WILL ARONIN - The Spectrum

NEWS

Bulls fall to in double OT

By WILL ARONIN | Feb. 17, 2006

It took two overtimes to do it, but the Golden Flashes managed to leave Alumni Arena with a 111-107 win over the Buffalo men's basketball team Wednesday night."We lost our concentration," said Bulls head coach Reggie Witherspoon.After allowing the Kent State to accumulate a 14-point lead early in the game, the Bulls rallied with two three-pointers in a row to put themselves within two at the half.Buffalo capitalized on the momentum and came out with guns blazing.

NEWS

Meet the future

By WILL ARONIN | Feb. 3, 2006

With a new head coach and a batch of new assistants, the UB football program welcomed another group of newcomers to the team on Wednesday, including two local standouts and the nephew of a former Bills great.When hired last month, coach Turner Gill was praised for his recruiting prowess, and in his first class of Bulls, the former Husker has signed a group of 14 high school players that includes local quarterback Naaman Roosevelt, the co-New York State Player of the Year who UB managed to steal away from powers Boston College and 1-AA New Hampshire.On a day that marked the start of the national signing period, one group of analysts at Rivals.com ranked UB's incoming class fourth in the conference, only the second time the Bulls climbed into the top five.

NEWS

Grand slam

By WILL ARONIN | Jan. 27, 2006

Revenge is a dish best served with 19 points.Almost one year after the infamous 19-point, second-half collapse against Ohio in the Mid-American Conference finals, Bulls fans can look at Thursday night's win and breathe a little easier.

NEWS

"With Manuel's help, Gill surrounds himself with experienced staff"

By WILL ARONIN | Jan. 25, 2006

After a disappointing and all-too-familiar one-win season, the leadership of UB football has received a complete makeover.

NEWS

Rough start continues for women's basketball

By WILL ARONIN | Nov. 30, 2005

Playing against a Tigers team that boasts only three players under six-feet tall, UB women's basketball was outsized and outmatched, falling 70-41 to Auburn the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break."We probably won't play that big of a team again," said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald.

NEWS

"New coach, same results for women's basketball in opening losses"

By WILL ARONIN | Nov. 21, 2005

An unbelievable finish that saw three lead changes in the last minute of play made for quite a show Sunday in the weekend's doubleheader at Alumni Arena.Unfortunately for women's basketball, UB point guard Stephanie Bennett's heavily contested, last-second shot fell just short, giving the Syracuse Orange a 64-63 victory."I just got to make it," said Bennett, a sophomore.The team also lost on Friday to Canisius College, 77-61, which means the Bulls have opened their season 0-2 for the third year in a row.Despite the miss, Bennett had a great game Sunday, running new head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald's offense perfectly for six points, eight assists and three rebounds.While not getting much production off the bench, UB was able to ride its starters to a 36-33 lead at halftime.Sophomore forward Heather Turner was dominant, particularly in the first half, putting up 22 points and nine rebounds.

NEWS

Perfect start

By WILL ARONIN | Nov. 21, 2005

It's pitch black in Alumni Arena. Spotlights flare as the loudspeaker addresses the roaring crowd and last season's NIT banner is raised to the rafters."And now," it booms, "introducing your 2005 Buffalo Bulls."UB men's basketball opened its season in grand style Friday night, defeating a tenacious Canisius Griffins team 81-76 in front of a sellout crowd of 6,188 that was on edge with tip-off anticipation.The Bulls and Griffins traded the lead all the way to the wire.

NEWS

"In last game, Hofher's Bulls clawed by Eagles' D"

By WILL ARONIN | Nov. 21, 2005

One, two, they beat KSU. Three, four, could they win one more? Five, six, nope. Too many picks.Trying to capitalize on the momentum of last week's win over Kent State, UB's quarterbacks threw five interceptions Saturday, squashing the Bulls' attempt to move the ball downfield in a 38-14 loss to Eastern Michigan in the final game of the season.In what was also the last game for head coach Jim Hofher, who was fired before the Kent State game, UB gained 125 total yards more than its opponent, but the Bulls couldn't overcome their turnovers.UB ended its season 1-10 overall and 1-7 in the Mid-American Conference."It's very difficult to win a game with five turnovers and with some of the penalties that were drive killers as well," said Hofher.

NEWS

Rockets dive to new heights

By WILL ARONIN | Nov. 16, 2005

Ten meters high, staring down into the pool below, the divers stand ready. The fear that would claim even the toughest of men about to fall into the blue depths, nowhere to be found on their stoic faces.

NEWS

No such thing as an off-season

By WILL ARONIN | Nov. 16, 2005

As football season wraps up and fans come out of the woodwork for the basketball season to start, it's easy to lose track of UB's spring sports.But while the temperatures drop and the snow piles up, the Bulls' spring warriors don't have the luxury of an off-season of rest and relaxation."This is their primary time for strength training," said Cheyenne Pietri, strength and conditioning coach for all UB varsity sports.