UB MBB Arrives in BG in down year

 The Buffalo Bulls.

Wow.

Only five seasons on from a historic 32-4 season, they have hit rock bottom.  I have to guess this is only temporary....but it's still striking.

They let Jim Whitesell gone after he couldn't keep the magic from Hurley and Oats going.  That was an interesting decision. He was 45-27 in MAC games and only had one non-winning season and that was his last year he was 9-9.

3rd-team All-MAC G Curtis Jones transferred to Iowa State. Second-leading scorer Zid went to UTEP. 4th leading scorer Laquill Hardnett went to Arkansas State.  Fifth leading scorer Armoni Foster graduated. Sixth-leading scorer Isaac Jack is at Dayton.

They hired George Halcovage III, a 37-year old Villanova assistant. They kept five guys from last year and brought in only 2 transfers....and five freshmen.  OG.

They were picked 6th in the Blue Ribbon and 9th in the MAC media poll.

It has not worked out like that at all.

They are 2-19....1-19 in D1 games, with a win only over CMU.

It has been a rough year.  They are #11 in experience and near the bottom of the MAC in most measures.

They have not lost a game by less than 10 since January 6.  Two games ago they lost to OU by 21, and then by 31 to Kent in Buffalo.  Their kenpom is 349.  There are 362 teams in the country. 

Just a rough season.

More on the players in a minute.

UB has the stats of a 1-19 team.  They are 11th in offense and 12th in defense in the MAC. BG is pretty one-dimensional...#4 in offense and #10 in defense.

UB plays at 69 possessions a game, about what BG does.

So, here is one thing.  UB is 11th in shooting, 11th in turnovers, 5th in offensive rebounding and 12th in getting to the line. They lead the MAC in 3FG attempts, but make only 27%, which is 11th. They are 9th on 2FGs. 

Now, having said that, here is one thing.  BG is the easiest team to shoot against in the MAC to date. They are 12th defending the 3FG....their opponents make more than 40%.  BG is #7 defending the 2FG.

BG doesn't force turnovers but is #4 on the defensive boards and #4 at keeping opponents off the line--though UB is significantly below BG's average.

When flipping it around, we see where BG had a chance to make a mark.  BG is only #9 in shooting, but UB is #11 defending the shot.  BG takes good care of the ball and UB is #11 at forcing turnovers.  BG is really good on the offensive boards, and UB is #11 on the boards.  BG leads the MAC getting to the line and this is the one thing UB does well.  They also lead the MAC in that.

Their leading scorer is Sy Chatman. He is a 6'8" Illinois State transfer who red-shirted last year in Buffalo.  He scores 18.7 PPG on 53% 2FG and 34% 3FG shooting. He's #5 in blocked shots and also averages 4.9 RPG.

Isaiah Adams is the 2nd leading scorer.  He averages 12.6 PPG on 55% and 23% shooting. He's 6'6" and was their leading returning scorer.  He missed several games in December but has played in every MAC game.  Also, he is #6 in the MAC in assists.

Jonnivius Smith is their leading rebounder at 9 RPG, which is 3rd in the MAC. He played at Seton Hall before coming to UB...where he played last year.  He went to Crestwood Academy in the Toronto metro, same as Trey Thomas.

So, this is what it is.  A game BG needs to win, especially at home.  Everyone else is notching a win here....