Sports - The Spectrum

OPINION

Legette-Jack and UB women’s basketball’s Cinderella run was long time coming

By Tom Dinki | Mar. 17, 2016

Felisha Legette-Jack is without question the most intense coach on UB’s campus. It’s hard not to leave one of her Buffalo women’s basketball practices or postgame interviews – where she is always both animated, passionate and even a little intimidating – not feeling a little motivated yourself, even if you’re from being a Division-I women’s basketball player. So when Legette-Jack said she wanted to build “the village” or community of support to help grow her young Bulls team this season – it was hard to dismiss it as the campy and cliché coach speak that it would be if 99 percent of coaches said it.

Head coach Nate Oats looks on during the Bulls' open practice Wednesday before their NCAA Tournament against Miami.

SPORTS

UB Bulls continue to play loose heading into second straight NCAA appearance

By Tom Dinki | Mar. 16, 2016

The Bulls (20-14, 10-8 MAC), despite less than ideal circumstances, have been cool and calm this entire unexpected championship repeat season, and will have to stay that way if they want any hope of upsetting No. 3 seed Miami in the round of 64 Thursday night.

(From left to right) Miami Hurricanes Angel Rodriguez, Sheldon McClellan and Tonye Jekiri speak to the media about the Buffalo men's basketball team at the Dunkin' Donuts Center Wednesday afternoon.

SPORTS

What the Miami Hurricanes are saying about the UB Bulls

By Tom Dinki | Mar. 16, 2016

The Bulls (20-14, 10-8 Mid-American Conference) are the No. 14 seed and heavy underdogs, but the Hurricanes favorably compared them to some ACC teams Wednesday afternoon, though they maintained they feel confident Buffalo is good matchup for them.

Miami senior center Tonye Jekiri takes a shot during the Hurricanes' open practice at the Dunkin' Donuts Center Wednesday.

SPORTS

Scouting the UB Bulls’ NCAA Tournament opponent Miami Hurricanes

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 15, 2016

The Buffalo men’s basketball team (20-14, 10-8 Mid-American Conference) has received the No. 14 seed in the South region of the NCAA Tournament and will play No. 3 seed Miami in Providence, Rhode Island on Thursday night. The Miami Hurricanes (25-7, 13-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) enter the tournament as the No. 10 team in the country and received an at-large bid after losing to No. 4 Virginia (26-7, 13-5 ACC) in the ACC Tournament Semifinals.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Reid looks to go to the basket in a 55-52 victory over Bowling Green on Feb. 24.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball to face No. 3 seed Ohio State in NCAA Tournament

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 15, 2016

The Bulls (20-13, 8-10 Mid-American Conference) were awarded a No. 14 seed in the Sioux Falls Region and will face No. 3 seed Ohio State (24-7, 15-3 Big Ten).

Head coach Nate Oats disagrees with a call during the Bulls' 71-69 loss to Toledo at Alumni Arena on Feb. 9.

SPORTS

UB Bulls to play Miami in NCAA Tournament round of 64

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 13, 2016

The Bulls (20-14, 10-8 Mid-American Conference) earned a No. 14 seed in the South region and will play No. 3 seed Miami (25-7, 13-5 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Junior wing Blake Hamilton hit a game-winning three point shot with three seconds remaining Saturday to give the Bulls their second straight MAC Tournament Championship and send the team to its second straight NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS

Hamilton’s three gives UB Bulls back-to-back MAC Championships

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 13, 2016

The Bulls (20-14, 10-8 Mid-American Conference) won their second straight MAC Championship and will make their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Reid drives to the basket against Miami Ohio on Feb. 20. Reid scored the game-winning buzzer beater in Buffalo's first-ever MAC Championship Saturday.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball claims first-ever MAC Championship, headed to first NCAA Tournament

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 12, 2016

The No. 8 seed Bulls (20-13, 8-10 MAC) defeated No. 2 seed Central Michigan (22-12, 14-4 MAC) 73-71 in overtime of the MAC Tournament Championship game in Cleveland, Ohio Saturday.

Sophomore guard Lamonte Bearden, who scored 15 points in Buffalo's MAC Semifinal victory over Ohio Friday, looks to defend during the Bulls' MAC Championship game victory over Central Michigan in Quicken Loans Arena last year.

SPORTS

UB Bulls headed back to MAC Tournament Championship game after defeating Ohio

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 12, 2016

The No. 3 seed Bulls defeated No. 2 seed Ohio (21-11, 11-7 MAC) 88-74 in the MAC Semifinals Friday – Buffalo’s third straight win and fifth victory in its last seven games. Buffalo will face No. 1 seed Akron in the MAC Championship game Saturday with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

Photo: Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and her team celebrate during a game against Ball State in Alumni Arena on Feb. 6.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball defeats Akron, advances to first-ever MAC Championship game

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 11, 2016

The Buffalo women’s basketball team is one win away from making ts first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Behind its best offensive performance in conference play this season, the No. 8 seed Bulls (19-13, 8-10 Mid-American Conference) continued its Cinderella run Friday by defeating No. 5 seed Akron (19-13, 11-7 MAC) 88-87 in a highly contested MAC Tournament Semifinals in Cleveland, Ohio.

Head coach Nate Oats coaches during Buffalo's 76-64 victory over Ball State in Alumni Arena on Jan. 26.

SPORTS

UB Bulls advance to MAC Semifinals for second straight year

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 11, 2016

The No. 3 seed Bulls (18-14, 10-8 Mid-American Conference) broke out in the three-point department and combined that with stingy defense to knock off No. 11 seed Miami Ohio (13-20, 6-12 MAC) 94-81 in MAC Tournament Quarterfinals in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena Thursday night.

Former Buffalo quarterback Joe Licata throws a pass during his workout at UB's Pro Day on Wednesday. Licata and 11 of his former Bulls teammates tried to prove their worth to professional scouts.

SPORTS

Former Bulls look to prove their worth at UB Pro Day

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 10, 2016

Licata and 11 of his former Buffalo teammates got their chance to prove they can make it at the next level during UB’s annual Pro Day at the ADPRO Sports Training Center Wednesday morning.

The women's basketball team celebrates its 60-44 victory over Bowling Green on March 7. Buffalo defeated No. 1 Ohio in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament on Wednesday.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball upsets No. 1 seed Ohio to advance to MAC Semifinals

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 9, 2016

The No. 8 seed Bulls (18-13, 8-10 MAC) shocked No. 1 seed Ohio (24-6, 16-3 MAC) for the third time this season – this time in MAC Tournament Quarterfinals, 72-60, in Cleveland, Ohio Wednesday afternoon.

Freshman guard CJ Massinburg looks to go to the basket against Toledo on Feb. 9. Massinburg was named to the All-MAC Freshman Team.

SPORTS

Six UB basketball players awarded with MAC accolades

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 9, 2016

Six members of the UB basketball programs – two from the women’s squad and four from the men – were honored with Mid-American Conference accolades on Monday, highlighted by junior guard Joanna Smith’s selection to the All MAC First-Team.

OPINION

Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, should split amicably

By MICHAEL AKELSON | Mar. 9, 2016

Anthony was the Knicks’ biggest superstar since Patrick Ewing departed the team in 2000. He was also one of the faces of the league and was expected to be the positive face of a franchise that had never quite recovered from the negative stigma created by Isaiah Thomas and Stephon Marbury. Yet, neither goal ever seemed within their grasp. The returns have been less than stellar on both accounts, with both the team and Melo having only modest successes and a lot of disappointment to show for it.

SPORTS

Funeral for Solomon Jackson scheduled

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 9, 2016

The funeral for former UB defensive end Solomon Jackson will be held on Saturday at the Fairfield Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia – roughly 20 minutes from his hometown of Stone Mountain. There will also be a viewing of his body on Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Gregory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Home in Decatur, Georgia, according to a representative of Jackson's high school, Tucker High School. Jackson’s family is expected to attend the viewing from 7-8 p.m.

Freshman wrestler Jake Gunning knows adversity - he was a winless (0-23) high school freshman wrestler. Now he's a heavyweight for the Bulls that was one takedown away from the NCAA Championships and is helping Buffalo's turnaround.

SPORTS

From winless high school season to win away from NCAA Championships, Jake Gunning is transforming UB wrestling

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 8, 2016

Gunning wants to be the best in the history of UB wrestling, a program whose own head coach said is trying to come out of a “dark age.” Gunning doesn’t hesitate when asked about leaving a legacy at UB. He wants to leave Buffalo in a better place than when he arrived. A few MAC and NCAA championships wouldn’t hurt either. He’s a part of what could be viewed as a slow and steady program turnaround at Buffalo. After two winless seasons in conference play and a NCAA-sanctioned postseason ban, the Bulls recorded their first 10-win season since 2004 and won a conference meet for the first time more than three calendar years. Gunning led the Bulls with 12 dual meet victories, including five in MAC play.

Junior guard Joanna Smith penetrates the lane in a 58-39 victory over Miami Ohio on Feb. 20.

SPORTS

UB women's basketball hoping third time’s the charm against Ohio

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 8, 2016

No. 8 seed Buffalo defeated No. 9 seed Bowling Green (10-18, 6-12) in a first round campus-site matchup on Monday to advance to the quarterfinals against the Bobcats on Wednesday in Cleveland, Ohio.

Senior guard Jarryn Skeete drives to the basket in a 71-69 loss to Toledo in Alumni Arena on Feb. 9. Skeete and the Bulls head into Cleveland looking to repeat as MAC champions.

SPORTS

UB Bulls looking for a MAC Championship repeat

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 8, 2016

The No. 3 seed Bulls (17-14, 10-8 MAC) will play No. 11 seed Miami Ohio (13-19, 6-12 MAC) in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio Thursday. Last season, Buffalo won the conference tournament as a No. 2 seed to advance to its first-ever NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS

UB art department pays tribute to Solomon Jackson

By MARLEE TUSKES | Mar. 8, 2016

On Tuesday, UB’s Department of Art held a memorial in Jackson’s honor, one week after the university announced his death. Jackson, who was a studio art major, died on the night of Feb. 29 after suffering a medical emergency during a team conditioning session on Feb. 22. He was 20 years old.