UB Preview

Well, here we go again.  The COVID wheel turns round and round.  BG has 2 games postponed--both home games--and then a game moved from Saturday until tomorrow.  It doesn't have the enjoyment of the rhythm of playing twice a week with all the other teams, but it is apparently the best we can do right now. FWIW, the problems have been with other programs, not with BG...

So here we are, playing UB on Wednesday...in UB.  Saturday is now open...for now.

So here we go.

Buffalo was favored to win the MAC by the media and then also Blue Ribbon. They won the 18 and 19 titles, and won a game in the Big Dance earch of those years. They were 12-5 last year in the MAC, where they lost to Ohio U in the conference final.  They returned 4 starters from that team.

They are 4-6 in D1 games so far this year.  They have very nice wins @ N. Texas (74) and @ WKU (105) (without Williams) and 2 of their 4 non-conference losses were to Michigan (21) and St. Bonaventure (67). Things were off to an OK start and then they lost to Canisius (297) and the curse of Reggie Witherspoon kicked in, making that the first of their current 3-game losing streak.  They lost at home to Miami and then @ Akron...both games without Whitsell and the last one without Mballa and Fagan, all COVID-related.

Since the MAC final in 19, BG has won 3 of 4 against UB, including the game last year at UB.  That huge win was followed by a 6-game losing streak for BG.

One thing we can expect is a fast-paced game.  Both BG plays at 73.6 possessions and UB at 72.9.  

UB is very effective on offense, with 1.07 points per possession, which is #71 in the country.  Their strongest element on offense is on the boards--they are #23 in the nation.  They shoot effectively, are average on turnovers and don't get to the line much or make many FTs. They are effective shooters, with 52% on 2FG and 34% on 3FG.  They try 39% of their FGAs from 3FG, which is pretty much average.

They are not effective on defense, allowing 1.05 points per possession. They start with forcing very few turnovers--in the bottom 20 in the country. They are decent against the shot--particularly against 2FG, which you would expect for a team not forcing turnovers.  They are not good on the defensive boards and they do allow free throws. Their opponents do not try 3FGs--only 29% of attempts, which is the 11 lowest in the country.

They are led by Jeenathan Williams, scoring 18.6 PPG on 47% overall shooting and 38% on 3FG.  Ronaldo Segu is scoring 16 PPG, shooting 47% overall and 45% on 3FG.  He also leads the team with 5 APG.  Josh Mballa scores 15 PPG on 55% and 41% shooting, plus 8.6 RPG.  Maceo Jack scores 10 PPG, shooting 43% and 30%.

I have no idea about Mballa and Fagan's status for the game.

UB is heavily favored in this one.  They are on a 3-game losing streak, and maybe the Witherspoon curse will still hang over the Bulls.