Sports - The Spectrum

Junior pitcher Julia Tarantino (left) and junior infielder Madison Fernimen (right) high-five during a game in November 2022.

SPORTS

Softball goes 3-0 in weekend set versus Bowling Green

By MICHAEL VACCARO | Apr. 3, 2023

The Bulls won the third game in the series with a mercy-rule victory following a three-run blast.

Former UB star Jeenathan Williams agreed to a contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday

SPORTS

Former UB star Jeenathan Williams signs with Portland Trail Blazers

By BRANDON COCHI | Apr. 2, 2023

Williams, who played his final season with the Bulls in early 2022, receives a chance to play in the NBA.

Halcovage takes over a UB team that went 15-17 (9-9 MAC) last season.

SPORTS

Get to know George Halcovage III, UB’s new men’s basketball head coach

By RYAN TANTALO | Mar. 31, 2023

On Thursday, UB announced the hiring of its newest men’s basketball head coach: George Halcovage III. Here’s what you need to know about UB’s newest hire.

Halcovage coached multiple NBA players during his time at Villanova.

SPORTS

Basketball world reacts to UB’s new men’s basketball head coach

By HAYDEN AZZINARO and EVAN HILBERT | Mar. 31, 2023

Former players and colleagues of new UB men's basketball head coach George Halcovage III reacted online to his hiring.

Halcovage spent 15 years at Villanova, helping the Wildcats win two National Championships during that span.

SPORTS

George Halcovage III named men’s basketball head coach

By RYAN TANTALO | Mar. 30, 2023

After nearly three weeks of searching, UB men’s basketball hired Villanova associate coach George Halcovage III as its next head coach, according to a press release.

Sinnott originally came to UB after interning at the University of Minnesota during the 2021-2022 season.

SPORTS

Women’s basketball promotes Erin Sinnott to assistant coach

By HAYDEN AZZINARO | Mar. 29, 2023

Women’s basketball director of recruiting and basketball operations Erin Sinnott has been promoted to assistant coach, according to a UB press release.

The men’s basketball team has now entered its third week without a head coach since parting ways with Jim Whitesell back on March 11.

SPORTS

Multiple candidates reportedly turn down men’s basketball coaching job

By BRANDON COCHI | Mar. 29, 2023

Three candidates have turned down the UB men’s basketball head coaching job, according to reports from The Buffalo News and WIVB.

Wheeler came to UB from current head coach Becky Burke’s former staff at USC Upstate.

SPORTS

Women’s basketball assistant coach Candyce Wheeler resigns after one season

By ANTHONY DECICCO | Mar. 28, 2023

UB women’s basketball assistant coach Candyce Wheeler resigned at the end of the 2022-23 season due to “family reasons and will not be returning next season,” a UB Athletics spokesperson confirmed to The Spectrum Tuesday.

Senior Pitcher Alexis Lucyshyn takes a swing during a 2021 game.

SPORTS

Softball earns first MAC win of season against Toledo

By KAYA SCHULTZ | Mar. 26, 2023

After falling short earlier in the day, softball secured a win in a double header against the Toledo Rockets.

SPORTS

Hoose goes 1-2 at NCAA wrestling nationals

By JAMES HOOK | Mar. 18, 2023

Hoose, the only wrestler to represent UB at nationals, finished out the season with a 21-9 record.

Mia (left) and Toni Naccarella (right) have been swimming competitively together for 15 years.

SPORTS

‘We kept climbing the ladder’: UB’s Naccarella sisters say goodbye to 15 years of swimming together

By AMY MASLIN | Mar. 15, 2023

The Naccarella sisters have been competitively swimming together for the past 15 years. The Bulls’ second-place finish at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) swimming and diving championship last month marked their last meet together.

Lewis signed with the Bills in 2019 as an undrafted free agent and has bounced back and forth between the practice squad and active roster the past few seasons.

SPORTS

Buffalo Bills re-sign former UB product Cam Lewis

By BRANDON COCHI | Mar. 15, 2023

Lewis was a starting cornerback for the Bulls from 2015-18 and recorded five interceptions, 27 passes defended, three forced fumbles and 155 total tackles in his 44 career games with UB.

UB will pay Jim Whitesell $500,000 to terminate his contract after he was fired Saturday.

SPORTS

UB to pay Jim Whitesell $500,000 buyout

By ANTHONY DECICCO | Mar. 15, 2023

Former UB men’s basketball head coach Jim Whitesell will receive a $500,000 contract buyout after being fired by the university.

Jonathan Surdej (left) and Christina Wende (right) both won gold medals at the indoor track and field MAC Championships.

SPORTS

Track and field gold medalists reflect on success and look ahead to outdoor season

By RYAN TANTALO | Mar. 15, 2023

Wende — a fifth-year hurdle/high jumper who won her first gold medal in the long jump as well as a silver medal in the triple jump at the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) indoor track and field championships — and Surdej — a senior thrower who won his fifth gold medal at the conference championships — strive for more than just a first place finish.

UB has begun a national search to find its next men's basketball coach after Jim Whitesell was fired Saturday.

SPORTS

5 potential candidates for UB’s next men’s basketball coach

By BRANDON COCHI | Mar. 14, 2023

UB’s men’s basketball program is now in the market for a new head coach after former Bulls head coach Jim Whitesell was fired Saturday.

Senior pitcher Alexis Lucyshyn was one of four Bulls to score runs at the Red Raider Classic.

SPORTS

Softball caps off Red Raider Classic with win over Manhattan

By JAMES HOOK | Mar. 14, 2023

The Bulls finished the weekend with a 1-4 record.

UB failed to make the NCAA Tournament in four years under Jim Whitesell.

SPORTS

UB fires head basketball coach Jim Whitesell after four seasons

By HAYDEN AZZINARO | Mar. 11, 2023

UB has parted ways with head men’s basketball coach Jim Whitesell after four seasons, the school announced Saturday.

Women’s basketball fell just short to No. 1 seed Toledo in the first round of the MAC Tournament Wednesday.

SPORTS

‘You saw the best of Buffalo basketball’: Women’s basketball takes No. 1 Toledo to overtime, falls by one in MAC quarterfinal

By RYAN TANTALO | Mar. 8, 2023

The Bulls came in as the No. 8 seed, finishing the regular season with three straight wins to clinch a spot in the conference tournament.

UB guard Curtis Jones has made an impact as the team’s leading scorer this season.

SPORTS

‘It’s definitely good to come out of nowhere, because you open more eyes that way’

By BRANDON COCHI | Mar. 8, 2023

How sophomore guard Curtis Jones has become the Bulls' leading scorer this season.

Jonathan Surdej and Christina Wende led UB to an eight-medal performance at the MAC indoor track and field championships.

SPORTS

Two Bulls win gold at MAC indoor track championship

By RYAN TANTALO | Mar. 8, 2023

Track and field took home eight medals at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) indoor track and field championships, which took place Feb. 24-25 at Bowling Green University’s Perry Field House.