The UB men's basketball team started off the season with three losses in a row.
They then ran off five straight wins - their longest streak since the 1996-97 season.
Then lost their next six games.
But they were able to end their six-game skid with a victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies, who were picked to win the Mid-American Conference West Division, on Sunday afternoon.
So with such a streaky team, you can't help but think that the Bulls will have a chance to stretch their current run to two when they host the Akron Zips (9-6, 3-4 MAC) at 7 p.m. tonight in Alumni Arena.
"If we're going to be a streaky team, let's not stop it now," said UB head coach Reggie Witherspoon. "We're going to have to get a great effort if we're going to do it."
Buffalo (6-9, 2-5 MAC)will have their hands full with Akron's Derrick Tarver. The senior guard and defending MAC East Player of the Week has torched MAC opponents this season, and had lit up the scoreboard for an average of more than 25 points per game in his seven MAC games.
The backcourt match up between Tarver and Buffalo's Turner Battle features two of the league's top guards. Battle averages 13 points per game, leading the team, his greatest impact may be felt on the defensive end against Akron. Tarver turned the ball over 45 times so far this season to go along with his 21 assists. Battle has 25 steals this season and should be able to feast on Tarver's wild ways.
Shutting Tarver down will be Battle and the Bulls' main objective.
"It's going to have to be a team effort," said Witherspoon. "He's an explosive scorer who has had a lot of success in our league. And he does it with a lot of individual skills but he also does it with great effort from a lot of other players, and you can't forget about them."
The most notable of those players is freshman sensation Jeremiah Wood. A 6-foot, 6-inch forward, Wood is second on the team in scoring with 11.4 points per game.
Wood also leads Akron with 8.0 rebounds per game, ranking him second in the MAC. The Zips, powered by Wood, have pulled down an average of 36 rebounds per game.
"He does a number of things really well," said Witherspoon of Wood. "We're going to have to move our feet and keep (Akron) from getting second chances," said Witherspoon.
In order for UB to have success, they will need to keep the Zips off the glass like they did to the Huskies.
"NIU is a great rebounding team and we can only hope we can do the same things as far as our effort and the outcome rebounding wise," said Witherspoon. "Akron is a different team. NIU has guys who crash the boards hard and they'll do the same things, just with different type players."
Buffalo hopes their own freshman sensation will be able to control Wood in the post. Center Yassin Idbihi has been outstanding in the middle for UB, and currently ranks second on the team with 10.4 points per game and is tied for the lead with 6.3 rebounds per game. Against the Huskies, Idbihi scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
The match up between Idbihi and Wood will certainly be an intriguing one.
"With both of them playing so close to the basket they're going to share some space... I think it could be a great match up," said Witherspoon.
The wildcard in the game could be UB's Mark Bortz coming off the bench. Since becoming a reserve Bortz has broken out, scoring 10.0 points per game and pulling down 5.8 rebounds per game. As a starter Bortz averaged just 5.0 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Tip off is set for 7 p.m. tonight in Alumni Arena.
