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Peek behind the sheets: new art exhibit explores childhood memories
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Volume 64 No. 43
PHOTO BY YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM, ILLUSTRATION BY KENNY CRUZ, THE SPECTRUM
How Kristjan Sokoli went from an Albanian who had never heard of football to a Division I player with eyes on the NFL TOM DINKI
SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
If Kristjan Sokoli had to describe a nose tackle in one word, it would be “relentless.” He said there are bad plays and good plays for the position. A good play is when there’s a wide gap between the center and guard. This allows him to swipe away the center’s hands and get into the backfield to make a tackle for a loss. Here’s what Sokoli calls a ‘bad play’ – or what normally happens when he lines up on the defensive line for the Buffalo football team. You think the center is going to block you. And as you go to attack the center, the center doesn’t block you. The guard comes and ear holes you. Your tackle’s coming inside to try and get into his gap but he can’t get into his gap because you’re in his gap now because you got ear holed by the guard. So not only do you not know what’s going on, you got ear holed, and the tackle steps on your foot and then you just want to scream out of anger.
It’s what comes with being a nose tackle. Few would call it a glorified position. For every play Sokoli ends up with a sack or tackle for a loss, there’s 50 plays he gets his foot stepped on. It’s why he has to be relentless. “You just got to keep fighting,” Sokoli said. “Even though sometimes it might not make a lot of sense you got to keep fighting and then you get to enjoy the better moments of it when it does make sense.” Sokoli did the same after immigrating to the United States from Albania at the age of 9. He didn’t speak a word of English – and was ridiculed for it. He didn’t have the same luxuries as other kids. His father struggled to make money as an apartment complex janitor. He had to convince his parents football was safe even as the injuries piled up. Edmir Sokoli, his cousin, mentor and the person who showed him what American football was while trying to keep Sokoli on the right path, went to
prison for armed robbery. Nothing made sense. But Sokoli kept fighting to get through. He became so good at English he helped his parents learn the language. He earned a full scholarship to a Division I university. His father is now superintendent of that apartment complex. Sokoli is enjoying the better moments. “I’m like, ‘What am I doing here? Some Albanian guy?’” Sokoli said. “I was in Albania, now I’m playing in front of 20,000 fans in Buffalo, New York in college football.” Sokoli played his last game in a Buffalo uniform on Nov. 28, and hopes his next football game will be on an NFL field. It would be yet another accomplishment for a player whose journey to the gridiron spans almost half the globe. “Being from my background, I’ve had to get through different obstacles and people telling me I can’t do this or people giving me the cold shoulder,” Sokoli said. “I’ve always tried to just stick to the plan
and stick to what I know is right. Knowing that I’m some kid from Albania, that’s definitely a motivating factor.” *** It’s a late October practice at UB Stadium. Sokoli and the rest of the starters run sprints down to the end zone for more than 10 minutes. After he gets done with his own conditioning, Sokoli doesn’t stop to rest. He walks over and stands in front of the reserves that are running condition drills themselves. Sokoli claps and offers words of encouragement to his teammates – most of whom he towers over. He’s 6-foot-5 and 293 pounds. His high school coach called him “Moose.” His former Buffalo teammate and roommate, Dalton Barksdale, said Sokoli eats five meals a day. He stands out on the field by not only his size, but also by his long brown hair that flows out the back of his helmet. SEE SOKOLI, PAGE 5
‘Serial’ podcast calls on UB professor’s expertise Law professor Ewing featured on murder case series CHARLES W SCHAAB
ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Charles Ewing says that people kill because something happens to them that pushes them over the edge. “People sometimes lose it,” he said. Ewing, UB Law professor and SUNY distinguished service professor, has examined hundreds of killers across the United States and Canada, most of whom have killed someone close to them. His knowledge of how a young murderous mind operates is what inclined an executive producer of the podcast “Serial” to contact Ewing in search of answers. “Serial,” a podcast that has broken the iTunes record for the most downloads in the shortest period of time examines a 1999 Maryland murder of 18-year-old Hae Min Lee. Lee was found strangled to death in a park outside of Baltimore a month after being reported missing. The
podcast has sparked debate whether the first-degree murder conviction of her exboyfriend, Adnan Syed, was justified. The New Yorker has called the series “the podcast to end all podcasts.” Even Ewing, who has been featured in dozens of national network and cable television programs, has been affected by the fame of “Serial.” “I got a call from an attorney in another state, who asked me to examine a murder defendant he is representing,” Ewing said in an email. “I asked where he’d gotten my name and he said, ‘Serial.’” Law school students were especially surprised and proud to hear one of their professors on the widely listened podcast, which aired its first episode in October. “I thoroughly enjoyed the podcast,” said Charles Cook, a first-year law student. “Ewing’s information on what happens to the killers mind after the fact of the murder really transformed how I viewed Adnan as a killer.” Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder created the new-fangled series. They were both producers of the other National Public Radio podcast “This American Life,” of which “Serial” is a spinoff.
Koenig, who also hosts “Serial,” explored if a person who is seemingly incapable of committing a murder could kill. So, she turned to Ewing. “I decided not to respond at first,” Ewing said through email of Snyder’s consistent calling and emailing. “But she was so persistent … and I agreed to do a short interview with Ms. Koenig.” Koenig, too, showed her persistency throughout the series, regularly hunting down sources and interviewing people close to Syed and Lee to flesh out parts of the trial that seemed unclear. That short interview of Ewing aired in episode 11 of the podcast’s inaugural season, which has 12 episodes. The title of the episode is “Rumors,” which takes a comprehensive look into convicted murderer Syed’s past. “I think we’re all capable of committing homicide under the right circumstance, and I think most people are good people,” Ewing told Koenig in the episode. “Except for stone-cold killers – and I’ve seen some of those – most people who kill are fairly normal, ordinary people.” SEE SERIAL, PAGE 2
COURTESY OF UB NEWS CENTER
UB law professor Charles Ewing was featured on the podcast “Serial” due to his expertise in forensic psychology involving murderers.
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Continued from ‘Serial,’ page 1
Monday, February 2, 2015
Student sound off: Capen renovations UB Students voice their opinions on the construction in the library NEWS DESK EDITORS
Karan Boom Shah, a freshman mechanical and aerospace engineering major
The third floor of the Oscar A. Silverman Library, located in Capen Hall, is closed. This is one of many Heart of the Campus renovation projects across all of UB’s campuses. Capen will be closed at least until November, according to officials. The Spectrum went around campus to get student opinions on the ‘Club Capen’ overhaul.
“Before my chemistry final, my friends and I stayed on the third floor of Capen a lot, so I think it’s a really good space so it’ll be kind of sad that I won’t be able to use it now for about a year.” Kristina Lochan, a senior civil engineering major
Koenig has taken apart Syed’s case. She raised questions about Syed as a killer and how courts handle such cases. Ewing was impressed with the level of scrutiny Koenig expressed in the examination of his case. “Ms. Koenig did a terrific job laying out the case for and against Adnan,” Ewing said. One of the determining factors in Syed’s guilty verdict was that he couldn’t – and still can’t – remember what he was doing the day his ex-girlfriend went missing. Ewing commented directly on Adnan’s lack of memory for that day in January 1999, which police first questioned him about weeks after the murder happened. “Probably half the people I’ve evaluated for killing other human beings have some degree of amnesia for what they’ve done,” Ewing said during his interview with Koenig. “It doesn’t last forever. It’s very difficult to maintain that kind of facade.” “Serial” concluded its first season in December. The podcast, which is a production of WBEZ Chicago, has plans for a season two to air sometime in 2015. “Serial” is a story is told week-by-week, which means there is no conclusiveness to the investigation. “Regarding innocence or guilt, this case poses a mystery that may never be solved,” Ewing said.
“I think it’s a good thing because that place needed to change because it was just uninviting, but I’m a senior so that shouldn’t phase me.” Sahiba Rupal, a sophomore biological sciences major
Andrew Chiang, a senior health and human services major
“Why would you renovate during a semester? Why wouldn’t you do it over the summer when no one’s here?”
“It’s about damn time because it was poorly designed before. Since I live on South, they should renovate [the Health Sciences Library] while they’re at it.” Tasneem Ahmad, a junior occupational therapy major
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, I’ll build a mini-Capen in my house instead of coming to North.” Danielle Miesch (center), a junior speech and hearing sciences major
“I go to Lockwood a lot so it kinda sucks because all of the Capen people are gonna be in Lockwood now.”
email: news@ubspectrum.com
Shahida Khan, a sophomore biological sciences major
“Capen was my second home, it was more studyoriented but also it was a great place to hang out.” PHOTOS BY YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
Take a UB MFC course online Convenient, Accessible & Flexible
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Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Sara DiNatale
MANAGING EDITORS
Rachel Kramer Emma Janicki OPINION EDITOR
Tress Klassen COPY EDITORS
Alyssa McClure, Copy Chief Anne Fortman Natalie Humphrey NEWS EDITORS
Tom Dinki, Senior Ashley Inkumsah, Asst. Chuck W Schaab, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
Sharon Kahn, Senior Gabriela Julia Dan McKeon, Asst. ARTS EDITORS
Jordan Oscar, Senior Tori Roseman, Senior Brian Windschitl SPORTS EDITORS
Jordan Grossman, Senior Quentin Haynes, James Battle, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS
Yusong Shi, Senior Kainan Guo, Asst. CARTOONISTS
Lauren Goetzmann Harumo Sato CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Jenna Bower Kenny Cruz, Asst.
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER
Kevin Xaisanasy Alex Buttler, Asst. Melina Panitsidis, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Tyler Harder Derek Hosken, Asst.
THE SPECTRUM Monday, February 2, 2015 Volume 64 Number 41 Circulation 7,000 The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100
OPINION
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Blame it on the alcohol, Dartmouth says University’s ban on hard liquor dramatic but insufficient response to alcohol-related violence and injuries As an Ivy League college, Dartmouth has long maintained a reputation for academic excellence and top-tier students. But after finding itself under fire for mishandling sexual assault complaints and turning a blind eye to hazing, academic excellence is no longer the cornerstone of the school’s image. Like many universities across the nation, Dartmouth is now unable to ignore the prevalence of sexual assaults, hazing and risky, often alcohol-induced behaviors on campuses. So in response, Dartmouth is locking the liquor cabinets and threatening to shut the doors on fraternities. When the spring term begins at Dartmouth, students will have to say farewell to Jack Daniel’s and Captain Morgan and throw out their bottles of Svedka and Bacardi, as all liquor that is more than 15 percent alcohol will be banned. It’s a sad truth that reports of sexual assaults, violent hazing and hospitalizations stemming from binge drinking on college campuses are no longer shocking news. Arguably, the news of Dartmouth’s response to the problem comes as more of a surprise. Although the frequency of these crimes and injuries may have desensitized the public to the headlines, it remains a pressing – and seemingly unsolvable – problem for many universities. While some colleges, including elite schools like Harvard and the University of Chicago, have come under fire for mishandling sexual assault investigations and allowing hazing to go unchecked, Dartmouth is turning to preventive measures. But this move isn’t simply preemptive. Last spring, when the U.S. Department of Education released a list of 55 colleges under investigation for improperly addressing sexual assault and harassment complaints, Dartmouth was one of the schools named. A recent tell-all from a former Dartmouth student detailing extreme hazing rituals further embarrassed the university. So thanks to an unwanted and unpleasant media spotlight, Dartmouth is taking extreme – and largely untested – measures to address the problem. The university’s commitment to reforming the campus culture is admirable, as is their willingness to up-
ILLUSTRATION BY HARUMO SATO
set its students, especially those involved with Dartmouth’s extensive and deeply engrained Greek life traditions. But the effectiveness of these measures is far from guaranteed. On college campuses, where the majority of students tend to be under 21, consuming alcohol of any kind is technically disallowed, but such policies clearly do little to restrict students from drinking. Enforcement will have to be intense, and penalties even more so, if Dartmouth officials expect students to take the ban seriously. The university acknowledged
that policing private drinking would be a challenge – shutting down parties is doable but cracking down on pregaming poses a far greater logistical difficulty. And policing alcohol consumption runs the risk of encouraging students to resort to extreme measures to consume hard alcohol – drinking in secret, driving off-campus or simply consuming liquor as quickly as possible before heading out to a party. Obviously, these aren’t the drinking habits university students should be developing. Banning hard alcohol in re-
sponse to student misconduct problematically shifts the blame from the individuals involved to the substance they consumed. Although this ban addresses the dangers of binge drinking directly, issues of sexual assault and hazing are a result of behavior and choices made by students, and Dartmouth needs to acknowledge this. Keeping students sober, or slightly less intoxicated, is a good first step. But keeping students educated, empathetic and aware would be even better. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
Capen renovations are an exercise in patience Remodel in Silverman Library is a short-term annoyance, but worthwhile in the long run “Delayed gratification” will have to serve as the motto for students using North Campus libraries this year, as “Club Capen” shuts down in order to undergo a dramatic remodel. Longer lines and louder study spaces in Lockwood and Silverman libraries may cause some headaches, but the carefully planned and much-needed improvements to the third floor of the Silverman Library will be worth it – eventually. As part of UB’s Heart of the Campus project, a UB 2020 initiative involving renovations on all three campuses, the Silverman Library is getting a facelift. Up until its closing in December, Club Capen served as a popular 24-hour study space. When it eventually reopens – in fall 2015, at the earliest – the area will cater more closely to student needs.
UB wisely took student opinions into account regarding the remodel, using surveys and focus groups to generate ideas for the renovations. Because the original plans for the remodel had to be downsized due to budgetary constraints, it’s even more important that funds be spent on relevant improvements. Redesigned classrooms, natural lighting and more power outlets will undoubtedly improve students’ studying experiences. The plan to divide the area into different sections, allowing for a variety of noise levels across the floor, clearly acknowledges students’ current use of Club Capen as a place to meet for group projects and hold discussions and events. In the meantime, Lockwood Library takes over as North Campus’ 24-hour library. Its location is slightly less convenient
– Capen is mere steps from Flint Loop – but the switch is still an impressive demonstration of logistical flexibility on the part of library staff. Fortunately, Silverman Library remains open as well, so students still have access to multiple library locations where they can print materials and check out books. UB was smart to avoid closing down anything beyond a single floor of Silverman – North Campus in general is consistently a hub of activity, and during the week’s peak hours, it’s not unusual for students to face long lines everywhere – from the Student Union to Starbucks, and of course, the libraries. Even without a single floor shut down, it’s not uncommon to wait for a computer, and then wait to print and then wait some more just to find an unused stapler.
Finding an empty seat – much less an available table – is typically a challenge. This semester, that will be even more difficult. And for large groups trying to meet, the competition for space will become fiercer. So the inconvenience may be worth a few complaints or muttered expletives, but not much more than that. Having multiple libraries on the same grounds and a 24-hour facility are luxuries to begin with. And attending a university willing to listen to its students’ feedback and cater to their needs, spending its reduced budget on renovations that are actually worthwhile and exciting is an even greater extravagance – one that is worth the wait. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Monday, February 2, 2015 ubspectrum.com
Merging childhood memories Harumo Sato and Amber Sliter revive childhood with P.P. Sheets JORDAN OSCAR
SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
While Amber Sliter’s* 6-year-old brother roamed through her newest art installation, running below the sheets that dissect the room, drawing on the walls and playing with a microphone, Harumo Sato’s* family was preparing for their first visit to the United States to see her artwork – something they’ve never done. The two artists reserved the Project Space in 155 CFA in November. They spent three weeks meticulously turning their sketches and models into a sprawling, interactive art installation made of colorful bed sheets, chicken wire, yarn, string and balloons. More than 20 people attended the reception on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 5 to 8 p.m. Most projects and installations in the Project Space are left up for a week but P.P. Sheet will remain open until Feb. 13. A tree-shaped structure built from chicken wire, wrapped in bed sheets bisects the room, with other string, sheets and balloon-filled creations dividing the space. The walls are covered in drawing paper with boxes of crayons scattered throughout. “We put up questions on the drawing papers to guide people,” said Sliter, a senior painting major. “They can draw whatever they want, or they can draw what we direct them to. These questions are easy enough for kids to understand, but for adults to appreciate and answer.” The result is a space that makes it hard not to reminisce over the days of drawing on placemats with crayons and making fortresses out of pillows and bed sheets. The installation is built for change, interaction, creativity and breaking boundaries. “We wanted to make this a bit of a lighter show. We wanted it to be super inviting,” Sliter said. “We haven’t done a piece where people could interact, and we wanted to experiment with trying to get people to really touch things and play with things. It’s kind of hard to get people to touch things.” Sliter described the distance and boundaries people are used to in art exhibits and how P.P. Sheet was meant to break down those barriers. The sheets “bursting in between the space” are meant to encourage sitting on the floor and conversing. Sliter and Sato, a senior studio art major, instituted a no-shoes policy in the installation, making the experience less formal and more playful. The artists, dressed in pajamas, gleefully moved throughout the installation, talking with their friends and thanking everyone for coming. Olivia Frank, a junior sociology major, felt like she was on a playground. “I like the exhibit, mostly because I think it represents childhood well,” Frank said. “There’s free range to color and design things and add to the piece. You kind
Harumo Sato (above) used her childhood as inspiration for P.P. Sheet: Past and Present Bed Sheets. The netting and balloons scattered throughout the installation are things she struggled to create growing up. Amber Sliter (below) hopes the installation will help break the boundaries set by conventional art exhibits. Sliter and Sato’s no shoe policy is part of their attempt to create an atmosphere where people play and interact with the exhibit they’ve produced. JORDAN OSCAR, THE SPECTRUM
of have to crawl through the structure in order to navigate around it, like you would on a playground.” The installation was a playground for people of all ages. One of the youngest people in attendance was Sliter’s young brother Parker. Sliter told Parker the exhibit was “for his birthday, too.” Amber’s mother Paula also attended the event, chasing around her son and admiring her daughter’s work. Initially, he hesitated to engage with the space. He seemed unsure about the environment around him. It didn’t take him
long to start having fun. “[He] just said to me, ‘I was nervous. I was scared and now I’m not and [I’m] having fun,’” Paula said. “You’d think a kid would go in and say, ‘Wow,’ but he was unsure about things.” Over time the balloons will deflate, the pages on the walls will become filled with drawings and the space will change. Eventually, Sato and Sliter hope to take the installation to other venues, bringing along all the drawings and interactivity of past iterations to new spaces. “We wanted to see how we could kind of play with people as well by just chang-
ing the setting of the room,” Slitter said. “With this installation you can really change the way people talk to each other and it makes a space where they’re invited to communicate.” People drawing on the walls talked about what they were drawing and how the space made them feel, while others sat on the floor conversing about the start of the semester. The installation helped bridge the gap between childlike enthusiasm and maturity. P.P. Sheet is as much about breaking boundaries, rekindling childhood and communication as it is about the deeper meanings of childhood and families. “We pulled from our childhood when it came to decorating,” Sato said, holding a balloon air pump in hand. “I used to see performers make balloon animals and I thought it was so cool, but never understood how to make one. Now I can make them myself and show other people how fun they are.” The netting draped like spider webs across the room is made using a knitting technique that Sato struggled to master as a child. Each element of the installation has a deeper meaning to Sato and Slitter; the balloons and netting are things Sato struggled with growing up. Another part of the installation included two trees made to appear like one. They were built with Japanese mythology in mind. “In Japanese mythology there is a story about two trees that are intertwined with one another like a couple,” Sato said. “They are connected by their roots and grow and move together. I used to hear this story in my childhood, and was inspired by it to make the tree structure.” The exhibit is especially personal for Sato. Her family’s visit from Feb. 7-10 will be their first time in the United States and their first chance to see Sato’s work. She didn’t start making art exhibits until she arrived in the United States four years ago. The reception was accompanied by music from Shawn Louis, known as Lesionread, an artist who graduated from UB with a bachelor’s in architecture. He placed four speakers throughout the room that played diverse sounds and samples, like people whispering. Make sure you take off your shoes, leave your jackets and bags at the door, enter the Project Space and meander through two artists’ childhood memories transformed into art. And don’t forget to add your own memories to the space along the way. *Full disclosure: Harumo Sato is currently a cartoonist for The Spectrum. Amber Sliter was a cartoonist for The Spectrum last semester. Tori Roseman contributed reporting to this story. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
The grapevine The weekly breakdown of Buffalo’s local music calendar BRIAN WINDSCHITL ARTS EDITOR The grapevine is a weekly concert comprehensive seeking to bring all the latest and greatest Buffalo concerts to your fingertips. In this week’s installment, a diverse lineup of groups is coming to the local scene. From heart-wrenching soul to face-melting heavy metal, there are enough music genres for any kind of music lover. Monday, Feb. 2 Jonny Craig – Waiting Room Jonny Craig recently broke out into a solo career, after acting as the front man for four different bands, including Dance Gavin Dance and Emarosa. Craig was reared on soul and gospel music – and today his performances center around his incredible vocal range. At the intimate venue the Waiting Room, the concert will be a raw, emotional venture into a blend of soul and R&B.
Wednesday, Feb. 4 Cherub – Waiting Room Cherub is a fun, electropop duo from Tennessee. The pair of musicians has recently found widespread popularity, playing at large festivals such as Lollapalooza, Governor’s Ball and Austin City Limits on their first tour in 2012 and 2013. Now, touring their debut album The Year of the Caprese, Cherub is taking their infectious dance grooves to the Waiting Room. Out of all the concerts on this week’s list, Cherub will offer a performance most like a party. Thursday, Feb. 5 Antibalas – University at Buffalo, Center for the Arts A genuine Afrobeat group, Antibalas will be bringing their funky talents to UB. The 12-member group includes a trumpet, trombone, congas and an organ. In a concert filled with rhythmic drums and blaring horns, the performance will feel like a loud orchestral performance. This Brooklyn-based Afrobeat group will be a
listening experience completely different from what you’re used to hearing. Machine Head – Waiting Room Machine Head is a metal band from Oakland, California. The veteran group has been making music since 1991, and their concert should be a visceral experience. Machine Head is pure metal, making use of heavy electric guitar riffs, pounding drums and full-throated screams – drawing from thrash and groove metal. If you are looking for a harder concert experience, then this will be the one to get your metal head fix. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and 7 Sam Roberts Band – Town Ballroom
Sam Roberts is a Juno award-winning Canadian musician, who is taking his talents to Town Ballroom on Feb. 6 and 7. He is a rocker, through and through. Sam Roberts will be putting on two electric rock shows on Friday and Saturday. Sam Roberts isn’t a stranger to Buffalo, having played numerous times here on tour. His concerts will pull a large number of diehard fans, able to sing and dance along to every song. If you can make it to even one of his two scheduled dates, his easygoing alt rock will keep you jamming all night. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
ubspectrum.com
Monday, February 2, 2015
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Continued from Sokoli, page 1 Sokoli stands and yells until the final player finishes and the final whistle blows. His drive comes from his father. “Coming from a different country, the work ethic is a little bit different, especially when you see your parents go through somewhat hard times,” said Andre Reid, Sokoli’s high school trainer. “His father is an extremely hard worker and a good example of what needs to be done in America.” At 7 a.m., Sokoli’s father, Gjon, would travel a mile underground. He wouldn’t come out until 3 p.m. He did this for seven years in Albania. Gjon said his father was a “happy communist” who did not allow his children to go to school, but instead sent them to the mines for work after mandated military service. Gjon eventually got a job working for a bank in 1996. Then the economic collapse happened. After the communism period ended in Albania in 1992, the government engaged in several failed Ponzi schemes that caused the Albanian Rebellion of 1997. With the banks in disarray, Gjon became involved in monetary exchange. Sokoli can tell “a lot of crazy stories” about his father’s experiences, but admits it may not be the time or place. To say monetary exchange in Albania in the mid 1990s was a gray area might be a bit of an understatement. “At that point it was a little … I don’t think anyone had a license to do it … It was right after communism and everything was like … It was very little control from the police so everyone kind of did their own thing,” Sokoli said, pausing as he struggles to describe his father’s job. Sokoli always remembers his father having a lot of money on him – Gjon would carry as much as $10,000 of his clients’ money at one time. He traded for different country’s currencies depending on what the demand was. He would have to trust the people around him. “There were times when he had to just throw $10,000 worth of money to his friend,” Sokoli said. “He had to throw a bag to him and say, ‘Hey I’m going to pick that up tomorrow. I can’t carry it right now because of the situation.’ He had to trust his friends and he had to be a trustworthy person and he had to be consistent in what he did every day.” At 6 years old, Sokoli would help his father count as much as $20,000. But it wasn’t his father’s money – it was his clients’. Sokoli said his father was making good money for an Albanian, but Gjon wanted more for his family – or what he called a “better opportunity” for his children. Sokoli said there was a lot of inequality in Albania. He says if you didn’t already have a lot of money, it was “tough to make it.” Sokoli admits there is inequality in the United States, but said it’s still not as bad as Albania. “It’s not like [in the United States] when, ‘Hey, you do good in school, you go to college, you’re going to find a way to make it.’ That’s not always the case back there,” Sokoli said. “My dad saw that the better future was in America … He made the decision to give up everything he had built in Albania for a tougher climb but in the long run a better life in America.” Gjon saved enough money for a plane ticket and left for the United States in 1997, leaving behind his wife, Gjyste, and his two sons, Kristjan and Mark. He had to work if the rest of his family was going to join him. Gjon did not speak a word of English. His only education was eight grades of schooling from a third world country. “So you can imagine there wasn’t a lot of employment opportunities,” Sokoli said. Gjon worked as a maintenance worker for a Bloomfield, New Jersey apartment complex. He lived in the basement of the building with other workers. He made $45 a day and “lived off bread and milk.” “I’d be happy to do any job to get money to eat for myself and save some money to send back to my country to give food to my kids,” Gjon said. Gjyste was able to come to the United States in 1999, leaving Sokoli and Mark – who is three years younger than Sokoli, without their parents. The brothers moved in with their uncle and waited for their opportunity to join their parents. Sokoli said the process is about more than just having money for a plane ticket; it’s about the “paperwork process and lawyers.” “People kept saying, ‘Soon, soon. It should happen soon.’ But it was tough, you’d have to wait,” he said. “The legal process is challenging and it’s not always easy. For some people it works out and for some it doesn’t.” Three years after his father originally left Albania, the paperwork came through for Sokoli and Mark to join their parents in the United States. Sokoli remembers running for joy with his brother.
YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
Kristjan Sokoli makes an adjustment at the line of scrimmage in a game against Akron on Nov. 11, 2014.
YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
Kristjan Sokoli heads off the field in Buffalo’s 55-24 win over Akron on Nov. 11, 2014.
*** Sokoli doesn’t think he’ll ever be a true American. He says it’s because he’s proud of where he comes from. He listened to Albanian music in the hotel room on road trips. A large Albanian flag hangs on his bedroom wall. Albanian is the first language in the Sokoli household, and it’s the language he uses to speak with his parents on the phone – which confuses his roommates at times. “If you listen to Soko talk to his parents, you’ll think they’re fighting, and then at the end he’ll be like [in English], ‘All right, love you. Talk to you later,’” Barksdale said. But it’s clear living in the United States for 14 years has ‘Americanized’ the nose tackle. He’s fluent in English and has no hint of an accent. He wants to work on Wall Street. He can tell you in detail how his favorite team – the New York Yankees – lost last night. “Derek Jeter was up with two outs. If he’d hit a homerun it would have been an epic moment but he struck out in three pitches,” Sokoli laments. Sokoli may never feel like a true American, but he says he realizes the opportunity living in the United States has given him. “I’m damn proud to be an American because of what this country and has provided for me and my family is huge,” Sokoli said. “It’s completely changed our lives and the opportunities we have for the better tenfold.” His first American experience was eating macaroni and cheese while on the plane to the United States. The Albanian brothers were “amazed” by it, as Mark puts it. After getting lost in JFK International Airport, Sokoli and Mark found their parents. “Finally, to have that moment when you
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come together as a family and you’re legal, you’re stable and you know you can live in this place as long as you do the right things,” Sokoli said. “It was a very big feeling of accomplishment for the four of us as a family.” He found that his and his family’s struggle would not end when arriving in the United States. *** Albanians think people find money everywhere in United States, according to Sokoli. Gjon still gets calls from friends back in Albanian asking for money. “They make America to be better than it actually is,” Sokoli said. Sokoli had heard fantasies about life in the United States while growing up in Eastern Europe, but he found America was different from the stories. Life was supposed to be easier. His family was supposed to be finding money lying in the streets. Instead, they lived in the Bloomfield apartment complex his dad worked in. They didn’t go on vacations like other families and Sokoli didn’t wear the same clothes or have the same toys as his friends. “We weren’t as well off,” Sokoli said. “We had to grind. It wasn’t easy.” On top of his families’ financial struggles, classmates made fun of Sokoli every day because he couldn’t speak English. There were a “a lot of hard moments.” English as a second language classes helped him, but Sokoli said a person doesn’t learn English by sitting in a classroom for an hour a day. He learned English mostly by listening to it, whether from his classmates and teachers or just hearing it on TV. A few months after arriving in the U.S., Sokoli could do his homework by himself. “I say, ‘What are you doing?’ He said, ‘Father, I am doing homework.’ I say,
Through adversity and through sticking with it and doing the right things and staying with the plan we’ve come a long way and I’m very proud of my family.
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‘How are you doing?’ He said, ‘The teacher is doing very well with me,’” Gjon recalls. “And little by little he start to teach me to speak English.” Within a year of arriving in America, Sokoli could hold down a conversation. Within two years he said he could “definitely understand everything,” and by middle school he was being told, “Wow, you don’t even have an accent.” Some people tell him he still has one. “I don’t know what they’re talking about,” he says. Even his families’ financial situation improved. They have a house not far from the apartment complex. Gjon is now superintendent of the apartment. “He says he still works there but every time I go there he’s just driving his truck around the place, managing I guess,” Sokoli said. “But no, I give him credit. He’s worked hard and he deserves it. He deserves for it to be a little easier now.” Sokoli’s scholarship to UB would be the accumulation of the grind his family went through. “Through adversity and through sticking with it and doing the right things and staying with the plan we’ve come a long way and I’m very proud of my family,” Sokoli said. *** Sokoli amassed 95 tackles, 15 for losses, and 2.5 sacks in his four seasons in Buffalo. He was a key component as a mainstay on Buffalo’s defensive line during the Bulls’ 2013 bowl season. But for the first nine years of his life, Sokoli had never even heard of American football. “Soccer was everything in Albania,” Sokoli said. During the years he lived with his uncle while his parents were in America, Sokoli and his cousins would play soccer – making their own soccer jerseys and drawing up scenarios of scoring the game-winning goal. His cousin, Edmir, was the person who first introduced him to the sport that would eventually get Sokoli a full ride to a university. Edmir, or ‘Eddie’ as Sokoli calls him, is five years older than Sokoli and came to the United States with his parents a few years before Sokoli. Edmir was a standout at Bloomfield High School. And he was tough. He broke his leg playing running back, so he moved to nose tackle. He even played fullback and guard when the coaches asked him to. Sokoli said Edmir played “fearless.” “Man, I just wanted to play as hard as he did,” Sokoli said. “I just wanted to be as fearless as he was on the field.” Edmir gave Sokoli a ride to his first-ever football practice. As Sokoli got out of the car, Edmir gave “words of wisdom,” telling his 13-year-old cousin to play, run and hit hard. Sokoli needed the words of encouragement. He says he was the worst kid on the team. He had the athleticism, but he was behind his peers who had played pop warner or had at least seen football on T.V. before. Sokoli wasn’t getting much support at home, either. His parents thought football wasn’t safe. They had read about all the injuries and “negative stuff,” about the game. Sokoli remembers battling his father every night. “They were just completely against it to the point where they were telling my brother, ‘You absolutely cannot do this. You’re not going to live in this house if you do,’” Mark said. “The way [Sokoli] put it, he was saying he’d rather not be living or be on this Earth than not play football.” SEE SOKOLI, PAGE 6
ubspectrum.com
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Continued from Sokoli, page 5 Gjon and Gjyste’s concerns weren’t unwarranted. Sokoli suffered a multiple injuries playing for Bloomfield high school, including a sprained wrist, a broken collarbone and two hairline fractures in his arm. Sokoli’s family told him, “Hey we told you so, this is a bad sport.” After his second hairline fracture, Gjyste told her son something is telling him to stop playing football. “He said, ‘Mom, I will break my arm, and my leg and everything in my body and I’m not stopping football,” Gjyste said. Throughout all of the injuries and doubts, there was one person who Sokoli’s says had his back: Edmir. He was the person you needed to hear when you were down, according to Sokoli. Edmir would say things like, “Hey cuz jus stick to it, man,” or, “Injuries are going to happen, you’re going to get better, you got a lot of potential in the sport.” Edmir mentored Sokoli on more than just the game of football. He would make sure his younger cousin was staying at home the night before his high school games. He would text Sokoli at 1 a.m. on Friday nights saying “Cuz, don’t get caught up in the moment. Don’t do anything that’s going to jeopardize what you want the most.” “He was always trying to keep me sharp,” Sokoli said. Edmir also introduced Sokoli to the trainer who proved to be vital in Sokoli earning a Division I Scholarship: Andre Reid. Gjon and Gjyste were still apprehensive about the dangers of the sport, but after meeting Reid they agreed to pay him to train their son. It was the moment the Sokoli family finally accepted football. “When I met Kristjan he said, ‘I want you to help me get a full ride to a university and I want to see if we can make it all the way to the NFL.’ I said, ‘If you listen to me, we’re going to make it happen,’” Reid said. And with Reid improving Sokoli’s skills, Sokoli did get a full ride. He was playing Madden in his basement when he got a call from UB offering a scholarship. Sokoli couldn’t stop moving. He said he was “on cloud nine,” as he paced around his parent’s house feeling relief, excitement, joy and accomplishment. He asked himself if it was all really happening, or if it was just a dream. His parents were equally skeptical. They asked him if he was sure it was really Buffalo on the phone. “When you come to this country and you work for minimum wage and you work hard for so long, making it big kind of seems not realistic,” Sokoli said. But one of the most influential people in Sokoli getting the scholarship was not there to enjoy the moment. It was Edmir who introduced Sokoli to the sport football and his trainer. It was Edmir who had driven him to his football practices when his family disapproved. It was Edmir who kept him focused on the goal and “on the right path.” But Edmir would never see his cousin play a single college game. That’s because he did exactly what he had tried to tell his cousin not do, and has been inside a New Jersey county correctional facility for the past five years. *** On Aug. 18, 2009, a few weeks before Sokoli was set to begin his senior season at Bloomfield High School, Edmir and another man entered Rachel Jewelers in Kearny, New Jersey with the intent to rob it. Edmir’s accomplice, John Derosa, got into a physical altercation with storeowner Xavier Egoavil. Derosa, who had been convicted of manslaughter in 1980, opened fire and killed Egoavil. Edmir and Derosa fled to a getaway car that was waiting outside. This is according to Hudson County prosecutors, who charged Derosa with murder, felony murder, weapons charges and armed robbery. Edmir and the getaway driver pleaded guilty to armed rob-
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bery in April 2010. Sokoli went on “human auto pilot.” Bloomfield head coach Mike Carter pulled Sokoli into his office the day after Edmir was arrested. “Moose, are you OK? Are you going to be all right?” Carter asked his star senior. Sokoli shrugged it all on off, told Carter, “Yeah, coach.” He said he dumbed the situation down. He thought to himself, Yeah he went to jail, he’s going to be all right, he’s going to come out. But Sokoli felt differently on the inside. “What really hurt me was that he had worked so hard with me and had been there for me so much to get to where I had gotten to at that point. Just when he could see the result, he had to go away,” Sokoli said. Edmir tried to keep Sokoli on the straight and narrow with football. He told his cousin not to get caught up in the moment. Sokoli said Edmir “got caught up in the moment” when he entered Rachel’s Jewelers on Aug. 18, 2009. Edmir still talks to Sokoli on the phone from prison once a week. He still offers his cousin words of wisdom, saying, “Whenever you think you have it bad and you’re thinking about making a mistake and doing something you know is not the right thing to do, just think of where I’m at and be thankful for what you have,” according to Sokoli. Sokoli said football was his “rock” in high school. He says it keeps “you on a one-path focus.” “As a kid I feel like you have so many opportunities to veer off the right path,” Sokoli said. “You can go into drinking and drugs and excess of things you shouldn’t be doing, but I feel like football was a good foundation for me because it was like, ‘Well, I shouldn’t do that because I know what I want to get to.’ I always had the dream of playing in the NFL. I knew that to play in the NFL I had to go to a good school and I knew to go to a good school I got to get good grades and it was a foundation.” *** Sokoli spent his first month after his final UB game training at Pinnacle Fitness and Training Center in Bloomfield. Reid, who once helped Sokoli get a D-I scholarship, owns the facility. Now he’ll try to get Sokoli a minicamp invite. He played in the Medal of Honor College All-Star game on Jan. 10. Sokoli played the three technique, which he says is more natural for his build. He had two tackles for losses and a pass defended. Sokoli is currently training at St. Vincent’s training facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. He’s preparing for UB’s pro day at Ralph Wilson Stadium field house in March, where he’ll be able to showcase his skills in front of NFL scouts. If he doesn’t land himself on an NFL roster, Sokoli wants to put his management degree with a focus in finance to use and work on Wall Street. He said counting thousands of dollars at a young age in Albanian probably influenced that desire. He likes the “big shark eats little shark” mentality of Wall Street. Sokoli says it’s not that he likes injustice; he just likes competition. He wants a performance-based atmosphere where people want results and aspire to do great things. He makes the New York Stock Exchange sound like the gridiron. But what Sokoli would really like to do is investment banking. “A lot of guys who get into that have 4.0 [GPA’s] and are from Harvard or Yale and I’m a just a 3.1 student-athlete from the University at Buffalo who was born in Albanian. Who’d put me in investment banking?” he laughs. But then again, who would put an Albanian immigrant who’s never heard of the game onto a football field?
Monday, February 2, 2015
Baroque in the modern world Jennifer Koh combines contemporary and classical music in one performance
Mom, I will break my arm, and
my leg and everything
in my body
and I’m not stopping football.
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email: sports@ubspectrum.com
KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS, THE SPECTRUM
World-renowned violinist Jennifer Koh performed “Bach and Beyond Part III” Thursday night.
KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS STAFF WRITER On Thursday Jan. 29, a packed audience listened to the echoing strings of a violin floating out from behind the stage, patiently waiting for the violinist to emerge. The woman behind the crisp, vivid notes was world-renowned violinist Jennifer Koh. Koh has worked with the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. She performed “Bach and Beyond Part III” Thursday as the guest of honor at Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall. Koh’s performance of “Bach and Beyond Part III”, a combination of baroque and contemporary renditions of Bach’s timeless music, was part of the final program of “Bach and Beyond,” a series she began in 2009. A master class with Koh was scheduled for the night before, but it was canceled due to flight delays. After gliding smoothly on stage, Koh got into position and began to play Bach’s Sonata No.2 in A Minor, BWV 1003. The first two movements “Grave” and “Fuga” were somber and deeply emotional pieces, while “Andante” and “Allegro,” the final two movements, were lighter and offset the first two.
At the conclusion of the first movement, it was clear Koh didn’t just command the stage; she graced it. Koh’s performance also featured Luciano Berio’s “Sequenza for Solo Violin” and John Zorn’s “Passagen.” Berio and Zorn, contemporary composers influenced by Bach, implement his techniques into their pieces. Throughout the evening, Koh’s control of the bow was swift and deliberate and her body movements mirrored the strength of her violin’s sound. While addressing the audience before her performance of “Sequenza for Solo Violin,” Koh said the program was meant to show “the act of development and who we are to become,” referring to a musician’s journey to become a performer. “I have a preference for contemporary, but I’ve been listening to a lot of Bach and [to have] it all come together in a great way here … it was excellent,” said Randy Tanner, an audience member with a master’s degree in music. After a brief intermission, Koh returned to the stage to perform the final part of the program, Bach’s Sonata No.3 in C Major, BWV 1005. Her execution of the complex notes of “Adagio” and “Fuga” was effortless. UB alum Gerry Goldberg, Mike Moses and Cynthia Weber said Koh’s performance surpassed their expectations. They were especially impressed by the marriage of old and new music throughout the show. “It gave a good insight on how artists today are being influenced by artists that were creating music in the 18th century,” Weber said. Koh’s performance has been two centuries in the making and the audience loved it. Through Koh’s blending of baroque and contemporary music in “Bach and Beyond,” it became clear the works of earlier composers and musicians are alive today, as long as an innovator like Koh is around to play them. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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DAILY DELIGHTS sponsored by Collegiate Village Apartments Crossword of the Day Monday, February 2, 2015 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
HOROSCOPES
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share your thoughts with others and work toward personal goals. A conversation with a trusted friend will help you approach an important decision. Don’t let a relationship cost you emotionally or financially. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taking part in community events or a good cause will lead to a very special encounter with someone who will change the way you think. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Keep busy and do your best to stay informed about what is happening in your field of work. Don’t trust anyone who is passing on secondhand information. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Observe what others do and say, and you will know where you stand. Romance is on the rise, and it’s a good idea to share information with someone you would like to spend more time with. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): It’s all about partnerships, implementing positive changes, and stabilizing your domestic scene. Talk through any concerns you have and you can avoid drifting away from someone you care about. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It won’t do you any good to argue. Take what you know and do well and find an outlet that allows you to use your skills, knowledge and attributes fully. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your sharp intellect and quick response will help you bring about the positive changes that will make you feel good about your personal life and where you are heading. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Avoid letting what someone says bother you. Follow your heart and your creative dreams and don’t look back. You will learn from the experiences you encounter. Love is in the stars, and an improved home life is within reach. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Listen to complaints and take care of your obligations early in the day. The positive changes you make to your home will allow you greater freedom to start a productive and prosperous sideline business. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Revisit an old idea, dream or professional goal. You can bring a plan back to life if you make changes that are more in sync with current popular trends. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Re-evaluate your position and consider what you can do to increase your income and responsibilities. A partnership will allow you more time to spend on the things you enjoy and do best. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): An honest assessment regarding the way you feel, what you want and what you are willing to do will play a role in the decisions you make. Remain true to your needs and be frank when dealing with others.
Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 2, 2015
SALUTE THE GIS By David M. George
ACROSS ACROSS 1 Football part 5 ___ lazuli (blue mineral) 10 Burst open 13 Annoying smell 14 Plain, in Spain 15 “Whale” or “herring” attachment 16 Wide-ranging appeal 19 Withdraw (with “out”) 20 Telltale signs 21 NBA legends Archibald and Thurmond 22 Bouillabaisse cooking vessel 24 Fee for grazing cattle 25 Does and ewes 26 “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star 28 As many as 30 Former Russian leader 31 “What did I tell you!” 34 More than merely owing 38 “... Bojangles and ___ dance for you” 39 Circulatory trunk 40 Silver State destination 41 English Lit assignment 42 Con’s knife 44 Prepare Parmesan cheese 46 Monster in Greek
mythology 49 Related on the mother’s side 50 Arrogant 52 San Francisco’s ___ Hill 53 Like a soldier’s gear 56 Prayer finisher 57 Dwelling 58 Big name in cereal 59 Animal lair 60 Pre-stereo recordings 61 Bugs on a hill
26 Object of worship 27 King of Siam’s employee 28 “Disgusting!” 29 “Before,” if before 30 Constellation containing Vega 31 Eisenhower opponent 32 Suffix for “Hallow” 33 Tokyo, previously 35 Winery employee 36 Finish in last place 37 Cup part 41 Finished, as a meal 42 Young hogs (Var.) 43 Stereo system 1 Advertising eye-catchers of yore 2 Adroit 44 Dwarf of folklore 3 Called into question 45 Black bird 4 “... ___ he drove out 46 Upscale of sight ...” living 5 Docile quarters, briefly creatures 47 Awaken rudely 6 Host before Paar and 48 Acts as Carson a lookout 7 Advil target 49 “Heavens 8 Getaway spots to Betsy!” 9 Barroom elbow-bender 50 Pulpit of yore 10 Erato’s group 51 Boxer Spinks 11 Genesis 54 “Miss Saigon” 12 Domesticated animals setting, briefly 15 Make 55 Healthy pigtails vacation spot 17 It may be skipped 18 Wankel’s creation 23 “Stop right there!” 24 All fired up
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Monday, February 2, 2015 ubspectrum.com
SPORTS
YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
Behind a raucous 5,797 Alumni Arena crowd, the men’s basketball team defeated first-place Kent State on Friday. Xavier Ford scored a career-high 25 points.
‘X’ marks the spot Bulls defeat MAC East leader behind Ford’s career-night and largest home crowd in four years JORDAN GROSSMAN SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR The Buffalo men’s basketball team had reasons to be confident heading into the locker room for halftime Friday night. It led Mid-American Conference East leaders Kent State by 20, was shooting over 50 percent from the field and had dominated on defense with six steals and three blocks. The team also got something it doesn’t always hear as it headed into the locker room: a standing ovation from a large and raucous student section and Alumni Arena crowd. The Bulls (14-6, 5-3 MAC) continued their dominance in the second half and defeated Kent State (15-6, 6-2 MAC) 80-55 in a packed Alumni Arena Friday night. The announced attendance of 5,797 – nearly 2,000 more than any game this season – was the largest at a Buffalo men’s basketball game since Dec. 30, 2010. The Bulls wore their alternate black jerseys and the
first 1,000 students received a free True Blue tuxedo T-shirt for the blackout game, which was aired nationally on ESPNU. “It was a great game to be a part of, the energy of the crowd, the atmosphere and the way we played defensively,” said head coach Bobby Hurley. Hurley and the team said they were excited about how the hype of the game lived up to their expectations. Hurley also said he hopes to continue to coach games with that same energy. The win extends the team’s home court winning-streak to eight games while snapping a six-game winning streak for the Golden Flashes. The Bulls now trail Kent State by one game for the MAC East lead. Senior forward Xavier Ford shined in his second start of the season, finishing with a career-best 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He also grabbed nine rebounds. “For me, the night was about Xavier Ford,” Bobby Hurley said. “He was a star out there tonight. Hitting the three’s, his put-backs, getting out in open court and
Hardwood report card SPORTS EDITORS The men’s basketball team (14-6, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) swept this week’s games, defeating then-MAC-leading Western Michigan 77-71 on Tuesday and MAC East leader Kent State on Friday. Both games were held at Alumni Arena, where the Bulls hold a perfect 8-0 home record this season. Three-point shooting: B+ After failing to hit a 3-pointer at home since Jan. 14, the Bulls knocked down 10 threes over the last two games. Four different players hit a shot from beyond the arc this week. Senior forward Xavier Ford led the team with four 3-pointers, including three on Friday night. He hit only two over the previous 18 games. Junior guard Jarryn Skeete hit two threes against Kent State, finishing with three for the week, while sophomore guard Shannon Evans also hit on two of his three attempts against the Golden Flashes. Foul shooting: A As a team, the Bulls got to the line 31 times, resulting in over 80 percent from the field. Entering the week, the Bulls were first in the MAC in free throw attempts, makes and percentage. The team remains at the top of all categories. Freshman guard Lamonte Bearden went 4 of 4 from the charity stripe. He was the only Bulls player to shoot perfect from the line this week. Rebounding: BThe Bulls won the rebounding margin against both teams, snagging three more rebounds than Western Michigan, while edging Kent State by five on the glass. Junior forward Justin Moss led the Bulls in rebounds in both games, finishing with 19 rebounds over the two games. On Friday, the team registered 24 second-chance points off of 18 offensive rebounds, but allowed 17 offensive rebounds for 17 points as well. Ball Control: BThe Bulls had 39 assists compared to 17 turnovers. No player recorded over two turnovers in either game, as the Bulls did an excellent job playing clean on the offensive side of the ball. Buffalo’s guards also did a great job of moving the ball around on offense. The four-guard combination of Evans,
playing – he really ignited everything we were doing tonight.” Ford had hit three 3-pointers all season before Friday’s contest. He matched it after sinking back-to-back three’s to begin the second half and extend Buffalo’s lead to 26 points. Ford, who’s previous career-high was 17 points, has averaged more than 20 points the past two games while replacing senior forward Will Regan in the starting lineup. Hurley said he doesn’t believe Ford’s style of play has changed much since entering the starting lineup. “He’s the same guy,” Hurley said. “He’s just getting a few more minutes and more confidence at the beginning of the game. It’s not easy coming off the bench. He’d been doing that all year and I felt like I needed to see him on the court. His versatility at that end is making us a better basketball team.” The Bulls got off to a 6-0 deficit within the first two minutes of the game. But Ford and sophomore guard Shannon Ev-
ans combined for the teams’ first 12 points en route to a 17-2 run to take a 17-8 lead with a little more than 12 minutes left to play in the game. Evans finished the night with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and was 2 of 3 from the perimeter. Junior guard Jarryn Skeete finished with eight points and was 2 of 8 from beyond the arc. Hurley said he is pleased with Evans and Skeete’s ability to return to shooting form. “It’s nice to see those guys make shots,” Hurley said. “It takes pressure off trying to score inside or trying to go to the glass. But they’re good shooters. They’ll continue to make shots as it keeps going.” The Bulls’ defense also played a large role in the victory. The Bulls gave up a season-low 55 points while forcing 14 turnovers and seven steals. Buffalo also held Kent State to just 34 percent shooting from the field and allowed a paltry 21 percent from threepoint range. The Bulls also held the Golden Flashes to just 22 points in the paint. Junior forward Raheem Johnson, highlighted the teams’ defense in the paint. Johnson executed three pivotal blocks in the first 10 minutes of the game that led to a momentum shift in which Buffalo would never relinquish. “Raheem has been great for us,” Ford said. “He has a shot-blocking presence. When he’s not in the game, the paint is a little bit open and they have an easier time finishing. When you have someone that’s 6-foot-10 whose long and athletic, it adds a little different aspect to the game. He’s been great for us.” Johnson finished the game with seven points, four blocks and three rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. Junior forward Justin Moss nearly got his eleventh double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds. Regan finished with only two points, but had four rebounds in a second-half surge in which Kent State could not recover from. The Bulls will travel to Muncie, Indiana on Feb. 4 to take on Ball State (7-11, 2-5 MAC) at the John E. Worthen Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
The Spectrum grades the Bulls week against Kent State and Western Michigan
YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
In two games played last week, the men’s basketball team went 2-0, including a dominant win over first-place Kent State on Friday. Here Raheem Johnson dunks the ball during Friday night's game. The Bulls shot 46 percent from the field, while forcing 22 steals and 32 turnovers.
Bearden, Skeete and junior guard Rodell Wigginton combined for 30 assists between the two games. Bearden and Evans each finished the week with a team-high nine assists. Overall Offense: A The only small blemish for Buffalo was that while finding their stroke from threepoint range Friday, the Bulls still finished the week just 10 of 41 from beyond the arc. Other than that, the Bulls played excellent offense, blitzing Kent State and Western Michigan. The Bulls shot over 46 percent from the floor and over 80 percent from the freethrow line. The front court combination of Ford and Moss was stout on the offensive end for the Bulls, as Moss led the Bulls in scoring against Western Michigan with 23 points, while Ford scored a career-high 25 points against Kent State. The Bulls went on a 17-2 run after beginning Friday’s game losing 6-0. The
team then went on to score 80 points – its third highest total this season. Defense: B From the second half of the Western Michigan game to the end of the Kent State game, the Bulls perhaps played the best defense all season. The starting lineup switch from senior forward Will Regan to Ford gave the Bulls a different look on the defensive end, especially on traps around the perimeter and defending the rim. Junior forward Raheem Johnson finished the week with a teamhigh four blocks; three of which came in the first 10 minutes of Friday’s game. The guard play was especially stellar, grabbing 22 steals and forcing 32 total turnovers. Bench Production: C Freshmen guards Christian Pino and Bobby Frasco got into the blowout against Kent State, but most of the bench’s production came from the trio of Wigginton,
Regan and Johnson. Wigginton and Regan both provided solid scoring production for the Bulls, but neither scored in double figures in either game. Same for Johnson, but Johnson’s value to the Bulls came more on the defensive end, recording four blocks and three steals off the bench. Coaching: A Head coach Bobby Hurley did a stellar job this week, pulling out victories over the leaders in both the MAC East and West. Hurley did a great job of managing his eight-man rotation, finding solid playing time for both his starters and reserves. Along with his rotation, Hurley was successful on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Bulls had two notable runs – 17-2 against Kent State and 23-6 against Western Michigan – that changed the course of the respective games. email: sports@ubspectrum.com