The Spectrum Vol. 68 No. 21

THE SPECTRUM VOL. 68 NO. 21 | NOVEMBER 12, 2018

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950

UBSPECTRUM

Q&A with basketball head coaches

p.7 p.10 p.6

Upset in Morgantown COURTESY OF JEB LOWE

Holes in the wall: Senior forward Nick Perkins learning to mature

Andy Hull reflects on ‘A Black Mile to the Surface’ and adapting to change

SA Fall Fest Concert Series closes out with a femaledominated performance

Senior forward Jeremy Harris prepares to make a cut at the threepoint line. Harris was one rebound shy of a doubledouble finishing with 16 points and 9 rebounds.

DAVILA TARAKINIKINI | THE SPECTRUM Tinashe goes into a dance break midsong at Saturday’s Fall Fest show.

Buffalo takes down No. 13 West Virginia NATHANIEL MENDELSON SPORTS EDITOR

The Bulls were down 84-81 with 15 seconds remaining. It was obvious who was going to take the game-tying shot.

Senior guard CJ Massinburg pulled up from eight feet beyond the three-point line and swished it. The Bulls finally stormed back from a 13-point second-half deficit.

Buffalo kept the momentum into overtime, defeating the No. 13-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers 99-94.

The Bulls (2-0) became the first team since 1989 to defeat the Mountaineers (0-1) in their home opener. Massinburg led the way with a career-high 43 points and nine three-pointers made. Buffalo beat West Virginia at its own

game by controlling the offensive boards and forcing more turnovers.

“I told our guys, ‘You got all the people watching from the NCAA Tournament but we’ve never beat a Top 15 team on the road,’” head coach Nate Oats said. “Even though it’s not in the NCAA Tournament, I think it’s a tougher and a bigger win than the Arizona one.”

Oats didn’t think his players could win if they shot the same way against the Mountaineers that they did against the Saint Francis Red Flash Tuesday. The Bulls shot 42.9 percent from the field against Saint Francis, and they shot 40 percent against West Virginia.

Fans and media members took to Twitter to react to the Buffalo upset. Famed basketball commentator Dick Vitale congratulated Massinburg and many former players did the > SEE UPSET MORGANTOWN | PAGE 8

Ashanti, Tinashe, and Queen Naija perform at CFA JULIANNA TRACEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

For the first time in over two decades, a UB festival exclusively featured female performers.

Grammy-winning artist Ashanti and pop artist Tinashe brought audience members on stage for a special performance during the Student Association’s Fall Fest Concert Series on Saturday night. R&B singer Queen Naija also opened the concert, the third of the three show series.

Seven hundred thirty-three students attended the show, while 1,176 students registered for tickets, according to SA entertainment director Sandeep Chakravarthy.

This is an increase from the previous two

> SEE FALL FEST | PAGE 2

Community members still upset UB Commons businesses use styrofoam The Commons’ restaurants still use styrofoam despite eco-friendly resolution JACKLYN WALTERS ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Eight of the 11 businesses that rent space in The Commons are not following environmental sug-

gestions set forth in a 2015 Professional Staff Senate resolution.

The PSS passed the resolution on Greening The Commons so businesses would replace styrofoam containers with environmentally friendly alternatives. Since The Commons is privately owned, UB cannot force the businesses to implement sustainable practices.

Students and staff involved with the movement petitioned and handed out pamphlets to educate students on the importance of sustainability.

The resolution formulated a “red list” –– vendors that use styrofoam –– and a “green list” –– vendors who use recyclable containers –– and organized The Commons’ businesses based on their sustainability.

Many red-listed business owners voiced interest and support, but none took initiative to change.

The PSS chair Domenic Licata said the senate brought samples of replacement o p -

concerts, which saw 600 and 400 students, respectively.

Attendance still fell below half the capacity of CFA Mainstage, which holds 1,700 people. The cost for the evening totaled $166,700, according to SA entertainment coordinator Marc Rosenblitt. Production costs were $49,000 and talent cost $117,700.

Cost per student came to $227.42, rising above the mandatory student activity fee of $104.75.

The excitement began early as attendees rushed into CFA. Students pushed and shoved their way into the venue when doors opened for front-row seats. The Black Friday-esque rush had students quickly fill the front section of seats. Students continued to filter in during the opening minutes of the show.

Tinashe provided a fast-paced standout performance. She energized the crowd with her choreography and supporting lighting

JACKLYN WALTERS | THE SPECTRUM Dominic Licata, chair of the Professional Staff Senate, said he is disappointed that three years after the Greening The Commons Resolution was passed, some businesses in The Commons still aren’t using eco-friendly containers.

tions to the vendors in The Commons and spoke with each business about the importance of sustainability on campus in an attempt to be more environmentally conscious.

Licata also said that a great step The Commons could take would be installing a recycling bin to encourage students to be more eco-friendly.

With recycling bins on the premises, vendors could wrap their food in plastic, paper or foil, which would then give customers the option to recycle, he said.

“Whether or not they are part of UB, they definitely impact how we are perceived,” Licata said. “Recycling is probably the single biggest thing they could do.”

At the time of the resolution, real estate company First Amherst Development man-

aged The Commons, but it is now managed

by UB Commons Inc. owned by law firm Phillips Lytle LLP. UB Commons Inc. did not respond in time for publication.

Another alternative is reusable containers.

Starbucks, a green-listed business, recently gave free reusable cups to customers who purchased holiday beverages.

Still, the reusable route places more responsibility on the consumer.

Brian Stuhlmiller, a graduate student in science education and a student leader in the resolution, said reusable containers are ideal.

If businesses offered reusable containers, students could bring them back each time they went to a restaurant, cutting down on > SEE STYROFOAM | PAGE 2

NEWS

2 | Monday, November 12, 2018 FROM PAGE 1

DAVILA TARAKINIKINI | THE SPECTRUM

FALL FEST effects. The set used flashy visuals on stage and featured clips from the artist’s music videos and lyrics for audience members to sing along to, adding to her vivid and eclectic performance.

Tinashe proved she was more than a pop star, as her and her backing dancers broke into high-intensity dance sections in the middle of tracks like “Party Favors” and “Ride of Your Life.”

Some of the audience became tired and sat down in the middle of the performance, despite Tinashe’s energy. At one point, Tinashe stopped to get people to stand up again, even addressing specific audience members to get up, calling out a fan in a denim jacket.

Daveri Hodge, a junior communication major, enjoyed Tinahse’s energy and overall talent throughout the evening.

“I think she’s a really good singer. She can dance, you know, she’s the whole package,” Hodge said.

Tinashe performed tracks from her debut “Aquarius” and her newest work, “Joyride.” The audience reacted favorably toward tracks like “2 On,” “Me So Bad” and “Company,” which featured the first audiFROM PAGE 1

STYROFOAM the amount of styrofoam and plastic being wasted.

“Students have to remember it, [they] have to clean it,” he said. “But these are important steps [in becoming more sustainable] and I think that’s a major role students can play.”

Retired UB environmental science professor Joseph Allen now works at Earth Spirit Educational Services, a local not-for-profit environmental organization. Earth Spirit regularly holds events educating Western New Yorkers about the effects of not recycling properly.

Allen said although some styrofoam is recyclable, much of it still ends up in landfills. He said it is worth the expense for businesses to switch to compostable alternatives.

“I think compostables are the answer for everything,” he said. “It’s becoming more

ubspectrum.com

Tinashe takes photos with fans during her CFA performance Saturday night. The performer helped wrap up SA’s Fall Fest Concert Series.

ence lap dance of the night.

Queen Naija took to the stage first, starting the show off on a simple, but moving level. Queen Naija’s opened with “Karma,” but her performance of “Mama’s Hand” made the evening more personal. The track featured sound clips of her son’s voice playing before the song, and the singer’s passion was clear through her moving vocal riffs.

Naija was determined to connect with the audience throughout her set, and she did. She asked to turn the house lights up to see the audience’s faces. Crowd members sang along to most of her tracks –– a rarity for a fest opener.

Sydne Jackson, a freshman theater performance major, was excited for Queen Naija’s

opening set. She enjoyed both “Medicine” and “Butterflies,” as well as the depth of the set.

“To be honest, I didn’t really listen to Queen Naija before, but now, this concert really put me on to be honest. I really liked it,” Jackson said.

Headliner Ashanti closed out the evening on a high note, formally introduced by her DJ. He was determined that CFA could give him more, saying “before Ashanti hits the stage I got to take it to a ten.”

Elaborate video montages and intricate lighting effects set the stage for Ashanti.

Most songs featured clips from their respective music videos, similar to Tinashe’s set.

economical to do that and unfortunately, economics motivate those companies more than ethics.”

Without a solvent to break it down, polystyrene –– or styrofoam –– takes over 500 years to decompose.

While in landfills and waterways, styrofoam can partially photodegrade, or turn into powder under UV exposure. This allows the toxic substance to make its way into the food chain where it causes cancer and harmful neurological effects.

Licata said the eco-friendly alternatives they showed the vendors were not much more expensive than styrofoam options.

“The items were at the very highest 25 cents more for the containers of compostable material over the styrofoam,” Licata said. “We tried to convince the vendors that even if they had to raise their prices by a quarter, nobody would protest. But of course the business owners were very price-conscious.”

But business owners say it’s not that easy to switch to a new container. Styrofoam containers are typically cheaper than their recyclable counterparts, which discourages small businesses from making the investment.

Dominic Gallo, the manager of LaRosa’s in The Commons said that 25 cents more per eco-friendly container adds up and would force him to raise his prices.

But some employees feel the restaurant could do a better job of being environmentally friendly.

Ashley Wagner, a junior health and human services major, works at LaRosa’s. She’s willing to pay more for her food if it comes in an environmentally friendly container.

“We waste a lot of our styrofoam,” Wagner said. “People will say it’s to go but it’s for here and then they throw the boxes out when we could just give them plates. So that’s a big issue too.”

Madison Bunting, a sophomore business

Winterdnet

Ashanti also made an effort to relate to the audience. She provided personal sentiments and background toward certain songs, telling the audience “I feel like, at the end of the day, we all go through the same s—t anyway.”

But Ashanti had other ideas to mix up the set.

Once the crowd was pumped up again, Ashanti performed at full force, entering the audience to take selfies, and even bringing an audience member on stage for a lap dance. Nothing was off limits to Ashanti, and her DJ agreed.

“Buffalo, unlike other shows, we actually encourage you to try this at home,” he said, referring to the lap dance.

Many in the audience enjoyed the audience interaction. Vinny Murphy, junior theater major, said he was satisfied with performances of classic tracks like “Rock Wit U.” Ashanti closed the final Fall Fest show on a high note with her performance of “Foolish.” Confetti filled CFA after Ashanti introduced the song, as the audience erupted one final time. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

administration major, is a customer at The Commons. Bunting, along with many other students interviewed by The Spectrum said she would be willing to pay more for a recyclable container.

“Honestly, 25 cents isn’t that much of an increase,” she said. “For the few times a semester that I actually eat there, I don’t think it would be an issue.”

Licata said the resolution was not successful because many businesses ignored the suggestions and concerns from students in order to save money. He said that he’s glad the resolution raised awareness and hopes that students will continue to support the goals of the resolution.

Stuhlmiller said although students may be busy, the best way to change the future of sustainability is “to engage, to empower and to educate.” email: news@ubspectrum.com

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OPINION

ubspectrum.com

THE SPECTRUM Monday November 12, 2018 Volume 68 Number 21 Circulation: 4,000

The Commons should follow UB’s environmental approach

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hannah Stein MANAGING EDITOR Brenton J. Blanchet CREATIVE DIRECTORS Phuong Vu Anh Phuong Tran, Asst.

COPY EDITORS Savanna Caldwell Cassi Enderle Lauryn King NEWS EDITORS Max Kalnitz, Senior Jacklyn Walters, Asst.

FEATURES EDITORS Benjamin Blanchet, Senior Kirsten Dean, Asst.

ARTS EDITORS Brian Evans, Senior Samantha Vargas, Asst.

SPORTS EDITORS Thomas Zafonte, Senior Nathaniel Mendelson MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Shubh Jain, Senior Jack Li Pranav Kadam, Asst.

Wayne Penales, Asst.

CARTOONISTS Ardi Digap Taj Taylor

PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Ayesha Kazi GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGERS JuYung Hong

ABOUT THE SPECTRUM The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Opinion section 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.

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Monday, November 12, 2018 | 3

EDITORIAL BOARD

UB has become more eco-friendly over the years. There’s new cups on campus, as well as increased recycling programs and more bins and locations. UB also isn’t building on the 200 acres of land east of the Millersport Highway to preserve the area.

But that doesn’t mean the entire campus is eco-friendly.

In today’s issue of The Spectrum, we printed a story about the UB Professional Staff Senate’s unsuccessful attempt to fully “green” The Commons mini mall. In 2015, the Professional Staff Senate passed “Resolution to Green the Commons.”

They planned on going around and

Letter to the editor Recently, The Spectrum carried an article informing us that UB is seeking a state liquor license to sell alcohol at sporting events in the UB Stadium. I am writing this letter to state that this is an incredibly misguided decision on the part of UB and that they should abandon this effort.

Not everyone is going to like hearing this, but alcohol is a toxic substance that is damaging to the mental and physical health of its users. Any level of alcohol use is on some level damaging. It produces a variety of illnesses, with its more extreme results including brain damage, organ failure and several forms

of cancer. It would be irresponsible of the university to sanction the sale of harmful substances at its events.

If the university begins selling alcohol at sporting events, it would contribute to the growth of a drinking culture, which serves to normalize and promote drinking, and brings a variety of social, medical and economic damages to our communities. The university should strive to promote the positive development of its students and community members, not practices that harm and destroy far too many. Alcohol sales would invite increased public disturbance, drunk driving

Letter to the editor An Oct. 1 press release on graduate student stipends from the UB communications office offers facts and figures arguing that, contrary to claims made by the Living Stipend Movement, graduate students are already being paid not only well enough, but well period. A “key issues” news page from the UB News Center website, revised on Oct. 23, reiterates the arguments of the Oct. 1 press release without substantive change.

I’d like to focus in on just one of their metrics, the purported average “hourly” rate of graduate student pay, because it points at a fundamental problem in how the UB administration is valuing graduate student labor.

A graduate stipend does not simply compensate students for the hours of service, like teaching or assisting with a professor’s research, that we provide to the university.

Rather, a stipend is intended to support graduate students, at a sustainable level, in our full-time work in apprenticeship to the university. The administration’s arguments do not acknowledge this, indicating that their thinking about stipends is out of touch with a long-held consensus across higher education about what work should be supported when a university commits to financially support a graduate student.

The administration’s press release and their news page offer a few different calculations of an “hourly rate” for graduate student stipends.

The press release claims that the average graduate student stipend is $18,006 a year (a number that we have argued may be inaccurate) and that “when annualized, the average stipend amount equates to $30.02 an hour.” The Oct. 23 news page revis-

es this slightly, in one paragraph indicating that graduate students make $22.51 per hour, and in another paragraph indicating that they make between $22 and $30 an hour.

The documents do not explain how they calculated these numbers or why they are different. My best guess is that the $22.51 rate assumes TAs do 40 weeks of work per year, which corresponds to our twenty per annum biweekly pay checks; the $30.02 rate assumes TAs do 30 weeks of work per year, which corresponds to the 30 weeks of the fall and spring semesters. Both figures assume that TAs work 20 hours per week; this corresponds to the 20 hours average per week of service that our union contracts limit us to.

The problem with this calculation — and with its implied argument that if TAs are not making enough, it’s not because their rate is too low but because they are not working enough hours — is that a stipend isn’t meant to pay an hourly rate for services provided. It is meant to support a graduate student’s apprenticeship to the university’s work of teaching and research, at a sustainable, subsistence level like the one calculated by MIT’s Living Wage calculator as about $24,000 per year for the Buffalo region.

In exchange for that support, a graduate student is expected to offer some form of service in return.

At UB, this is defined by the GSEU contract at an average 20 hours a week for 9 months out of the year, and is fulfilled by a range of duties including working in laboratories, assisting professors with grading and discussion sections, and teaching our own classes as instructors of record.

But the rest of the hours of the week, and the rest of the weeks of

asking Commons business owners to stop using styrofoam containers for food with pamphlets, petitions and even brought samples of more sustainable options to the vendors.

UB can’t dictate what the businesses package their food in, as the mini mall is managed by UB Commons Inc. and isn’t a part of Campus Dining and Shops. CDS itself has made an effort to become eco-friendly, but has no control over The Commons’ use of styrofoam containers.

But business owners don’t want to switch to more sustainable options due to cost effectiveness.

The Commons is in a central hub of UB’s North Campus and undermines the ideology behind going green campus-wide.

We also wouldn’t mind paying –– at most –– 25 cents more for a slice of pizza if it means saving the planet, as this is what the new containers would cost. LaRosa’s, a pizza shop in The Commons, charges at

least $3 for a slice of pizza. The accessibility of the food already has it set at higher prices than other pizza shops in Buffalo, so a few cents more wouldn’t break the bank for customers like the resturaunt manager thinks.

The Commons is partway invested in helping the envirnoment.

Dancing Chopsticks has one recycling bin that helps the situation.

But adding more in other shops and pushing toward eco-friendly containers would go a long way.

Each Commons establishment has garnered a healthy following and steady business every day. Prices for eco-friendly materials may not be cost effective momentarily, but each business is more than capable of offsetting the costs by raising prices just a bit.

The Commons is on UB campus so businesses should follow the precedent set by UB. This is our campus and, more importantly, this is our planet. email: opinion@ubspectrum.com

and crime. Scientific studies have shown that alcohol consumption impairs the part of the brain that controls violent impulses and that areas that sell alcohol statistically see higher rates of violent crime. In addition, alcohol is also the number one drug involved in sexual assaults.

In a time when the Kavanaugh hearings have brought increased attention to the dark elements of drinking culture, the need for public institutions to disassociate themselves with the drinking culture is even clearer.

With this stated, I would call on the University at Buffalo to reverse its misguided decision. The administration should withdraw its liquor license application and commit to

alcohol-free sporting events. The administration may think that allowing alcohol sales may attract more people to its events. But I will say that if they do so, they will alienate people who appreciate the alcohol-free environment, and will likely lose some of its attendance. In fact, I myself intend to not attend any sporting event at the UB stadium, until UB reverses its decision and commits to alcohol-free sporting events. And I would encourage members of the UB community to contact the administration and encourage them the UB Stadium should keep a policy against alcohol sales.

Sincerely, Jonathan Makeley

the year, including during winter and summer breaks, we are also apprenticed to the university: taking courses, studying for and sitting for comprehensive exams, doing our own research; and circulating our work into the world with UB’s name attached to it, in conference presentations, journal publications and book chapters. We serve on committees; we chair organizations; we advise students; we start publications; we organize conferences and symposia.

Year-round, Monday through Sunday, early morning to very late at night, UB works because we do.

All of these activities, not just the 20 hours of service we are contracted to perform, are part of the work that the graduate stipend supports.

This sense of the scope of graduate student work is standard at any competitive university. The administration’s argument that we make $22 to $30 an hour elides the rest of this work. It obfuscates the fact that all of our working (indeed, usually all of our waking) hours are already committed to our obligations to the university.

It effaces the reality that, taking this more accurate view of the scope of graduate student work, we’re making more like $8.66 per hour if we’re using the administration’s average yearly stipend and working only 40 hours per week year-round, which shrinks to $4.81 per hour if we’re calculating based on the low stipends of $10,000 per year that some of us are offered. Calculating an hourly rate of pay gets even scarier when you take into account the fact that the work graduate students do often takes far more than 40 hours per week, and that graduate students pay over $2,000 a year in fees back to the university out of these already low stipend rates. Minimum wage in New York State is $10.40 per hour.

This argument is also problematic

because it implies that, outside the 20 hours we are contracted to provide service to the university, we are free to sell our time and labor to anyone else we wish. This is inaccurate. International students are literally not free to do so, operating under legal restrictions that severely limit their ability to work for additional pay.

And renewal of all TA contracts depends not only on our performance during our 20 hours of service, but also on our successful progress toward our degrees, which requires us to continue to take classes, take exams and finish dissertation chapters.

This isn't merely an obligation we must fulfill to keep getting paid, but also the whole point of graduate stipends in the first place: the promise of the opportunity to pursue an advanced degree in exchange for these hours of service and the right of the university to attach its name to our accomplishments as graduate students and, eventually, as alumni.

The press release opened with the claim that “the university very much values the talent and dedication of its graduate students” and states that graduate students are “critical to UB’s success as a major public research university.” I agree with the second claim — in both our capacity as teachers and assistants, and in our capacity as researchers who further UB’s reputation in its academic communities, graduate students do the essential work of the university.

However, the university cannot possibly hope to convince us of its esteem for our talent and dedication until it learns to value our work, by accounting in full for the all of the work we do at the university and making its claims about “value” literal by offering us a sustainable, living stipend of $24,000 per year.

--Kathleen Naughton, Ph.D. student, English department

OPINION

4 | Monday, November 12, 2018

The chance for a dynasty

Women’s basketball looks to have strong year while developing freshman THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Last year, the women’s basketball team looked primed for a huge season.

With guard Stephanie Reid, Buffalo had its most successful season in program history going 29-6. With a strong group of juniors and seniors, the talented team led UB to its first Sweet Sixteen appearance.

A year later, the Bulls look like a promising team again but for different reasons.

The Bulls look to have a number of guards who could develop into deadly shooters, while still having senior guard Cierra Dillard. They’ve added size at the rim, something that has been

Let’s go dancing again Bulls will repeat last season’s success NATHANIEL MENDELSON

SPORTS EDITOR

When former athletic director Danny White fired long-time men’s basketball coach Reggie Witherspoon, it felt like a gut-punch to a program that was on the verge of being a consistent Mid-American Conference power.

White decided that consistency and a middling record without making winning a MAC Championship was not enough. White made a bold move and hired former Duke star Bobby Hurley to his first head coaching position. He left two years later, but Buffalo still won a MAC title.

ubspectrum.com

lacking in the past two seasons. Both aspects only look to get better for a team that has alwaysimproving underclassmen.

The cornerstone of Buffalo’s offense has been the perimeter shooting. More than half the team can make a three in practice, but the only proven range shooters are Dillard, senior forward Courtney Wilkins and senior guard Autumn Jones.

If the Bulls want to click on offense like they did last year, they will need more options shooting from behind the line than just Dillard. That’s why the freshman sister guard duo of Finess and Aireal Dickson are such valuable prospects.

If either finds their shot this semester, they will become dangerous two-way players who could be Mid-American Conference rookies of the year.

Freshman guard Oceane Kounkou looks closest to having her perimeter shot down. She looks comfortable in practice and has a good arc to her shot. It will just be a matter of getting her consistent come game time.

The Bulls will need to retain strength shooting on the outside or run an offensive scheme that works more through Dillard. Either way, the Bulls should be close to the shooting team they

were last season with Dillard at the charge.

Defensively, the Bulls will employ the same fast-paced, quick-steal style that made them a force in the MAC last year. The returning players should be enough to run the system effectively at the start of the season.

The biggest change for both ends of the ball will be on the boards. Buffalo had center Cassie Oursler carrying the rebounding weight last season. Oursler was always a better scorer in the paint than a rebounder.

This season, Buffalo has five players over 6 feet tall. The Bulls have been a smaller unit in the past two Legette-Jack seasons, but this year, size will be key to their success. Freshman forward Keowa Walters has the height to play at center, while also having support in the forward spots with experienced and new, taller players. Expect the coaching staff to have the best paint players starting at the five and four spots come conference play.

Buffalo has one of the best-ranked offenses and defenses in the MAC last season and should look to be on a winning streak once conference gets started.

Non-conference is a different story.

Buffalo has set up a mean list of non-con-

ference opponents with matchups against the Stanford Cardinal, the Georgetown Hoyas and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. That doesn’t even include the game against the stacked Oregon Ducks. If Buffalo could pick up two wins in any of these four games, its at-large bid chances will look much better come March.

Still, even with last year’s success, Buffalo will be the underdog. Even with Dillard coming off her NCAA Tournament performance, the team will be rarely favored in these matchups. The Bulls seem ready for another season as underdogs, despite anyone following the team being aware of their tournament potential. With the men’s recent win over the West Virginia Mountaineers, it could be the season for big upsets at UB. At worst, I see the freshmen struggling and the upperclassmen having strong seasons that lead the Bulls to at least another MAC Championship finals. At best, the Bulls could get most of the team clicking, the freshmen develop and nobody important gets injured. If that happens, Legette-Jack’s early prediction of Elite Eight could seem very real come March.

Now Nate Oats is the head coach. Buffalo is his first college head coaching position as well.

Oats has taken the program to new heights and this season, they are even higher.

Oats brought two more championships, an NCAA tournament win and a community back to the seats of UB athletic events.

The Bulls are ready to rise to the top of the college basketball world this season.

Buffalo is back in the spotlight just two games into the season.

Senior guard CJ Massinburg went off against West Virginia. He dropped 35 points in the second half and overtime to single-handedly carry the Bulls to victory against the 13th-best team in the nation.

Admittedly, I have been a critic of Massinburg. I felt that his 17 points per game last season was a bit flawed. Every time I seemed to cover a game, I was left underwhelmed with his performance. But now I know I am wrong.

Massinburg is the glue that holds the team together. His effort on Friday was the best performance by a Bull ever and will be one of the memories celebrated when his number hangs in the rafters in Alumni Arena.

CJ can’t do it all by himself to make the Bulls the team to beat this season. Thankfully, Oats has assembled a squad with talent at every position.

Four seniors: Massinburg, forward Jeremy Harris, forward Nick Perkins and guard Dontay Caruthers are the heart and soul of this Buffalo squad.

The Bulls are confident they can compete with any team in the country. Junior guard Davonta Jordan and Caruthers will compete against each other for MAC defensive player of the year.

Harris is one of the best sharpshooters in the country. Perkins has the build to post up anyone in the NCAA. These guys will beat you from anywhere on the court.

Buffalo does not have the easiest path to the championship. Throughout non-conference they will play tough teams like the Southern Illinois Salukis, Marquette, Syracuse and possibly Stephen F. Austin.

The Bulls should have a walk to the top seed in the conference when MAC play begins. The only team that Buffalo will have trouble with is Eastern Michigan. But the Bulls are a veteran group that know how to face adversity.

As the great Ric Flair would say, the Bulls are a bunch of “Stylin’, profilin’, limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’ n’ dealin’ son of a gun[s].”

Basically, they’re pretty good.

Oats, a math and statistics aficionado, sat the team down and introduced them to the world of advanced basketball stats. They picked out four things on offense and four things on defense to improve on from last year.

Even after setting the program record for wins, Oats knows and wants his team to get better. The scariest part is that it is 100 percent possible.

Buffalo already proved this season it doesn’t have to shoot lights-out to win games. The Bulls look better on defense and are positioning themselves better to force turnovers instead of reaching and guessing.

Expect big things for the Bulls, buy your tickets now for the MAC Championship game and save your sick days for an NCAA tournament trip. Buffalo is heading back.

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FEATURES

Monday, November 12, 2018 | 5

A thermo-dynamic professor

KIRSTEN DEAN | THE SPECTRUM Dr. Zachary Schlader stands in front of a temperature-controlled room that he uses in many of his studies. Schlader, an assistant professor in the department of exercise and nutrition sciences, conducts research on exercise physiology, behavior and thermoregulation.

UB professor Dr. Zachary Schlader conducts exercise physiology studies and research for the U.S. Navy KIRSTEN DEAN ASST. FEATURES EDITOR

From 2002-06, Dr. Zachary Schlader controlled the post as a power forward for the Austin Peay State University Governors basketball team. But there was an off-the-court problem.

Schlader’s class schedule conflicted with hoops. As a biology major, he needed to take chemistry and biology labs, but practice got in the way.

That’s when Schlader combined the two and switched to what would later become his profession: health and exercise sciences.

“When I had to make a decision between labs and basketball practice, I went along and went with health, knowing that

exercise physiology would be kind of cool,” Schlader said. “I thought to combine my interests in athletics with my science interests, and both were paired up in exercise physiology.”

Schlader is an assistant professor in the department of exercise and nutrition sciences. Despite leaving behind his basketball career, Schlader’s world travels have led him to Buffalo, where he researches the connection between human behavior and thermodynamics.

After graduate school at Indiana University, Schlader went halfway across the world for his Ph.D. at New Zealand’s Massey University. Schlader then completed a post-doctorate at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center before coming to UB in 2014.

One of Schlader’s studies involves participants exercising in an aquatic suit, as water perfuses through the suit.

Schlader said participants can choose to cool the suit whenever they want and his research involves looking at various bodily signals participants listen to that determine

whether or not they decide to cool down. “[Participants] can choose to cool that suit whenever they want and the idea is looking at what signals they’re listening to that help maintain comfort when exercising and [after] exercise,” said Schlader.

“We know that comfort is a key determinant of how people are … feeling [overall], whether they are satisfied with what they’re wearing, it can influence a lot of other things,” Schlader said. “So, we are trying to understand the signals that people are listening to that cause discomfort and ultimately, behavior.”

Schlader’s heat and exercise-related studies expand further, though. One study he is involved in is funded by the U.S. Navy and focuses on disabled submarines.

In the study, researchers simulate a disabled submarine situation using an immersion tank. Researchers then can examine how hot and dehydrated study participants get when trapped in a humid environment for a number of days.

“Essentially, we are exposing people to various temperatures for eight hours in 100 percent humidity environment –– it’s almost raining and there’s condensation everywhere,” Schlader said.

“We are just trying to see how hot and dehydrated they’re going to get, so the question is how much water do they need to keep onboard to keep people alive for up to four days. What’s the minimum amount of water [the submarine has] to carry so that everyone on board is going to be safe?”

In addition to his own work, Schlader is an investigator at UB’s Center for Research and Education in Special Environments.

CRESE research looks to explore “the interaction of exercise and extreme environments to study basic and translational science relevant to human performance and survival,” according to CRESE’s website.

The center includes environmental chambers, hyper/hypobaric chambers and a human integrative physiology lab.

“It’s a pretty big group, between the

Drag in the day UB LGBT Alliance hosts daytime drag show in the Student Union TANVEEN VOHRA STAFF WRITER

Angel Yutig, a junior health and human services major, said she never thought she’d see the day someone would deepthroat a dildo in the middle of the Student Union.

But that all changed on Friday afternoon when the Student Association and UB Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance hosted a drag show in the Student Union lobby. The show featured drag queens from local group House of Raige.

Roughly 200 students attended the event, with at least 50 UB community members looking down from SU’s second-floor balcony.

Alice Raige, “Mother of the House of Raige,” hosted the event, which featured four drag queens who tackled two sets a piece. The show ended with a 30-minute Q&A session with students.

The performers didn’t shy away from a typical show, with some drag queens performing in a shockingly sexual manner.

Other sets provided commentary on social issues surrounding politics and sexuality.

Raige said it’s important to have shows like hers in a college setting.

“People could think that we’re like, sexual deviants or they might think that we’re sick or crazy,” Raige said. “When things are left in the dark and when things aren’t talked about, that’s when misunderstandings happen.”

Still, Raige said, dark settings such as nightclubs –– as opposed to daytime shows –– offer a different atmosphere for

TANVEEN VOHRA | THE SPECTRUM Drag queen Alice Raige answered questions from the community during the Q&A portion of the drag show.

performers.

Raige said nightclubs have a “veil of darkness” that may be more forgiving to makeup and dress flaws. She said she believes performing in the day, however, can be freeing.

“In a situation like this, it’s bright and people are there for you. There’s no alcohol to blur the lines so they’re seeing you for who you are. I think it’s liberating and intimidating,” Raige said.

Drag queen Victoria Jenkins echoed Raige’s sentiments and said it’s important to engage with the audience without any alcoholic influence.

“Especially when there’s no booze, you really need to get in there and get them into it because they’re not going to start, they’re shy college kids,” Jenkins said.

The 21-year-old Jenkins said she enjoyed performing in front of people her age, and was pleased to see her peers respond well

to queer art.

Of the four drag queens who performed Friday, two had strong ties to UB. Daphne York graduated from UB this past May with a degree in psychology.

York’s set included a relatively tame lip sync to Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me,” with her wearing a large faux fur coat.

The music then abruptly transitioned into recording artist Willam’s “Ho Ho Ho Ho,” and York threw off her coat to reveal a vintage, Christmas-themed negligee.

She then pulled out a pink dildo and deepthroated it amid deafening cheers from the audience.

York said performing in drag at UB was “like coming full circle,” as it allowed her to entertain her friends who she said were “really supportive” when she started performing her senior year.

York said she was also pleased UB paid her to perform.

three investigators we have,” Schlader said.

“There are around six to ten big projects going at any time on top of ones that are more student-driven.”

Jessica Hichez, a senior biological sciences major, is completing a year’s worth of research as part of UB’s Biology Honors Program in Schalder’s lab. “[Schlader] is very attentive and down to earth when it comes to those projects in the lab and the projects [researchers] are all working on,” Hichez said. “He gives [me] independence while also assuring us that if we have any problems or questions, he is always available whether it’s an email or an in-person meeting.”

Schlader said he believes in the importance of human interaction in the studies and just a number of years ago, said he used to try his studies on himself.

“It’s not mandatory, we don’t make ourselves go through it, but I think [wanting to be in the study you’re conducting] happens naturally,” Schlader said. “Part of it is I’m curious as well. I want to know what it feels like before I make someone else do it,” Schlader said.

Schlader said he greatly enjoys his work and believes going into research is a great idea. He likes that he is able to tell people that his job is to learn new things.

“I tell my kids that you’re not going to go to school forever, but you should always be learning. I don’t know what I would do if my focus wasn’t trying to learn something else or do something different every day.”

Now with research, a family and a busy schedule, Schlader said he doesn’t play much basketball anymore — though it was a defining point in his career.

“My wife and I have three young kids, so time is an important thing,” Schlader said. “I’d rather hang out with them than go out and play basketball. We do play a lot of lowered-hoop driveway basketball together though, so I feel I still have that.” email: kirsten.dean@ubspectrum.com twitter: @KirstenUBSpec.

“Like, I’m not back here because I have to go to school. I’m back here because you booked me, honey. I’m getting paid so you can give me all the money back that I gave [UB].”

Another drag queen Veronica Lace, meanwhile, is a Master’s student in the School of Social Work. By day, Lace is a mental health and substance abuse counselor and by night, she goes to classes at UB. Lace’s set marked a different tone in the show. The set started with a recording of Ellen Degeneres speaking about a young boy killed in a hate crime. The commentary then segued into Keala Settle’s song “This is Me.” While performing, Lace donned a white floor-length gown with various slurs and hate speech scrawled in black marker. The message, Lace said, was to “take back” words that are often used in hate speech.

Lace said she performed the set at UB because she was going to perform in a space open to the public, as opposed to a private theater performance at a club.

“Everybody walking past could see what was going on. It didn’t matter who in terms of race, gender, identity,” Lace said.

“So they’re going to see this individual with this dress on and these words and everything. It’s going to resonate with you in some kind of way inside of you.”

The Q&A session at the end of the show allowed curious members of the audience to ask the performers questions about their sexuality and drag. Each of the drag queens spoke about their coming out stories, their favorite songs to perform to and their favorite part of drag.

“I’m proud to say that hopefully I’m influencing someone to view the world differently, to be a little kinder, to be a little more open-minded and to explore different things in life,” Raige said. email: features@ubspectrum.com.

6 | Monday, November 12, 2018

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Andy Hull reflects on ‘A Black Mile to the Surface’ and adapting to change Manchester Orchestra frontman discusses songwriting and next album BRIAN EVANS SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

Andy Hull knew change was on its way.

On Manchester Orchestra’s third album, “A Black Mile to the Surface,” Hull opted for grandiose orchestration and deeply personal lyrics. The result is a sharp turn from the indie band’s previous releases “Hope” and “Cope.”

But this was all a part of the plan.

Ahead of the group’s Dec. 10 Rochester tour date with the Front Bottoms, Andy Hull spoke with The Spectrum and covered fatherhood, songwriting and Manchester Orchestra’s next album.

Q: “A Black Mile to the Surface” changes a lot for Manchester Orchestra in terms of orchestration and the effort put into production. Was there an inherent push for a different sound or did this happen organically?

A: Yeah, we were pushing for it. We didn’t know what it was or how to find it, but we knew we had to do something different. We really wanted to, and it’s going to be the same way this time. It’s always been that way, even with “Cope.” Doing that record really released us and opened up a lot of areas for us to explore and try different things. We were hard-pressed to not fall back into what we’ve done before.

Q: “The Maze” and “The Parts” are examples of some of the more personal works on “A Black Mile to the Surface.” You’ve talked a lot about how fatherhood has changed a lot of things for you, especially music. Do you have to be in a certain mindset or feel certain emotions to play these songs and connect with them?

A: I love to play stuff that’s super close to me. It means something every time.

Almost all of our music, I still really believe a lot of it. I don’t have a lot of bitter

COURTESY OF CHROMATIC PR Manchester Orchestra frontman Andy Hull (second from right) spoke with The Spectrum about songwriting, the band’s new album and adapting to change.

breakup songs and stuff like that. It’s all been sort of life contemplating and stuff you can’t figure out really. [With] something like “The Maze,” writing that song was really simple. It took about 10 minutes and it’s just a sweet little folk song. It’s the same thing with “The Parts.” I took my wife to Hawaii for her 30th birthday, and she went to bed and I brought out a guitar.

I had the riff to that thing and wrote that song. Our daughter had just been born earlier that year. Those songs really mean something to me. I feel really connected to them and when they’re moving me, I feel like that’s something we should definitely release.

Q: I read a review from Pitchfork saying that “If anything, reaching 30 as a happily married father with an increasingly influential band has made him even more skeptical as to whether he deserves any of it.” Where do you draw the line of success for Manchester Orchestra?

A: With “Black Mile” specifically, it was like shooting a gun toward a target that didn’t exist in the sky and then attempting to get there. There was no clear-cut vision in my head for how things should sound. ... It’s a ton of trial and error. A friend of mine the other day asked me, “How are you

going to follow up something like this?” [I said] “failing over and over again.” Having just enough self doubt right up until it’s a fault. That self doubt has got to be there. ... With “A Black Mile,” it was like four or five months working on that record until I was happy with a piece of music I was hearing. Genuinely happy and jumping up and down. It was during “The Moth” and we added this certain thing to a section of the song that I thought was missing. I’m certainly grateful and there’s some truth to that. I feel fortunate that I get to put all of myself into this music and have a career from it. Certainly I question if I deserve it or not for sure. I think it’d be weird if someone was like, “I deserve it.”

Q: “I Know How to Speak” follows a similar path as “A Black Mile to the Surface.” Is acoustic or simplistic orchestration the basis for your songwriting?

A: It depends. They were all over the place on “A Black Mile to The Surface.”

Generally, if I like a song enough to play it alone, then generally we’re on the right track. Then it’s about figuring out what kind of clothing we want to put on the song. For “I Know How to Speak,” that song was around for a minute. It took us having to make “A Black Mile to the Sur-

November movie guide COURTESY OF IMP AWARDS “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is one of the multiple sequels that make up November’s anticipated releases.

turns to gold.

“Widows” is the story of four women, brought together by the death of their husbands, who have to try and reclaim their lives after their husbands’ criminal debts are revealed. The film is originally based off of a BBC mini series that premiered back in 1983. The strong femaledriven cast coincides with the influx of women-empowering films that has appeared through the last decade.

“FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD” NOV. 16

Many can agree The Fantastic Beasts series is not Harry Potter. This sequel doesn’t change that despite J.K. Rowling’s push and a feeble attempt at tying the two together with an appearance made by Voldemort’s horcrux snake Nagini. The series will be releasing its second installment in November. This sequel will feature the growing bond between Albus Dumbledore, played

by Jude Law and Newt Scamander, played

by Eddie Redmayne.

“CREED II” - NOV. 21

Your monthly collection of cinematic selections SAMANTHA VARGAS ASST. ARTS EDITOR

November reminds people to be thankful for everything around us, even if that includes all the poorly-made, preChristmas season films that are released throughout the month.

The month of November manages to

sit right between bad horror movie season and bad Christmas movie season. Despite these high stakes, many production companies will be releasing movies that are still highly anticipated.

The Spectrum compiled a list of all the movies to check out.

“WIDOWS” - NOV. 16 Viola Davis stars as the lead in this film.

That should be the only necessary selling point. Everything Viola Davis touches

November is truly the month for sequels.

“Creed” was a smash at the box office, so it only makes sense that Hollywood would pursue a sequel to the “Rocky” franchise. Michael B. Jordan reprises his role as Adonis Creed, the new heavyweight boxing champion who is trained

by Rocky Balboa. The film follows along Creed’s fight against Viktor Drago –– who surprisingly is not a character from “Game of Thrones.”

ubspectrum.com face” in order to figure out the vision for that song. It was also great to just work on one song and obsess over one song instead of the burden of 10 or 12 and figuring out how they work together. I love that challenge. It’s the coolest thing I get to do every two years or so. I’m starting to fall in love with the process and the discovery of it and how far I want to push myself.

Q: How has that process changed for you?

A: I think there’s a lot of different answers for that. One is when I’m away from my daughter and son, I want to make sure I’m spending my time the right way. Age has differed for me. I remember when we were making “Mean Everything to Nothing” and tracking those songs live the same way we’ve done every time. [It’s like] take 22, 23 and 24. I couldn’t believe this producer was making us do this. I was like, “Man, we nailed it on 11. I’m sure of it.”

[But he’d say] “The Beatles would spend a week tracking, just working on a song and throw the song away. It’s about exploring what’s happening.” I hated that. I didn’t understand it. Now I totally understand it and it’s worth it to put in that time and explore if you’re not satisfied.

Q: You’ve mentioned Kendrick Lamar, Bon Iver, The War on Drugs and Radiohead as some of your favorite artists. What links this field for you?

A: I think just anybody who’s pushing themselves. When I hear somebody who’s made an amazing record and the next record I hear is something different and challenging, I’m always inspired by that. I think they’re chasing the same thing that I’m chasing –– not counting yourself out and continuing to push forward and reinvent. It’s such a cool job because there is no ceiling to it. If you really care enough, there’s no telling what kind of records you could end up making. It’s about not being complacent. ... I don’t know if I’ll ever break up this band, but I might just take 10 years off if I’m not feeling it. It’ll be a shame to mess it up now, though. email: Brian.Evans@ubspectrum.com twitter: @BrianEvansSpec.

“RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET” - NOV. 21 Another sequel will grace the screen this month following the success of Disney’s “Wreck It Ralph.” This sequel jumps ahead six years after the original film. The plot looks into the expansion of the Internet and the addition of a wi-fi router to the arcade.

Although Disney is almost always a safe bet, the plot draws similarities to films like “The Emoji Movie.” The use of the Internet as a backdrop for an animated film has a lot of potential, so hopefully Disney will do a better job.

“IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK” - NOV. 30 Based on the James Baldwin novel, “If Beale Street Could Talk” is another strongly-cast film that showcases a strong female lead. The potential Oscar-bait follows the story of a pregnant African American woman who has to prove her husband innocent of a crime. The story looks into the implications of racism and the law.

The film comes at a very politicized time following the midterm elections.

“THE POSSESSION OF HANNAH GRACE” - NOV. 30 “The Possession of Hannah Grace” is the epitome of the weird-release-season within November.

The film releases right at the cusp of November and December, directly before the start of the Christmas season. It isn’t even a campy horror-Christmas film like “Krampus” or “Anna and the Apocalypse.” It’s just a horror film. The story follows a newly rehabilitated ex-cop who has to find work at the city Morgue. Spooky things ensue. email: samantha.vargas@ubspectrum.com twitter: @SamVargasArts

ubspectrum.com

SPORTS

Q&A with men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats can’t be satisfied with where we’ve been.

We’ve got to keep pushing the program to new heights.

THE SPECTRUM STOCK Nate Oats cuts down the net after winning the Mid-American Conference Championship. Oats is confident the Bulls can beat any team they play this year.

THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Nate Oats has gone from high school head coach, to assistant coach of Buffalo, to the 2018 Mid-American Conference coach of the year. Oats has seen players from Blake Hamilton to Wes Clark play for his team, but has a mostly familiar group for this season.

Oats became head coach of men’s basketball in 2015, the season following the program’s first Mid-American Conference Championship. Oats enters his fourth year as head coach with two conference championship seasons behind him during the position. Oats is now hoping to take the team to new heights following last year’s NCAA Tournament victory over the Arizona Wildcats.

Q: What do you think of your non-conference schedule and quality of ranked matchups?

A: I think we got some really good matchups. Syracuse is always an exciting game, really trying to test ourselves and earn those big wins. Now I’m just trying to

get these guys ready. I’m not just having them practice for St. Francis. We’ve got them preparing for all types of matchups. If it’s West Virginia, we get ready for their press. If we need to run a onethree-one zone or a man press, we go from practice-to-practice. We emulate as much as you can in practice, but you can only do so much with a talented team like Syracuse. And once you get in the game, at least with us, we teach our guys to be players. I don’t want them married to a structure that turns them into robots.

Q: What do you expect from your returning players?

What do they have to work on?

A: I think the biggest thing to work on is making sure they stay humble and their work ethic and their effort every day matches the goals that they have for the season. It’s not going to happen, you have to go make it happen. So I think if we get complacent at all, that’s going to be the biggest issue, so let’s stay aggressive and assertive. Let’s make sure we talked about three H’s: humble, healthy and hungry.

We’ve got to be hungry for more. [We]

Q: What do the freshmen, specifically Ronaldo Segu, bring to the team?

A: You look at the two freshmen we brought in, [Jeenathan Williams] and Ronaldo, those are two great talents right there. Both of their games are growing.

What’s nice with Rondo is that there is so much he can already do. He already has the passing mind you want in a guard. He can shoot the ball well. His shot already has a nice arc to it. We just got to make sure he can do all that in games. He isn’t in that college shape yet but he can play a whole game. He needs more of that size, more muscle to help with bigger opponents. He has the potential to be a great player here.

He is one of the most talented players I have coached while at Buffalo.

Q: Are you hoping for a better nonconference record or is the non-conference more for testing the team early?

A: We do want a better non-conference [record] than last year. We didn’t get any of those signature wins we were looking for. If we had some of those, we wouldn’t have needed to win the MAC Championship to get in the NCAA Tournament, we could have gotten an at-large bid. So even though we had a really good conference record, the biggest thing is we’re growing every day, getting better from game to game. If you’re not putting yourself against high-quality competition every game out in the offseason, you’re just not going to be where you need to be come conference play. So we would like to have a better non-conference, but still the biggest goal is to be playing our best basketball come March and [with] the non-con-

Monday, November 12, 2018 | 7 ference games being as tough as they are.

Q: Who do you feel will be the starting five and what are you looking for in terms of production from the starters?

A: In my time as a coach anywhere, I don’t think I have ever started the five best players. The referees sometimes establish themselves or you got to figure out how they’re going to call each game. Having quality and depth on the bench is always nice because it lets you score at any point.

It’s nice to be a starter. You get your name announced, you get to have a cheers when they announce your name in the starting lineup. The bottom line is, are you on a finishing team that closes the game when we need to win? At the end, that’s where you need to be, so I think the players understand that the fans look at who your starters are more than anyone else. So as it stands, I don’t think there is a set starting five yet.

Q: Do you feel expectations are close to what they were last year? Does the season feel different to you?

A: Expectations are higher than they have ever been. Coming off last year, more is expected from us then ever before. It’s where we want to be, we want people to expect to see more than just one tournament win. There are more eyes than ever on our program. Now we have a chance to do something historic for the program again. I think it helps when that is the expectation, to make more history because it gives the players pressure to thrive on.

Q: Is it a busy year for yourself outside of basketball?

A: At this point, I’m thinking about the team everyday. Still, it’s been great in the area so far. My girls are starting sports which is fun. I miss their games a lot during the season but they really like it up here. We moved into a new house over the summer too, so there is just a lot going on for me. Most of my time goes to the team once the season has started, but it has been good in Buffalo so far. email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com

Q&A with women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack THE SPECTRUM STOCK Felisha LegetteJack high fives her players at the bench. Legette-Jack believes her team has the depth for another successful season.

THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Felisha Legette-Jack has been a part of New York Division I basketball since 1984. From starting at Syracuse to now being head coach at UB, Legette-Jack’s experience has brought the program to NCAA-Tournament heights in her six seasons at Buffalo.

Legette-Jack made her intentions clear after last season’s Sweet Sixteen appearance. She wanted to get the program to the Elite Eight. Legette-Jack will have six freshmen on her mostly experienced team to contest for the MAC Championship and the Elite Eight spot that eluded them last season.

Q: What do you think of your non-conference schedule and quality of ranked matchups?

A: We are just staying focused on our next opponent. I know I sound like a cliché, but it’s who we are. I don’t need my players waiting for a matchup and forgetting another. We always practice to improve our style of play and to get ready for whichever team is in our sights. I don’t

study film for every team throughout the season. We stayed focused on the game we are playing, not others. We have some good opponents in the non-conference I am excited to play, but I don’t go marking my calendar for any specific game.

Q: What do you expect from your returning players?

What do they have to work on?

A: I think they all have specific areas they bring with them and need to improve on as a player. All of them know how to play in our style, it’s what they can do to grow as players that is going to make that better. For Brittany Morrison, that might be having her shot going down more consistently. For Cierra [Dillard], it could be working on passing or her leadership role.

I change from player to player, so it’s on us as coaches to learn from them and make them both great players and people.

Q: What do the freshmen bring to your team?

A: I think we added a lot of size in the paint and recruited a number of guards who can shoot or pass the ball. The Dick-

son sisters are both already so talented that we just need to get them in that college shape, then they can only go up. Oceane [Kounkou] has a very good shot already and is growing more and more. This recruiting class really added a lot of size we didn’t have before, so it will be exciting to see who will step up and become our regular center and power forward.

Q: Are you hoping for a better nonconference record or is the non-conference more for testing the team early?

A: We expect to win like we’ve done before. In the past, we have always done well in non-conference. I think these young ladies have the chance to come in and make a lot of noise and history early this season.

The only test there is to see if we have done our jobs as coaches.

Q: Who do you feel will be the starting five and what are you looking for in terms of production from the starters?

A: The starting five is bound to change this season. I want to give everyone the opportunity to play for the role, it isn’t my style to not play the whole team. You always have to see who has the desire to win. Players will start to pick up their game throughout the season, then you have to start moving players from their roles to accommodate. Everyone knows I play whoever is playing at that high level I see in my players. If you start producing at a rate better than a starter, then I will give you

the start. The team doesn’t compete for starts against each other, they earn them playing.

Q: Do you feel expectations are close to what they were last year? Does the season feel different to you?

A: Listen, I’ve been doing this for 30 years. If this felt new to me it would be an issue. We always set our expectations high and want to be better than we were last year. It isn’t all the same, but none of it is surprising. I have team expectations. What are we going to do in certain areas? How will we handle ourselves in certain situations? Even though the season is starting, it doesn’t change the mentality we had in the off-season. It think we are ready and it isn’t something that feels new or unique.

Q: Is it a busy year for yourself outside of basketball?

A: It’s always busy. In all my years coaching, I strive to find the balance for God, family and my job. It all feels like such a fluid motion now. This year doesn’t stand out from past ones, but it never does. We just need to stay focused [and] try to turn these young women into both great people and players. It will be an exciting year, so I am ready to see what we can do. email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com

8 | Monday, November 12, 2018

SPORTS

FROM PAGE 1

UPSET MORGANTOWN same.

Stop playing with my guy,” former guard Wes Clark wrote on Twitter. “Big time players show up in big time games. More to come.

Congrats [CJ Massinburg].”

True Blue members said they are still celebrating the win, with many fans claiming there is more to come.

“Huge win by the baddest boiz in the biz,” Kyle Yagielski, the unofficial Bulls mascot UB Naked Guy, wrote via text message. “Nate Oats going for coach of the year consideration, no doubt. A lot of people calling it an upset as well, but we actually went into the game expecting a win. We know how good our team is, even if the rest of the world doesn’t! This win puts us in big fat nationally ranked territory baby!”

Yagielski, a senior media studies major, said the win has only made the fanbase more excited for the season. True Blue vice president Brian Hebbard shared Yagielski’s sentiments and said he felt teams were underestimating Buffalo.

“Beating a team like West Virginia makes us all really excited for this season,” said Hebbard, a senior exercise science and athletic training major. “We’re all ready to show the rest of the country what Buffalo athletics are all about.”

Buffalo kept itself in the game through its offensive rebounding. The Bulls had 21 offensive rebounds leading to a 14-shot advantage.

COURTESY OF JEB LOWE Senior guard CJ Massinburg defends West Virginia’s Lamont West. Massinburg finished with a career-high 43 points and 9 three pointers.

Massinburg had seven offensive rebounds.

Massinburg was the only Bull to shoot the ball well. He finished 12-22 from the field and 9-15 on three pointers. Massinburg’s 43 points are the most scored by a Buffalo player ever in a road game. The nine threes rank third for a single game.

After junior guard Davonta Jordan missed a three with 20 seconds remaining, Massinburg knew he had to take the next shot. Oats called a second consecutive play for Massinburg and, despite being 35 feet away from the hoop, he shot the ball the second it was in his hands.

“That was a great teammate move but the next one I got to shoot it,” Massinburg said.

“I gave it to [Nick] Perkins and I immediately called for it back. It was going up.”

The win marked the second time in four games Buffalo defeated a nationally ranked opponent. The last time was a 89-68 victory against No. 15 Arizona during the NCAA tournament.

Oats’ preparation was key to Friday’s victory. Oats is a former high school math teacher who taught statistics labs while getting his masters.

Oats had an analytics day with the team and wanted them to tell him what they thought was bad last season. One stat that stuck out was they did not force enough turnovers.

“We didn’t want to do it by gambling and getting out of position,” Oats said. “We got to get a little longer in the gaps, a little more ball pressure, do a better job at shrinking the floor when teams try to drive.”

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It also helps that the Bulls have former Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year, senior guard Dontay Caruthers, and Jordan who was on the all-MAC defensive team last season.

Buffalo had to eliminate its own turnovers.

The Bulls had six turnovers in the first seven minutes of the game.

They finished with 11 total.

“They beat us at our own game,” West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said. “We generally force more turnovers than we commit.

They got us 19-11 there. We are, generally, one of the premier rebounding teams in the country and they got us there.”

Buffalo has yet to shoot well in a game this season but Oats knows his guys will start knocking them down. Oats does not care if his players are five seconds or 25 seconds into the shot clock, if they are open he wants them to shoot it.

This rings especially true for senior forward Jeremy Harris who is shooting 3 of 20 from behind the arc this season.

The Bulls still have a long way to go this season to return to the NCAA Tournament.

They face matchups against Syracuse and Marquette in December. But for now, Buffalo can celebrate until it takes on Southern Illinois (0-1) Monday. *Thomas Zafonte contributed to this story email: nathaniel.mendelson@ubspectrum.com twitter: @NateMendelson

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Following the greatest Cierra Dillard discusses season expectations, where her style of play comes from THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Cierra Dillard remembers watching LeBron James when she was young and being amazed. She saw not only the best player on the court, but one that made the whole team look good. She saw a player who didn’t just drop 30 points, but also threatened a double-double with either assists or rebounds.

Now at 22, Dillard finds herself in a similar key playmaker role James thrives on: as the star point guard for the women’s basketball team.

Dillard and the Bulls are coming off a historic season, having set the program’s win record at 29 and making it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.

Dillard made national headlines with her performance in the NCAA Tournament, where her three-point scoring ability was on full display in the program’s first two tournament wins.

Now, she said she is focused on making her final season at UB even more historic then last year.

“I am just so grateful to be here at UB,” Dillard said. “You don’t know where life will lead you and just being from Rochester makes this situation that much better. I really want to make my last season at UB something special.”

Dillard has already scored 27 points in the first game of the season. Dillard was the top scorer last season at 16.2 points per game and is already on pace to outscore herself this season.

JACK LI | THE SPECTRUM Senior guard Cierra Dillard shoots a floater over a Delaware defender. Dillard strives to emulate LeBron James in her playstyle.

She said she is in the best shape of her life and focused on working out throughout the summer. She said the YMCA was her training center away from Buffalo and has always used the community gym as a practice space since she was young. Dillard credited her family for their support on and off the court.

Dillard was the top scorer at UMass Amherst in her sophomore season before transfering to UB. Dillard was UB’s second-best passer last season, averaging 5.2 assists per game.

“She going to be better than fine,” said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. “Cierra is one of those players I don’t even worry about. I shouldn’t say it like that, but she has her shot so tuned in and can be that leader on the floor. Players like her are the ones you trust completely as a coach.”

Growing up in Western New York, Dillard was not concerned with scoring in her early days. Dillard said she was a pass-first

player for years, before one day finding her touch behind the arc.

“It wasn’t until I got into my junior year of high school that I shot a three,” Dillard said. “It’s funny, I talk about it with my old coach a lot. Before then, I would have never have tried to score much outside the paint. Once I started shooting, it didn’t take too long to get my range down.”

Once Dillard had her lethal three shot, she would “emulate” LeBron by spreading the ball on the floor. Dillard could find the open shooter once teams over-committed to stopping her three shot.

Dillard was recruited heavily after high school and was initially approached by Buffalo. Dillard signed with UMass but remembered Legette-Jack saying “I’d see you again.”

She transferred to UB two years later.

Dillard has been the star scorer for Buffalo since March when she closed out last season by scoring over 15 points in six-

Holes in the wall Senior forward Nick Perkins learning to mature NATHANIEL MENDELSON SPORTS EDITOR

For most high schoolers, the idea of having to share a room with someone can be daunting. For Nick Perkins, having just one roommate is a relief.

The senior forward grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan with seven siblings. He has three brothers and four sisters. Perkins is the middle child, a position in families that is often overlooked.

Perkins is also overlooked on the court. He has started just 32 of his 105 career games.

Last season, Perkins started 10 games only because of Ikenna Smart’s injury.

In his time coming off the bench, he has won the Mid-American Conference Six Man of the Year award twice. He was the first to ever do so.

Perkins never would have won those awards if not for his change in maturity.

“I think my whole life I have been overlooked. It’s something I’m used to,” Perkins said. “It’s not something that overwhelms me. It’s something I take pride in, it drives me to be better and better every year.”

Entering his final season, Perkins will not be the starter again.

Perkins has done everything the coaches have asked of him and been better than most expected him to be. Despite that, senior forward Montell McRae started at center in each of the Bulls opening two games.

During his freshman year, Perkins would not have been able to understand the decision made. He said was goofy, immature and not ready to handle his emotions on his own.

Even now, Perkins still has his flare ups.

Practices are ultra-competitive, according to head coach Nate Oats and occasionally Perkins will have to deal with his anger.

“We had to Nick was the call him out, he seventh child needed to grow and by that time up,” Oats said. his mother had “He needed to already seen it take life seriall. There was ously and take nothing she the game sericouldn’t handle ous. The game at that point, accan give back a cording to Perlot to Nick. He kins. has a body that Perkins admost people in mits to not bethe world don’t ing the best have to play this child and says game. If you rethe worst thing alize you respect he ever did was the game and start throwtake the game ing plates and seriously, the put holes in the game is going to walls at home.

JACK LI | THE SPECTRUM turn around and “I didn’t grow Senior forward Nick Perkins posts up a Canisius player.

Perkins needed to learn to help you out a up in the housecontrol his emotions on and off the court to lot.” hold with the become the player he is today.

By ninth most money,” grade, Nick was Perkins said.

6-foot-7 “But when I Perkins is officially listed at 6 feet 8 inches found basketball I was able to get my mind tall and 250 pounds. In the past year, he has off of what was going on at home. Basketworked on cutting weight and turning it into ball really saved me.” more muscle.

Perkins was good enough to get multiple The only problem with being that tall so scholarship offers out of high school. He ulyoung, is Perkins did not understand his size. timately decided on Buffalo over his homeHe was a known troublemaker in middle town school of Eastern Michigan because school. He was ineligible to play basketball he felt he had to grow as a person. during the sixth and seventh grades because Perkins roomed with senior guard CJ of maturity issues.

Massinburg their freshman year. Perkins reThis led to difficulty at home. fers to him as an “old man” and claims he Perkins was frustrated, basketball was his hasn’t changed since their first year together. outlet and without it, he wasn’t sure what to The competitive spirit and fighting attido. He and his brothers would get in fights. tude was apparent in Perkins’ first two years.

Occasionally, they would punch holes in the Perkins wore number 34 in high school wall. and wanted to continue wearing the number “That’s where I learned how to throw in college. these hands,” Perkins joked.

Unfortunately for him, Smart was already

straight games. Her career performance came with the 36 points and 6 rebounds she had against Southern Florida.

“Cierra and the rest of the older players were very inviting when I got here,” said freshman guard Oceane Konokou.

“She is such a talented player,but she gets you playing at a higher level. All the experienced players help and everything comes easier with her on the court.”

Dillard said she tries to be a leader to help spearhead the team as its lead scorer and as a senior. The role was a natural fit, as she was an active voice in practice already, according to Dillard. Legette-Jack said Dillard was a consistent scoring option for the team was a “pillar” of the team as a guard.

“We don’t have Cierra going on a slow start this year,” Legette-Jack said. “She is ready, I think a lot of the team is ready to get the season started. Cierra is a special player who I see doing great things as both a player and a young woman.”

Dillard started last season on an offshooting note, shooting 50 percent or less in her first five games. Legette-Jack said last season that she was finding her shot early, something that would prove true come MAC season. Dillard shot 11-of-14 and 5-of-6 from deep in this season’s exhibition game against Bloomsburg.

“I’ve been working all summer and now I just want to get out and play,” Dillard said. “LeBron is trying to figure things out on the [Los Angeles] Lakers right now and that is what we are doing in Buffalo. We got talent, now we just need to come together and play our basketball. I love this team, coach Jack is like a second mother and I want to get out their and play for them again.” email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com twitter: @Thomas_Spectrum

wearing it. He challenged Smart to a one-onone game for the number, but Smart never took it. He was scared, Perkins said.

Even while just relaxing, Perkins would walk up with his hands up, ready to play fight, Massinburg reminisced. The two did everything together and Perkins made him a lot tougher.

“He’s always been hard on me, always been physical with me,” Massinburg said.

“We still have the same friendship, still have each other’s back. [He’s] been there when nobody else was there.”

Massinburg and Perkins have accomplished more for the Buffalo men’s basketball program than anyone else in school history. They already have two MAC Championships and an NCAA-tournament win to their resume.

None of it would have been possible if Perkins did not grow up.

“He’s emotional and a little immature, a few anger management issues in practice, in the games too to be honest with you,” Oats said. “I don’t think he’s a bad kid, he’s someone who has had to go through a few things.

He’s been getting counseling and help on how to get his emotions more in check.”

Still, Perkins has a desire to be in the starting lineup.

“The six man role is good but you do have to be like, ‘Man, when am I going to finally get my break,’” Perkins said.

All Perkins wanted to do was make the biggest impact he could his freshman year.

Three years later, he knows that basketball is less about his own stats. With the seniors that Buffalo has, Perkins is happy to sacrifice for the betterment of the team.

Perkins name won’t be in the starting lineup announcements this year. It’s not the situation he thought he would end up in, but he knows it’s where he belongs.

“He’s always genuine,” Oats said. “He’s a smart kid that’s able to understand what you’re trying to tell him. He usually initiates conversations when they have to be had or any type of issue. He’s a mature kid now who has grown up a lot and I’m excited to see where it takes him.” email: nathaniel.mendelson@ubspectrum.com twitter: @NateMendelson