make men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley the highest paid coach in the Mid-American Conference.
Despite playing in a Mid-Major conference and having a small amount of success throughout its Division I history, UB Athletics has said it’s building “America’s next big-time college athletics brand” for the past two years under the New York Bulls Initiative or #NYBI. After the men’s basketball team’s historic season, maybe it’s finally on its way to doing it.
Women’s tennis (5-7, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) The women’s tennis team earned its first MAC victory over Easter Michigan (5-10, 1-1 MAC) this past Sunday at the Miller Tennis Center.
The men’s basketball team (23-10, 12-6 Mid-American Conference) ended its season with a loss to West Virginia (25-9) 68-62 in the first round of the NCAA tournament last Saturday.
For the second consecutive year, the women’s basketball team finished its season fourth in the Mid-American Conference.
You never exactly know when a team or player is ready to take the leap. Take this year’s men basketball team.
Former football head coach Jeff Quinn took a job as an offensive analyst for Notre Dame last week.
How Buffalo did in the NCAA Tournament was never going to define this season. The road to the tournament will define it. Getting the program’s first conference championship, an appearance on the national stage and possibly a permanent place within the Buffalo sports community is how this season is going to be remembered.
The No. 12 seeded Bulls (23-10, 12-6 Mid-American Conference) were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Friday, as they fell to No. 5 West Virginia (24-9, 11-7 Big 12) 68-62 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The loss ended a historic season for Buffalo in which it won its first-ever MAC Tournament championship and made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
COLUMBUS, OHIO –The No. 12 seeded men’s basketball team (23-10, 12-6 Mid-American Conference) fell 68-62 to No. 5 seed West Virginia (24-9, 11-7 Big 12) Friday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
West Virginia (19-14, 7-11 Big 12) defeated Buffalo 84-61 Thursday in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers led the entire game, due in part to an early 10-0 run and 53 percent shooting from 3-point range.
OK, so maybe it’s not just the ring that’s pushed Buffalo on its current run to its first-ever NCAA tournament and a second round matchup with West Virginia on Friday. But for whatever reason, the moment doesn’t seem too big for the Mid-Major program making its first trip to the big dance.
The Spectrum sports staff gives their predictions for Buffalo's NCAA tournament matchup with West Virginia on Friday.
Hurley, who won back-to-back national titles with Duke from 1991-92, is returning to the tournament for the first time since his playing days. But he will be leading a team from the sidelines instead of on the court.
Xavier Ford brought expectations with him to Buffalo. The senior forward and former top-level recruit admits he’s “probably one of the most decorated guys to be recruited” to UB. But he admits he didn’t hold up to that standard.
The Spectrum scouts the Mountaineers projected starting five as well as a matchup to watch out for.
The Bulls (19-12, 11-7 MAC) were selected to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) for the first time in program history Monday, and will face West Virginia (18-14, 7-11 Big Ten) in Morgantown, West Virginia on Thursday.
The Bulls (23-9, 14-6 MAC) will play No. 18 West Virginia (23-9, 11-7 Big 12) Friday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio in what will be the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Saturday was a monumental moment for UB Athletics. The men's basketball team should savor its first MAC championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. But the immediate future of head coach Bobby Hurley remains a question. Will he make a big jump or try to build something in Buffalo?
The No. 2 seeded Bulls claimed their first-ever MAC Tournament Championship Saturday night when they defeated No. 1 Central Michigan 89-84 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Solutions by The State News
