The Spectrum Vol. 65 No. 32

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T TSHTEU D NETP E PN UD BE LN I CTA S TT IO NA I VTEI R Y FA T T HBEU U FF E T1 B 9U 50 I NED UN D EO NFT TPH UEB LUI C OSNI T O NA I VLEOR,S S I TI N Y CA FFALO, SINCE 1950

Friday, November 13, 2015

Basketball season preview

Volume 65 No. 32

STUDENT OF THE GAME

YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM

Nate Oats has coached basketball for 18 years. He’s waited behind Bobby Hurley. Now he’s ready to build Buffalo by himself.

BY QUENTIN HAYNES SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

his debut as the head coach of the Buffalo men’s basketball team, Oats is ready to be the teacher.

Oats was named Buffalo’s head coach after serving as an assistant under Bobby Hurley the past two seasons. After Hurley bolted for Arizona State last April, it was Oats who Athletic Director Danny White propped up as the man who would provide stability for a team coming off its first-ever Mid-American Conference Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.

But nothing has been stable for Oats’ team or family since then.

Star point guard Shannon Evans joined Hurley at Arizona State after a heavily publicized and dramatized transfer and spat with

“

Oats has to shoulder the responsibility of a Division-I program and his own family.

It would be a lot for any man to handle.

But based on his journey to this point, Oats just might be the man capable of keeping everything in tact.

A desire to coach Growing up in Watertown, Wisconsin, Oats lived in a community of just under 20,000 people. He describes it best as a “classic, middle America city.” It was a community of people that looked after each other, both children and adults. It was where Oats and his love for sports grew.

In middle school, basketball captured his interest. He was a guard who did a bit of everything. But Oats will tell you that he

I always wanted to out work people. You get out what you put in and the most prepared teams often win. I knew whenever I got into this position, that my teams were going to play tough defense, they were going to hustle and they were going to be prepared.

Nate Oats, Buffalo men’s basketball head coach

White. Same for top recruits Torian Graham and Maurice O’Field who also joined Hurley. Then MAC Player of the Year Justin Moss, who Oats coached and mentored at Romulus, was caught stealing from a dorm room over the summer and expelled from UB. And just days before Oats begins his firstever season as a D-I head coach, doctors diagnosed his wife Crystal with lymphoma.

Oats goes between taking his three young daughters to school in the morning to Bulls practice to taking care of his wife undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

He knows he’s facing an uphill battle. Between roster changes, the transition from assistant to head coach and his wife’s health,

that allowed me to stay in the game and be around the game I love.”

Oats started with a coaching DVD. “The Basics,” as he would call it. In a desire to know more about the game, Oats went to the library, taking out a book on simple coaching schemes. Offense, defense, fundamentals. Whatever was available, Oats would get his hands on.

Oats received several scholarships on the Division-II and Division-III college level, but opted to join his father, an administrator, at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown. Oats balanced a year of football, basketball and school, but also kept his eyes on coaching one day.

“I was always there talking to the coaches, just looking to know all the little things that we did out there,” Oats said. “I was almost like another coach – making sure we had everything we needed on the floor.”

After his career was over, he remained with Maranatha and accepted his first coaching position as an assistant.

After three years on the bench, Oats’ desire to move up was apparent. After hearing that the Maranatha head coach was retiring, Oats eyed the position from a far.

But he waited.

His father and the board of directors discussed an exit plan for the coach and Oats kept his ear to the ground and waited for a result. He had a plan, he experimented with the playbook, but it was all for naught. Both the head coach and administration agreed to a two-year plan, locking down the job for the foreseeable future.

But it was Oats’ first brush with leading his own program.

“I wanted to be the next guy,” Oats said.

“I knew that his time was coming to an end and I wanted that position. Back then, I at least wanted to explain why I deserved the position … Let them know that I was serious about the job. He ended up with two more years and I felt a way about it. I really didn’t get the sense that I was getting the job. I was only 25 years old at the time.”

“

Wisconsin-Whitewater head coach Pat Miller was sweating bullets, nervous about the prospects of coaching his first-ever conference tournament game. He wanted to dot his I’s and cross his T’s before the big game.

Only, he forgot the most important thing.

“We get on the bus, I look and lo and behold, I forgot my bag that included my suit,” Miller said. “Forty-five minutes before one of the biggest coaching games of my career and I had no suit, no pants, no nothing.”

He looked around to his assistants, hoping each coach could provide at least one item. Maybe one had an extra pair of shoes, one had an extra pair of pants – maybe he could throw some semblance of a professional outfit together. But as he went to each of his coaches, he began to think it wasn’t going to happen.

And then he approached Nate Oats.

Oats smiled and pulled out an extra suit, pair of shoes and a tie. It was a microcosm of Nate Oats’ life and coaching career.

“He was always so prepared,” Miller said.

“Whether it was an extra suit, or coaching, there was never a moment where I thought he was unprepared. He had an additional suit that day and the first thought was relief, but my second thought was ‘Why am I not surprised?’”

Speak to anyone who’s met Oats and they’ll tell you the same thing. His combination of readiness and energy is radiant and contagious. The desire to be one step ahead and outwork others is what made him successful travelling throughout the Midwest recruiting and turning Romulus High School into a basketball powerhouse outside Detroit, Michigan.

“I always wanted to out work people,” Oats said. “You get out what you put in and the most prepared teams often win. I knew whenever I got into this position, that my teams were going to play tough defense, they were going to hustle and they were going to be prepared.”

And now, after 18 years of being a student of the game, and just before he makes

wasn’t that good.

“I was never that good,” Oats said, chuckling. “I was a starter, started my sophomore, junior and senior year and we went 24-0 and won the division. I had some moments on the floor, too. I had a couple games where I hit about four or five threes in a row. My best role was defending the opponent’s best player.”

As he continued to get closer to his final season of school and the dream of playing basketball at a professional level seemed further and further away, Oats looked to stay involved in the game he loved. He began to look at coaching.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be an NBA player, so I started watching coaching more and more,” Oats said. “It became something

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

2

BSU holds walkout to show solidarity with students at the University of Missouri

3

Opinion on the upcoming men’s and women’s seasons

6-7

Full roster breakdown for the men and women

2

NEWS NEWS

Wednesday, Friday, November July 1,13, 2015 2015

THE SPECTRUM

The Spectrum

A show of solidarity

Black Student Union stages walkout to show support for University of Missouri students MARLEE TUSKES NEWS EDITOR

Donned in all black attire, the Black Student Union (BSU) and other students stood in the rain Thursday afternoon in a show of support for black students at the University of Missouri.

BSU posted a request on social media for students to wear all black and join them in a walkout at 3 p.m. Thursday. After the walkout, approximately 60 students stood in front of the Student Union to have a discussion about the racial incidents that occurred recently at the University of Missouri.

Deidree Golbourne, BSU vice president and a junior African American studies major, addressed the group by saying how proud she was with the amount of students who stood out in the rain to show their support.

“Solidarity is necessary,” Golbourne said to the students who were huddled under umbrellas.

The University of Missouri’s president, Tim Wolfe, stepped down earlier this week.

Members of the group Concerned Student 1950 pushed for Wolfe’s resignation, saying he did not properly handle the racist acts that were occurring on the campus, like black students being called the N-word and a swastika being drawn on residence halls.

Graduate student Jordan Butler, a member of Concerned Student 1950, went on a hunger strike stating he would not eat until Wolfe resigned.

Member of the university’s football team also said they would not play their scheduled game against BYU – which would have resulted in a forfeit and cost the school at least $1 million in fines – until Wolfe announced his resignation as university president.

“We don’t know the people at the University of Missouri but we know their pain,” Golbourne said.

UB has been dealing with its own questions about race this semester after graduate fine arts student Ashley Powell hung signs around campus reading “White Only” and “Black Only.” BSU and other student organizations have been waiting for an official university response and possible new policy concerning the project since September.

UB students are just a few of the many students showing their support for the Missouri students.

Smith College, located in Massachusetts, had about 100 students demonstrate to show solidarity for both the University of Missouri and Ithaca College. On Wednes-

day, students at Ithaca College demanded their school’s president, Tom Rochon, resigns after his lack of response to racial insensitivity on campus.

Yale University is also experiencing racial tension after the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity allegedly did not allow black students into a party on Halloween. A student reported hearing a member of the fraternity say “white girls only.” The fraternity denies the incident occurred.

A 19-year-old Northwest Missouri student was charged Wednesday for posts he made on Yik Yak threatening to shoot black students on University of Missouri’s campus.

Last week, during BSU’s Black Solidarity Day, several racist posts were made on the social media app Yik Yak, an app that allows anonymous posts and is filtered based on location.

Golbourne said the posts were not surprising because racism is an issue students deal with at UB. Golbourne and other members of the BSU said the main takeaway the organiza-

GABRIELA JULIA, THE SPECTRUM

Students wear all black and stand in the rain outside the Student Union Thursday afternoon to show support for the black students facing racial tension at the University of Missouri.

tion wants is for students to form a sense of solidarity. One member encouraged the group to say hello to one another when they pass each other in the halls on campus, even if they do not know one another personally.

During the demonstration, Golbourne said BSU is like a family and it gives students an opportunity for their voices to be heard.

“This is your home away from home,” she said to the group. “Just know we are here for you … We are your brothers. We are your sisters.” email: news@ubspectrum.com

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OPINION THE SPECTRUM

Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF

Tom Dinki

MANAGING EDITOR

Alyssa McClure COPY EDITORS

Kayla Menes Renée Staples NEWS EDITORS

Gabriela Julia, Senior Ashley Inkumsah Marlee Tuskes

3

Wednesday, Friday, November September13, 2, 2015

The Spectrum

Hitting the reset button

Men must continue upward trajectory despite less than ideal circumstances

FEATURES EDITORS

Tori Roseman, Senior Dani Guglielmo ARTS EDITORS

Brian Windschitl, Senior Kenneth Kashif Thomas Tomas Olivier, Asst.

SPORTS EDITORS

Jordan Grossman, Co-senior Quentin Haynes, Co-senior PHOTO EDITORS

Yusong Shi, Co-senior Kainan Guo, Co-senior Angela Barca .

CARTOONISTS

Joshua Bodah Michael Perlman CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Kenneth Cruz Pierce Strudler, Asst.

Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER

Nicole Dominguez Lee Stoeckel, Asst.

Zach Hilderbrandt, Asst.

ADVERTISING DESIGNER

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THE SPECTRUM Friday, November 13, 2015 Volume 65 Number 32 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.

For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at 716-645-8555

TOM DINKI EDITOR IN CHIEF

Well, it was a good story while it lasted.

That’s what I can’t help but think while looking at the Buffalo men’s basketball team. The program had its best season ever last year, but followed it up with an off-season of drama, coaching departures, transfers and expulsion.

After all the success and notoriety the Bulls got making the NCAA Tournament – even President Obama picked them to advance – it all went about as bad as it could have with Bobby Hurley’s ugly exit to Arizona State.

Now former assistant coach Nate Oats is at the helms and looking to keep Buffalo as stable and as good as last year’s team as possible. But no matter what he does, this simply isn’t last year’s championship team.

It can’t be.

There’s too many new players.

Too many new coaches pulling the strings from the sidelines. Things are just, well, different. If the Bulls are going to get that second MAC title, they’ll do so with different players and in a completely different way than last year’s team.

And that could take some time.

Which is why I don’t expect Buffalo to even get close to a second straight MAC title come March.

Trust me, it would be easy to blame Athletic Director Danny White for the current state of the men’s team – devoid of its star head coach and players. White, a former Division-I basketball player, badly wants a successful basketball team and has had no problem putting his hand in to change this team the past three seasons.

White decided to fire 14-year head coach Reggie Witherspoon.

Clearly something went wrong in White and Hurley’s negotiations.

And White brought in Hurley knowing full well the coach would sacrifice academics and character for flash and talent.

That’s why Jamir Hanner was kicked off the team. That’s why MAC Player of the Year Justin Moss is expelled for robbing a dorm room. That’s why Raheem Johnson and Mory Diane will sit out Friday’s season opener for their role in the theft.

But putting those black eyes aside – and yes, they are black eyes for this program – I can’t say

White has done anything wrong with this team. I say that because it had no NCAA Tournament appearances before he shook things up – and now it has one.

A true judgment can’t be made until we see what happens in the post-Hurley era.

If Oats is able to keep Buffalo on its upward trajectory, whether that’s producing winning seasons after a rebuilding year or staying as a MAC contender without any down period, White will have done his job. Despite all the negativity of Hurley and Moss’ exits, he’ll have put the program in a better place than when he found it.

But if this team never gets close to the MAC Championship again and goes through losing seasons, it is a failure on White, regardless if he’s still here or not. One NCAA Tournament appearance is nice, but Mid-Majors have to consistently get there for the appearances to carry any weight.

Obama – or whoever is elected president in 2016 – has to say your name on national TV a few times for it to really stick.

We’ve seen what winning just one conference title does for a team right here on campus: not much. The football team followed its breakthrough MAC Championship in 2008 with four straight losing seasons. The program is still just trying to find its way and isn’t in the same class as MAC power-

houses like Northern Illinois and Bowling Green.

Can you imagine how different things would be for the football team right now if it had sustained that 2008 team’s success? Maybe they’d have a field house by now.

That’s what the men’s basketball team has to avoid.

Buffalo should have been a MAC dynasty for a few years with Hurley, Moss and Shannon Evans – but Oats and White have to find a way to reinvent the program because those guys aren’t coming back. No matter how they chose to reinvent this team to stay competitive, they just have to do exactly that: stay competitive.

Because going backwards won’t help. People will forget very fast – maybe they already have with all the departures – about how great least year was. UB basketball has to gain the Buffalo community’s trust. We’re hesitant to embrace new things as we’ve been hurt before. But win and excite us for even just a few years and trust me, as a Buffalo native, we’ll love you forever.

If the Bulls can do that, then all the negativity this offseason will go away. But judgment can’t be passed until we witness the postHurley era.

We’ll start to see that Friday. email: tom.dinki@ubspectrum.com

Bits and pieces

Amid several changes, women look to replicate last season’s success

The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100

QUENTIN HAYNES

SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

This is a young women’s basketball team, but let’s backtrack for a second.

Buffalo is coming off its best season in program history, winning 19 games and making its first-ever Women’s National Invitational Tournament appearance. It was a steppingstone kind for a season for a program that needed one.

But the Bulls lost their best player in Kristen Sharkey and the reigning Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year in Christa Baccas to graduation. Mackenzie Loesing retired early due to a careerending ankle injury. Their fourth leading scorer, Alexus Malone, transfered to Louisiana Tech.

So now, after the losses, head

coach Felisha Legette-Jack and her staff are left with a team that has just two juniors and one senior coming off the bench.

And with that, the goal should be focusing toward the future.

If last year showed anything, it’s that Legget-Jack can acquire talent and get it to play at the highest level. The fact that last season’s team was a few plays from making the Mid-American Conference Championship game is only a testament that Buffalo’s fast-paced and aggressive style of play should be able to sustain success in the MAC. But Legette-Jack has her work cut out for her.

I’d like to see the roster shoot the ball better. It’s a newer group of players and I hope two or three of them can provide some floor spacing. There were times last season when the Bulls would go down six or eight points and it appeared over because they didn’t have the threat of someone who can hit a 3-point shot.

The backcourt appears set with guards Stephanie Reid and Joanna Smith. Reid entered the Buffalo rotation midway through the season as a freshman and flourished, stabilizing the point guard position and leading the Bulls in assists.

Smith was a scoring threat the last month of the season.

And there’s depth behind Smith and Reid, too. Junior Camera Miley, senior Karin Moss, sophomores Liisa and Katherine Ups and freshman Gabi Bade, all guards, will be factors in a busy backcourt filled with 3-point shooters and smart passers. Miley could have an upper hand, thanks to the ability to play point guard. In the preseason, Bade showcased her ability to shoot the long ball and play aggressively on the defensive end.

The frontcourt is where the questions lie. At center, I’m excited to see freshman Mirte Scheper play. She is going to be an X-factor defensively. When speaking to Legette-Jack last month, one of the things she mentioned was Scheper giving the Bulls the ability to “play bigger.”

But the Bulls could also go smaller, playing four guards and keeping Scheper in the middle. Running smaller lineups that could pick up the pace is something the Bulls can do as a changeup, looking to get an advantage against opponents with slower guards on the roster.

Along the small forward and power forward positions are sophomores Courtney Wilkins, Cassie

Oursler and Mariah Suchan and freshman Tamara Brcina. At 6-foot3, Oursler should be able to play some backup center, too. Wilkins play a bit in the preseason and shot five threes, possibly attempting to extend her range and space the floor. Brcina and Suchan appear to be more traditional forwards capable of being more post-orientated rather than perimeter scorers.

It’s a far cry from last year’s team. There’s no doubt about it.

Loesing will be missed for her energy on the court. Sharkey’s post moves will only be seen through a clipboard on the sidelines. Baccas graduated with her Defensive Player of the Year award, leaving many question marks for the Buffalo ‘D.’ But I’m not looking at the past.

This team has weapons in all areas of the court. The roster may be depleted, but there are some solid skill players that will eventually find a home at UB. Ohio and Akron are still the team’s to beat in the MAC. But once Buffalo settles down, it may be mentioned in elite company as well.

It’s just a matter of putting the pieces together. email: quentin.haynes@ubspectrum.com

4

SPORTS

Friday, November 13, 2015

THE SPECTRUM

STUDENT OF THE GAME

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

At season’s end, Oats opted to continue his career elsewhere, leaving Maranatha for an assistant head coaching position at WisconsinWhitewater alongside Miller and legendary WarHawks head coach Dave Vandermulen.

The great drive After Oats’ first year, Vandermulen retired as head coach of the WarHawks. Miller was nabbed as his replacement and Oats was upgraded to Miller’s first assistant head coach. Miller and Oats had became close during their tenures as assistants.

An admirer of Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, Oats worked with some plays and incorporated some of the Spartans’ out-ofbounds plays.

When they didn’t work as well as they liked, they took the play out of the playbook, providing Miller and Oats with a teaching moment: work with the personnel you have.

“It was a moment that allowed both of us to grow as coaches,” Miller said. “He began to understand that while it was a great play, we just couldn’t execute it well. It showed both of us that we needed to work with campus.

KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM what we had and model and tailor our game “I just remember a big flat top hair cut,” plan to them.”

Baker said, “spiked at the top and just Nate Oats looks down the court during an exhibition game last week. The Bulls won the game, Another new aspect to Oats’ job was re- preening confidence. He was the man and defeating Daemen 87-68. Buffalo officially begins its season Friday aginst Pitt.-Bradford. cruiting. Under Miller at Whitewater, Oats knew everyone by their first name.” traveled to the inner cities in Milwaukee in While Oats was off working at Wisconlieu of recruiting talent to the program. Due Oats wasn’t one to be a coaching cliché. sin-Whitewater, Baker accepted a teaching Oats began to find a connection with the to the violent natures of some of the cities, people of Romulus.

He got a chance to tour But everyone who worked with him will tell position at Romulus High School. It was a the games often happened during the afterthe school and speak to the kids and memyou he was a grinder. At Romulus, his enschool in need of a basketball coach. noon rather than night. bers of the basketball team. What he found ergy and grinder mentality was the embodiIt was then, that Baker tipped off Oats But that experience allowed Oats to dewas people who had love for the communi- ment of the team. about an opportunity to run his own provelop his ability to scout and recruit players. ty and shared the same love he had for the He started with practices. Double practicgram.

He would study a player, find the traits that game of basketball. es. Under the rules in Michigan, Oats took “I knew we were looking for a basketball he liked in them and wait for the right mo“I began to fall in love with the place,” his teams and began running practices becoach,” Miller said. “I knew that Nate was ment to express interest, Oats said. “I began to create a connection fore classes start. Fifteen guys taking jumpworking his way up the coaching tree, so I As the months went by, Oats expanded with the kids there and administration was ers, running suicides and executing Oats’ told him about the job and thought it would his recruiting base by adding the suburbs of going to allow me to do what I wanted to do playbook at 6 a.m. be a good chance for him.”

Milwaukee to his inner city trips. There, he with the team, so I took the job.”

It soon became practice before classes and It was a chance for Oats to show his abilgained a more adverse ability to find what And with that desire of change and the after school, and then practices on the weekity to run his own program. After years of he wants in a player. From a big man’s ability prospects of running the show, Oats accept- end. Oats didn’t want to overwork his team, being an assistant coach on the college level, to run the floor, to a small forward who can ed the position and became the new head but he wanted them to be ready. He wanted he would be able to call the shots, at least on pass, Oats discovered the traits he liked. He basketball coach at Romulus High School. them to work and always strive for success. the high school level. wanted the “hard-nosed player.”

He wanted to outwork everyone else.

The little things But he didn’t want it.

What impressed Miller about Oats was his The grinder mentality.

Romulus, Michigan is a suburban city Oats had concerns about leaving a college ability to do “a bit of everything.” In the dif“He was great. When I was there, it was position for a high school position. It wasn’t just an hour outside of Detroit. It’s home ferent aspects of coaching, Oats “checked almost like a college program,” said former something he wanted to do because he only to more than 25,000, a slight upgrade from all the boxes,” according to Miller. He Romulus player and current Bulls sophshowed the ability to coach, he showed omore guard Christian Pino. “We had a an extreme passion about the game, he ton of college guys there on the roster by was active as a recruiter, knew how to my senior year. Coach put that drive in us manage people and was good with X’s to be great.” and O’s.

Once Oats got the support and respect “He’s a basketball guy 24/7. I’ve nevof his players, he, along with his staff, beer met someone so passionate in working gan working on the community. A basketwith the game, advancing his knowledge ball city, Romulus High School was seen and creating new connections,” Miller as something to get everyone together in said. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t learn support. Winning only made it easier.

Dan Hurley, Rhode Island men’s basketball head coach anything from him in our time working After two seasons of building the together.” program together, the third season unIn their three years together, Oats and der Oats was when everything began to Miller continued the success of Vanderfall into place. It was there where Romulus Watertown.

Ask about the city and words wanted to move forward in his career and mulen by going a combined 42-14 togethmade its first-ever Final Four and defeated like “quiet” and “peaceful” come up. It was he originally considered it a downgrade. er and finishing in the top-two of the WisPersian High School. It was the beginning And he was also uncomfortable moving a diverse area where people worked hard consin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference of the run for Romulus, both on and off away from Wisconsin. Aside of some sum- and earned what they received. each year. the court.

It was also the same area where Oats mer trips, Oats had lived in Wisconsin his Oats then received a phone call that “It was a town with a small town feel, winwould start his head coaching career. entire life. He was Wisconsin. would change his life. ning at the highest level,” Oats said. “Once we “In retrospect, I needed those 11 years,” So he came up with another plan. got everything up and running, the town began Detroit rolling “I basically decided to go and apply and Oats said. “It was the best time of both my to support us more and more. There was always Southfield Christian School head coach interview for career development,” Oats life and my career. I probably wouldn’t be support, but that third year, we began to get all Josh Baker played with Oats on the Baptist said. “I wanted them to offer me the job so ready for [the Buffalo job] if I didn’t take of the support.

The entire town, the local busithe Romulus job. It allowed me to work on basketball team, but the two first met at a I can turn it down.” nesses, the alumni, to have all of them supportbasketball camp in high school. Baker was But during his second visit at the school, those little things that helped advance my ing us was a great feeling.” career.” the new guy, while Oats was the big man on In attempting to turn around Romulus, he The first nuance was working on relationwanted to learn from some of the best of ships with the members of the community. the best in business. He looked around and After working and recruiting in Milwaukee under Miller, Oats had a different challenge decided that it was best to the resources that in building Romulus without recruiting. the state of Michigan was offering him.

He started with a road trip to East LanCoaches aren’t allowed to recruit on the sing, Michigan. high school level.

Along with Baker, then an assistant coach So instead of recruiting players to Romulus, players would often switch districts, under Oats at Romulus, Oats geared up for which isn’t uncommon in high school bas- their first Division-I college basketball expeketball. In building and recreating Romulus rience: a trip to Michigan State University to into a basketball power, a part of the con- watch an open practice.

He sat down in an open practice and tribution would come from players moving watched Izzo run the show, working with districts in order to help their career.

But it would all start with work on the freshman, emphasizing positioning and getting the best shot. Oats was amazed with Izcourt.

“His goal was to challenge people on the zo’s presence and work during the practice.

“I remember Nate and I walking in there floor,” said former Romulus player and curand Nate having this ‘I run the place’ attirent Bulls senior forward Raheem Johnson.

“He wanted to get the best from us. Make tude,” cool as ever,” Baker said. “There were us work everyday. If he saw you slacking times where I questioned if we were going COURTESY OF NATE OATS off, he wouldn’t let it go, even for a second. to get into whatever building we were going It was a lot, but it came from a good place to, but not Nate.

Oats poses for a family portrait with his wife, Crystal, and his three daughters, Lexie, because he wanted to us win.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 Jocie and Brielle. Last month, Crystal was diagnosed with double-hit lymphoma.

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“

I remember attending a game at Romulus and coming away impressed with Nate and his coaching. He ran his Romulus teams like a college team in every aspect. It reminded me of the job I did at St. Benedict's and the way my dad did at St. Anthony's.

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SPORTS

Friday, November 13, 2015

THE SPECTRUM

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Rhode Island.

But with a Midwest recruiter already on staff, Dan decided against hiring Oats. Dan did however recommend his brother hire him.

“Bob needed someone with some experience beside him,” Dan said. “He needed a guy who could help him build the program up. Someone who help with the vision. Nate crossed off every need for an assistant coach at the time and he was a good fit in terms of recruiting and overall team

YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM

We got into the building every time and got Nate Oats poses in the Triply Gym just days before he begins his tenure as head coach. Oats to speak to some of the best coaches in hishas been studying the game for most of his life. and will use that knowledge to aid Buffalo. tory.”

But the thirst for knowledge didn’t stop there.

But contract extension talks between jump pass and a turnover. Bearden gets the The two would continue across the counHurley and White fell apart. And appar- ball and finishes off the game with a simtry to basketball camps. Trips to Califorently, so did the two’s relationship. They no ple dunk. nia to learn the dribble drive offense from longer follow each other Twitter.

With his team victorious, Oats runs to legendary head coach Vance Walberg at the blue team, made up of mostly freshmen When Hurley left for the head coach Pepperdine. Gathering notes from a Scott and newcomers to the Buffalo roster. opening at Arizona State, Oats had an ofSkiles-led Chicago Bulls practice. Learning “I told them about some of the things I from Hubie Brown during a Memphis saw on the court. Nothing too special …

Grizzlies camp.

I told CJ that I loved the swagger,” he said “It was much better than just watching with a smirk. film,” Oats said. “To be able to sit there Everything looks fine on the court. and witness these great coaches work The Bulls appear more athletic and lontheir systems live, seeing the things that ger defensively. New assistant head coach they were looking for on the floor and Donyell Marshall looks on while Direcbeing able to identify weaknesses.” tor of Player Development Julius Hodge From the tempo and rules of the pracjokingly antagonizing a player who got tices, to different out-of-bounds plays, to Pat Miller, Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s basketball head coach blown by on defense. defensive ideals, Oats took notes of ev“We have the talent returning and some erything and brought it back to Romulus of our newer players will make an imto add it to his arsenal and replicate success. fer to join him. success.” pact,” Oats said. “It’s our jobs to get them “The thing in high school is you can’t But Oats wanted a chance to replace to be ready and I think with the staff we And it was Oats’ ability to provide a plan just recruit all the time to your system,” Hurley at UB. have, we can certainly do it all again. It’s all Oats said. “You take the best players and and his Midwest ties that intrigued Hurley.

Much like a decade earlier when he want- about buy-in and working hard.”

And on April 11, 2014, Oats was named as learn how to coach them. There’s some reed to become the next head coach of MaAs the regular season looms, Oats gets ally good high school coaches – you have an assistant coach on Hurley’s Buffalo staff. ranatha, Oats had his sights set on the head together possible rotations, assess recruits “After continuing to learn about Nate as to adapt to your player and learn how to coaching position at Buffalo. And this time, and figures out which players work with coach. You also learn how to tinker with a person, we began to talk about him ache was prepared to use everything he had whom in possible substitution patterns. cepting an assistant head coaching posisome things. ” tion here,” Hurley said in email. “I wanted learned to get the job.

But he does so with a heavy heart. A few Path to Buffalo Oats had an inside track on the position. weeks ago, he sat with his wife awaiting to to create a winning culture and program at After 11 years of success and accolades Buffalo and I knew I couldn’t do it alone. He had the relationships with the players. hear the results of a CAT scan and blood test. earned at Romulus, the feeling for Oats be- I saw a ton of great qualities in Nate and I He had enough experience to warrant to a The result was lymphoma, a group of gan. The feeling he was ready to coach at wanted him to join my staff. He was a big Mid-Major head coaching job. cancerous blood cell tumors. Crystal’s conthe college level.

White didn’t want much change in the dition is considered to be “aggressive. ” piece to our team’s success.”

He wanted to attend a practice at Wagner Oats called the move from Romulus to basketball program. With a roster capable Over the next five to six months, CrysUniversity in Staten Island, New York. He Buffalo the toughest thing he’s ever had to do, of winning the MAC again and returning to tal will undergo chemotherapy treatments wanted to see a practice under Dan Hur- but it was also a move he couldn’t pass up. the NCAA Tournament, there was little de- in order to treat the double-hit lymphoma. ley. Years earlier, Dan had made the move sire to go in an entirely new direction.

She has been there every step of the way Oats envisioned – moving from St. Bene- The golden opportunity White and Oats sat down for negotia- during Oats’ career and her and Oats have For two years, the Buffalo Bulls were the dict High School to Wagner. He wanted to tions. One was financial, but the other was a three daughters together. They’ve been toast of the MAC. With Hurley at the helm pick his brain. healthy discussion about the game. married for close to 18 years. In a Facebook Oats began to make calls to Wagner, see- and Oats as an assistant for two years, the “He made it known that we wanted to post announcing his wife’s diagnosis, Oats ing if he could attend a practice, but not just Bulls went 42-20 overall, won two MAC win,” Oats said. “The thing about it is that said that he would balance the time between any practice. He wanted to attend a practice East Division titles, one MAC Tournament he’s a basketball guy. He knows about the the basketball team and watching and caring while Hurley’s father, legendary high school Championship and eanred the program’s game and what he wants on the floor … for his wife and daughters. basketball coach Dan Hurley Sr., was in at- first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Once we discussed the parameters of the Oats said he’s put a plan into action for While also assisting with some of X’s and tendance. So he called Wagner’s athletic dicontract and where we wanted to see the his family and that he believes God has a rectory and after several tries, he got an an- O’s, Oats’ major contribution was also re- program go, I felt confident.” plan. cruiting in the Midwest, an area he was all swer.

On April 13, just 24 months after Hur“It was a rough couple weeks once we On the other side of the phone was col- too familiar with. Soon, nearly half of the ley had been introduced as Buffalo’s coach, found out the lymphoma and the type belege basketball legend and Wagner assistant Buffalo roster came from the Midwest.

Oats took to the podium in Alumni Arena cause it’s a hard type to deal with,” Oats Oats was responsible for bringing in head coach Bobby Hurley. as the new men’s basketball head coach. said. “Her spirits are good and our daughThe two chatted about setting up a meet- starting point guard Lamonte Bearden from ters are in a place where we trust the plan The road ahead ing with Bobby, Dan and their legendary fa- Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He also brought “Just run the da-,” Oats said, holding … We have some family coming in so that I ther, but it never worked out. Instead, they three players from Romulus, in Johnson, can be able to coach and have my girls takkept in touch, and their conversations, Dan Pino and of course the biggest contributor, back the last word and grunting in disap- en care of while she’s in care.” pointment. included, began to revolve around coaching Justin Moss.

Friday night in Alumni Arena will mark It’s a Wednesday afternoon in Novem“We had a good thing going,” Oats said. and some of the intricacies of the game. the start of Oats’ Buffalo tenure. It’ll have “I remember attending a game at Romu- “I was able to get some good guys in here, ber and the Bulls are running a scrimmage been nearly 18 years since he started coachlus and coming away impressed with Nate guys who can come in and help right away.” in Alumni Arena. Blue team vs. White team. ing back in Wisconsin. Between the adverOats’ team just messed up a pick-and-roll, But then, everything changed. and his coaching,” Dan Hurley said. “He sity he and his family are going through off A 48-hour period in which no one knew resulting in a steal and dunk in transition. ran his Romulus teams like a college team On the court, the teams go back in forth. the court and departues during the offseain every aspect. It reminded me of the job I which direction the basketball program was Bearden and freshman guard CJ Massin- son, Oats hasn’t had it easy. did at St. Benedict’s and the way my dad did headed.

But with all his experiences, like studyHurley, with his success at Buffalo and burg are jawing back and forth. Massinat St. Anthony’s.” ing the game and recruiting across the MidKeeping in touch became vital two years name recognition, became a hot name in burg gets in Bearden’s ear while he’s at the west, his preparedness, whether it’s creating coaching circles to move to a bigger pro- free throw line, resulted in two missed free later. a thorough game plan or having an extra throws for Bearden.

On March 26, 2013, Bobby was nabbed gram. It’s college basketball’s Darwinism.

With a single minute left, Massinburg suit, and his faith and family support beby White to be the next head coach of the Schools like St. John’s expressed interest hind him, Oats is ready for the moment.

Buffalo men’s basketball team. That left an and DePaul went as far as conducting an in- comes down and runs a 1-4 pick and roll.

Bearden traps Massinburg, resulting in a assistant coach vacancy on Dan’s staff at terview with Hurley. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

“

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He's a basketball guy 24/7. I've never met someone so passionate in working with the game, advancing his knowledge and creating new connections. I'd be lying if I said I didn't learn anything from him in our time working together.

6

SPORTS

Wednesday,September 4, 2015 Friday, November 13, 2015 The Spectrum

THE SPECTRUM

MEN’S BASKETBALL

1 10 20 2 34

Lamonte Bearden

Jarryn Skeete

Rodell Wigginton

Willie Conner

Ikenna Smart

sophomore guard

senior guard

senior/forward guard

junior wing

freshman guard

G

8.3 PPG, 4.4 APG, 38 FG% With the transfer of point guard Shannon Evans to Arizona State, Bearden will step into the role of Buffalo’s No. 1 point guard.

Bearden was impressive as a freshman last season, as he averaged 8.3 points and 4.4 assists per game and was named to the All-MAC Freshman Team. The only knock on Bearden was that he was a bit undersized his first year out of high school, but the point guard said he’s worked on building up his strength this offseason.

“Last year, I had to work on a little bit of strength and my shot, but more this year, my strength,” Bearden said.

0 3 4 5 15

G

f/g

w

9.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 38 3PT-FG%

7.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 42 FG%

Skeete is the last Buffalo player left from the Reggie Witherspoon era.

Things change fast.

It seems like just yesterday Skeete was a promising young freshman point guard filling in for the injured Jarod Oldham.

Skeete has taken on more of a scoring role the past two seasons, and last year was a three-point specialist with 70 percent of his shots coming from behind the arc.

Skeete sees himself handling the ball more this season, but is still confident in his shooting ability.

“I mainly focused on ball handling because I know I’m going to be handling the ball a lot more this year,” Skeete said. “Me shooting threes so well last year opened up more aspects of my game as far as driving and getting my teammates open … I’m the best shooter in the gym, so I’m not going to lose.”

Wigginton proved he could perform as a bench player last season, but with all of Buffalo’s departures, the former junior college transfer will take on more of a starting role this season.

Wigginton has the body to play as both a guard and a forward, which makes him a versatile threat in head coach Nate Oats’ system.

Blake Hamilton, JUNIOR wing A spot up shooter, Hamilton brings explosiveness and excelled ball handling to the guard position. The junior college transfer will likely be one of the first guards off the bench.

CJ Massinburg, FRESHMAN guard Massinburg is a 6-foot-3 true point guard that is expected to see large minutes in his first season as a Bull.

He will back up starter Lamonte Bearden.

David Kadiri, JUNIOR forward Kadiri is an explosive big man that is polished in the paint. He is a rebound machine and will prove valuable as a big man off the bench.

Mory Diane, SOPHOMORE guard Diane is in his second season with the Bulls. He played only four games last season due to academic ineligibility, but is expected to have a role in the backcourt this year.

Zac DiSalvo, FRESHMAN guard A Rochester native, DiSalvo walked on this season and is possibly the fastest player on the team.

f

N/A

N/A

Conner said growing up in the West side of Chicago “was all survival of the fittest.”

The junior college transfer from Odessa Community College will look to bring that toughness to the court as a leader of Buffalo’s defense.

“They’ve picked me to be the guy to get everyone in order and play defense,” Conner said. “I’m going to be that guy.”

Conner also knows how to score. He averaged 18 points per game and shot 50 percent from the field at the junior college level. He also added in 18 points in Buffalo’s lone exhibition game.

Smart sat out as a redshirt last season, but it was hard not to notice him on the Buffalo sideline and during practice.

Smart is tied with teammate Raheem Johnson as the tallest member for the Bulls at six-foot-10. The big man will look to use that height to his advantage on the court this season.

“I want to get offensive and defensive rebounds,” Smart said.

Smart said the coaches want him to take on a more of a defensive role. But he also has improved on his jump hook and post move this offseason. He’s also worked on getting even bigger.

“My body tried to put a little weight on,” Smart said.

“The bigger you are, the harder it is for the other guys to push you around.”

Nikola Rakicevic, FRESHMAN wing The lanky Serbian product can play a guard/forward/wing hybrid and can shoot from anywhere on the court. He got his NCAA issues resolved on Thursday, so he will be active on Friday night.

Christian Pino, SOPHOMORE guard Although he’s only 5-foot-7, Pino possesses a versatile game filled with 3-pointers, precise passes and the ability to spread the floor.

Raheem Johnson, SENIOR forward Johnson is entering his second and final season with Buffalo.

He’s a defend-first big man with a developing offensive game.

Nick Perkins, FRESHMAN forward Perkins may be the most polished freshman in the recruiting class. His size, speed and shot is similar to former forward Justin Moss.

Tyler Moffe, FRESHMAN guard Moffe is a walk-on player who’s known mostly for his speed and spot-up shooting.

21 24 31 33 35

7

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 4, 2015 Friday, November 13, 2015 The Spectrum

THE SPECTRUM

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

1 4 3 5 23

Stephanie Reid

Joanna Smith

Liisa Ups

Katherine Ups

mirte Scheper

sophomore guard

junior guard

sophomore guard

sophomore guard

freshman center

G

6.7 PPG, 3.4 APG, 42 FG% This may be Reid’s second season with the Bulls, but this is the Australian’s first preseason in Buffalo.

Reid joined the team midseason last year after graduating high school in December and instantly solidified herself as the team’s starting point guard.

“I didn’t get the full year last year. So coming in and knowing we’ll have the full season head, conference and nonconference, is exciting,” Reid said.

Reid takes her role as a point guard seriously, especially considering all the inexperience on Buffalo’s roster this season.

“It’s my responsibility to make sure everyone knows what’s going on all the time,” Reid said.

0 2 10 12 14

G

g

g

5.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 33 FG%

1.0 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 30 FG%

0.9 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 20 FG%

Smith says she has the “green light” to score.

She averaged 15 points a game during Buffalo’s final six games last season, and said the Bulls’ coaching staff wants her to continue that pace this season.

“My mindset now is more of a scorer rather than pass,” Smith said. “Coach wants me to be that way. I still want to get my teammates involved.”

Smith will form what she calls a “dynamic duo” with Reid in the backcourt and also serve as a leader – as she is one of just three upperclassmen on the roster.

Liisa and her twin sister Katherine joined the Bulls as freshmen from Australia last season and saw minimal playing time. But with all of Buffalo’s departures, Liisa will have a much larger role this season.

She said it’s a “whole different story” this season compared to last season.

“Freshman year you’re here to learn. It’s a whole different environment,” Liisa said. “Now as a sophomore I feel more comfortable. I can have fun. I can do more for the team and just play basketball.”

Liisa said she’s worked on her fitness and agility and is looking to shoot more this season.

Katherine saw almost zero minutes down the stretch last season, but now with the experience of a full college season, she also figures to have a greater impact.

She said the biggest thing she’s worked on this offseason is the psychological part of her game.

“I think I’ve definitely worked on my confidence and my mental game in terms of just seeing what’s happening on the court and being able to react differently,” Katherine said.

c

N/A Scheper joins the Bulls from the Netherlands. She said the recent changes to women’s college basketball, like new 10-minute four quarters and one-and-one bonus shot on the fifth foul, will only help her adjust to the American game.

“It’s more similar to what we have in Europe,” Scheper said. “It’s a little more physical, but other than that I have to adjust to people actually giving me the ball.”

That’s because Scheper considers herself a defensive player, but Buffalo will ask her to contribute offensively as well.

“I really want to improve on my offense because I’m mostly a defensive player,” Scheper said. “Of course I want to improve on my defense too, but having an offensive role on the team is also one of my goals.”

21 22 24 31 32

GRAPHIC BY PIERCE STRUDLER

Kandance Satterwhite, FRESHMAN guard

Satterwhite stands a 5-foot-10 and may be the spot-up shooter that the team has been looking for.

Camera Miley, JUNIOR guard

The junior guard will assume her role off the bench in her third season with the team. She ended her season early due to a knee injury, but is ready to go for the season opener.

Gabi Bade, FRESHMAN guard

Bade already dazzled with her 3-point shooting and ball handling during the preseason. She is expected to get heavy minutes as a true freshman.

Courtney Wilkins, SOPHOMORE forward

Wilkins did not play last season, but she will be a valuable post player coming off the bench this season.

Tamara Brcina, FRESHMAN forward

Brcina has not made an impression on the team yet, but her 6-foot-1 frame says otherwise. Expect to see her in a limited role this season.

Mariah Suchan, SOPHOMORE forward

Suchan saw limited action last season as a freshman, but her role is expected to increase. She is a defend-first forward, especially around the paint.

Ayoleka Solede, FRESHMAN guard

Solede is a rebounding guard who can also shoot from many areas of the floor. She averaged over 16 points and nearly eight rebounds in high school last year.

Karin Moss, SENIOR guard

Moss brings energy, spot-up shooting and ball handling to Buffalo. She is the team captain as the only senior on the team.

Cassie Oursler, SOPHOMORE center

Oursler would be Buffalo’s starting center if her old team would release her, said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. Robert Morris is refusing to do so, but the talented sophomore will be key asset to Buffalo when she gets on the court.

Brittany Morrison, FRESHMAN guard

Morrison has the ability to run the point guard and switch into a forward set. She is multi-talented and will help Buffalo on the court.

8

SPORTS

Friday, November 13, 2015

THE SPECTRUM

From the post to the sidelines Former forward Kristen Sharkey transitions to assistant coach JORDAN GROSSMAN SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Kristen Sharkey was given one day to decide about her basketball future.

Once she graduated UB, she was in position to continue her basketball career overseas either in Germany or France.

Or she could take a vacant assistant coaching position next to her former women’s basketball head coach Felisha LegetteJack.

“Overseas, I probably would have only gotten a year playing because of my knee,” Sharkey said. “This was a long-term decision.”

Sharkey is one of the most prolific players in program history. She ranks fifth in program history in both career games (120) and free throws (305), 10th in rebounds (759) and 11th in blocks (98). Sharkey returns as an assistant coach to teach the young wave of new Bulls what it’s like to play in Buffalo.

“I always try having one of my players on my staff. A lot of times, it didn’t work out,” Legette-Jack said. “It’s like forcing a circle into a square just to have a player of mine on my staff. With Kristen Sharkey, it made sense. Her total understanding of my system, an understanding of what we’re trying to create at her alma mater. She got it. She got it from day one.”

Sharkey noticed an opening on the basketball coaching staff following the departure of assistant coach Blake Dudonis.

Sharkey quickly called Legette-Jack – something she would have never sporadically done without playing for Buffalo, she admits – to inquire about the opening.

She was hired as the team’s new post coach.

“Before I met coach Jack, I never would

have had the confidence to do that,” Sharkey said recalling her sudden phone call about the interview. “That’s just a testament to how much she means to me and that she would even think this would be a possibility. It was a long stretch, but she went with it.”

But it may not have been as far of a stretch as Sharkey plays it out to be. The post is one of the hardest positions to dominate. Sharkey said she dominated because she knew it wasn’t OK to take even one second off while playing under the basket. You don’t have to be the biggest, strongest or fastest player, but you have to be the most aggressive.

And to Legette-Jack, having a weapon like that is key.

Due to her age, Sharkey occasionally laces up her sneakers and trains the young post players during practice this offseason and is expected to do so for the remainder of the season. Her knee, in which she tore an ACL before her sophomore year, is healthy enough to keep up with a minimum workload for practice and is strong enough to go 100 percent to give players a gamelike look.

Legette-Jack wants post players and coaches like Sharkey.

“She was a post player that really couldn’t jump, really didn’t have a great 3-point shot and wasn’t the best back-to-the-basket post player,” Legette-Jack said, “but no one could stop her … I needed that type of toughness and elasticity on our staff.”

It was a weird feeling for Sharkey to change up her usual offseason regimen. For the past four seasons, she would spend her offseason rehabilitating, conditioning and training. Tireless hours working out in the weight room and on the court are no longer needed.

She traded in her basketball shorts for a clipboard and suit jacket. Her two-hour practice is now planning post plays for young forwards like freshmen Brittany Morrison and Mirte Scheper.

It was a weird dynamic for Sharkey to accept at first, but she now feels comfortable on the other side. Yet, the player dynamic was never in question.

Sharkey said all of the players respect her the fact she was teammates with some of them eight months ago. She finds it “neat” to watch her former teammates grow. Sharkey admires how guards Liisa Ups and Joanna Smith have changed “before her eyes.” She’s ready to see what senior guard Karin Moss can do as a first-year captain – a position Sharkey held for two years.

Legette-Jack never doubted her transition.

“When she was a player,” Legette-Jack explained, “there was a separation between her and the players because her commitment to do it the coaching style way.”

Sharkey said players would joke around and call her “coach” last season because of her professional demeanor to the game.

She, like Legette-Jack, preaches enthusiasm and going 100 percent. And she knows it will be worth it in the end.

Sharkey took the job because she wants to see what the program can grow to. She has been involved with the program in some of its darkest and brightest days and realized there is too much potential to pass up a coaching opportunity.

She wants to keep telling the team that their voices matter and it will take a team effort to have success in the program. It was an idea she bought into during LegetteJack’s first season four years ago.

“You have to bust through the door.

You have to raise your hand and you got to

COURTESY OF UB ATHLETICS

Kristen Sharkey, one of the most prolific players in Bulls history, looks on as an assistant coach under current Bulls head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.

scream from the rooftop,” Legette-Jack explained. “She did have a voice and she was the best person for the job. Not the best woman, not the best man, not the oldest, not the youngest. She’s the best person for the job for what we’re trying to create here for our women’s basketball program.” email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Reigning MAC champs are underdogs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM

Sophomore guard Lamonte Bearden makes a call in a game in Alumni Arena last season. Bearden and the Bulls are moving on without some key pieces from last year’s championship team.

But that mindset doesn’t stop him from shooting the deep ball.

“Willie is a big-time shooter and he is exactly what we need to complement our roster,” Oats said. “His ability to space the floor and make shots will really allow us to open up our offense. He guards well, he can knock down threes, that’s kind of his deal.

We need him to make shots for us.”

Freshmen guard CJ Massinburg averaged 22.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, and won Offensive MVP of his district during his senior year of high school. He also scored a game-high 25 points against Daemen. He’s expected to be a backup but fill into the backcourt.

“He has a real chance to be a big contributor for us over the next four years,” Oats said. “He is a big guard with a huge upside that can play multiple positions. He has won everywhere he has been, playing on extremely successful high school and AAU teams and we are thrilled that he will bring that winning attitude to Buffalo.”

In their first exhibition game, Conner and Massinburg nearly accumulated for half of Buffalo’s point amassing 43 points out of the Bulls’ 87, on 16-of-25 shooting which included Massinburg exploding from 3-point range, going 5-of-6.

Sophomore guard Lamonte Bearden headlines the list of the returning players and is expected to carry a heavy load this season as one of the remaining stars from last year’s team. Bearden, who will replace Evans as Buffalo’s No. 1 point guard, averaged 8.3 points and 4.4 assists per game as a freshman and has been committed to increase his weight lifting.

As of October, Bearden has put on at least eight pounds of muscle since last season.

“I feel like I have a much bigger role this year,” Bearden said confidently. “During the summer, I went back home and I did nothing but lift … I really worked on my strength and when I got back to school I kept lifting heavy. I think it’ll make me a little bit faster, more athletic, and allow me to finish around the basket more.”

Buffalo still carries a fast-paced persona, but the forwards are more traditional. Freshman forward Ikenna Smart will assume the center position. Smart, who stands 6-foot-10, will be Buffalo’s tallest player and be a primary rim defender.

But his game is still developing as well. He learned under former forwards Xavier Ford and Will Regan while sitting out last season, which prompted him to work on his offensive and post game.

“I’ve been working a lot on my jump hook and a lot on my post move,” Smart said. “My post move has gotten so much better and my read, so I know how defenses play me. I worked a little bit on my strength.”

Last season under Hurley, the Bulls ran a 3-guard set that included an 8-man rotation.

The rotation was rarely altered throughout the season. But the addition of new talent could prompt Oats to give players more playing time.

But the players have to earn it first.

“I hope I can, but I’m not playing any more that earn it,” Oats said about the rotation. “I’m not going to play 10 [players] just to play 10 [players]. If there’s only seven or eight players that earn minutes, then that’s all I’m going to play.”

Buffalo’s season begins on Friday as the team hosts Pitt.-Bradford at Alumni Arena.

Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

9

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THE SPECTRUM

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10

SPORTS

Friday, November 13, 2015

THE SPECTRUM

THE VILLAGE Legette-Jack looks to create community of support to help young women’s team TOM DINKI

EDITOR IN CHIEF

When Felisha Legette-Jack was growing up in inner-city Syracuse, it took more than her mother to help raise Legette-Jack and her four siblings.

“We needed other people in the community that could help make certain we stay on the straight and narrow,” Legette-Jack said.

“We called that ‘the village.’”

Now she wants to use that mentality to help raise her Buffalo women’s basketball program.

Legette-Jack has built up Buffalo up over the last three years – culminating in the program’s first Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) invite last season.

But Legette-Jack starts her fourth season at UB on Saturday with the youngest squad she’s ever coached. Actually, Buffalo may just be the youngest squad in the country – Legette-Jack says if the Bulls are not one of the top-20 youngest teams, then they’re 21st. So they’ll need all the support they can get this season.

“I’m asking this community to help grow our program,” Legette-Jack said. “To help support these young women as they go out and try to fulfill their dream of bringing great notoriety to this university and to this community.”

Buffalo has just three upperclassmen – 12 of its 15 players are freshmen or sophomores. And that inexperience was on display in practice Wednesday, as Legette-Jack made her team do an extra lap and told them they “came out with a bad attitude” and needed to “get humility.”

“Our freshmen are getting tight. They’re saying, ‘Oh my goodness the season,’ and every shot is the end of their world,” LegetteJack explained afterward. “They got to play free. They got to have fun … They were so ‘freshmen,’ if you will. And we’re just trying to get them to understand we’re better than that.”

Buffalo’s roster was decimated by departures this offseason between the graduation of Kristen Sharkey and Christa Baccas, the transfer of Alexus Malone to Louisiana Tech and the early retirement of Mackenzie Loesing due to an ankle injury.

Those four players alone accounted for 68 percent of the Bulls’ scoring last season.

“Losing the big scorers last year, that was huge for us,” said sophomore guard Stephanie Reid, “but it gives everyone else a chance

YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM

Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack coaches in a game in Alumni Arena last season. Legette-Jack wants to create a “village” of support for her young Bulls team this season.

to step up. If it means people have to go to the gym late at night to get extra reps, they do it … We may not have the same scorers, but we have new scorers and they’re stepping up.”

Buffalo will most likely turn to Reid her backcourt mate, junior guard Joanna Smith, to lead the way on offense. Reid is Buffalo’s unquestioned No. 1 point guard after joining the team midway through last semester, while Smith will take on more of a scoring role after averaging 15 points a game during the Bulls’ final six games last year.

Reid has embraced her role as a point guard. She knows if she doesn’t tell her teammates what to do, everyone will start scrambling.

“I’m the head of the body – figuratively,” Reid said. “I think with the freshmen, they have a lot of respect for me as a point guard, which is good because when I tell them to go somewhere they go.”

Buffalo’s frontcourt is more of a question mark.

Buffalo has several young forwards like freshman Mirte Scheper and sophomores Courtney Wilkins and Mariah Suchan that

will try to replace Baccas, the reigning MidAmerican Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and Sharkey, who will be an assistant coach this season.

But the player who Legette-Jack said would be Buffalo’s starting center currently can’t play because her former school won’t release her.

Sophomore center Cassie Oursler transferred to UB from Robert Morris last winter break. But Robert Morris has refused to release Oursler, despite the NCAA clearing her, Legette-Jack said.

“It’s unfortunate Cassie has been put in this position by her institution she came from,” Legette-Jack said. “She has been doing nothing but doing the right thing.”

Robert Morris head coach Sal Buscaglia coached the Bulls from 1990-98.

“It’s unfortunate he’s taken this stance,” Legette-Jack said. “It’s about the kid. It’s unfortunate he’s making it a personal vendetta against her.”

But Legette-Jack said Oursler’s absence won’t change her team’s plans – she said “the strangest person could be the one” the team relies on the most. And despite her

team’s lack of experience, she doesn’t plan to change what her philosophy’s been since she arrived at UB. “We’re going to stay the same way. We’re going to be passionate. We’re going to defend. We’re going to go hard,” Legette-Jack said. “That is always been who I am and we can’t change that.”

Legette-Jack wants the UB community to help her program as it sticks to that mentality. She wants to see crowds of fans at games supporting the young team. She wants a village. After all, it has something to prove to people.

“A lot of people don’t know about us.

They don’t know about the talent we have coming in,” Smith said. “They don’t expect Buffalo to win. They don’t expect Buffalo to be great. It’s all about improving ourselves so we can show people what we’re all about.”

Buffalo opens the season Saturday against LIU Brooklyn at Alumni Arena.

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. email: tom.dinki@ubspectrum.com

Reigning MAC champs are underdogs New-look men’s squad looks to bring home a second championship in as many years ROMULO ROMERO STAFF WRITER

YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM

Lamonte Bearden, a sophomore guard, dribbles down the court during a preseason game last Friday. Bearden will be Buffalo’s starting point guard and will help the Bulls replace the loss of Shannon Evans.

The men’s basketball team, the reigning Mid-American Conference Champions, isn’t even nationally ranked in the top-100.

That’s according to CBS Sports. And even Buffalo’s own conference’s media has picked it to finish no better than fourth – in the MAC East.

But it’s nothing of concern for first-year head coach Nate Oats. He said he embraces adversity and the underdog persona. His plan for success is simple: to bring together inexperienced players that are motivated to win a second championship in as many years despite what skeptics have to say.

“I don’t know how anybody ranks anyone before they play a game – it’s purely subjective,” Oats said. “Whoever ranked us 126th is assuming that some of these guys aren’t as good as what I anticipate them being … We have a good schedule … So we’ll get our chance to get our RPI back up like it was last year if we take care of our business.”

It’s no secret that Buffalo is in the midst of a rebuilding year when it should have been going into the season as favorites. After contract extension talks fell apart, former head coach Bobby Hurley left Buffa-

lo to coach Arizona State and brought star point guard Shannon Evans and some other high-profile recruits with him. Reigning MAC Player of the Year Justin Moss was expelled from UB for a dorm theft this summer. Impact seniors Xavier Ford and Will Regan graduated.

But Buffalo wasn’t supposed to win the conference last season either after losing three starters. The team still defeated Central Michigan 89-84 in the MAC Tournament to advance to the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament.

Nine out of Buffalo’s 15 players have never logged a minute for the Bulls. Most of freshmen or junior college transfers.

But if past accolades and Buffalo’s exhibition win over Daemen is any indication, the recruiting class may be ready to contribute immediately.

Oats is excited about junior college transfer Willie Conner, who is expected to crack Buffalo’s starting five. Conner, a junior wing, averaged 18.0 points and 5.0 rebounds for Odessa Community College.

He considers himself Buffalo’s organizer.

He knows the team is chock-full of shooters, but he wants to be the player to slow the game down and have everyone realize defense is just as important as scoring.

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