Game 17: vs. Buffalo (11-5, 3-1)
The Bulls ride into Oxford on a 3 game winning streak, winning at Akron and at home over OU and Kent after opening MAC play with a disappointing loss at BG. Buffalo has been buoyed by their win over Temple, their Rainbow Classic Championship, and competitive losses against Siena and UConn. Coach Reggie Witherspoon has taken his team to the next level, putting them into contention for a MAC Championship. The combination of basically everyone coming back from last year, plus two freshmen frontcourt players contributing immediately have helped Buffalo ascend to the top of the East. One could even say it started at the end of last year when Buffalo pushed us to the brink in the 1st round of the MAC Tournament. The Bulls are for real and it's because they have become coachable and play with a consistent intensity that hasn't been there before.
Probable Starters
Andy Robinson, 6'1" 190 Sr. 8 pts, 3 reb. 39% FG, 29% 3PFG, 67% FT. Numbers are down from last year, but he's also getting more help from everyone. Likes to pull up in transition and hit the 15-footer. Have to be wary defensively, has quick hands, which has given him the team lead in steals.
Rodney Pierce, 6'2" 195 Jr. 15 pts, 4 reb. 39% FG, 35% 3PFG, 85% FT. Has turned into a very good offensive player. Can step back and hit the 3 if you give him space. If you guard him tightly, he can take you right or left off the dribble and finish strong at the basket. Also can get some air time when slashing to the basket. Very good at working along the baseline.
Greg Gamble, 6'4" 200 Sr. 10 pts, 5 reb, 3 ass. 43% FG, 38% 3PFG, 67% FT. The main playmaker on the perimeter, uses his athleticism to create offensively for himself or for his teammates. Very good off the pick and roll because he's quick and makes good decisions. He can hit the mid-range pull up, get to the basket or drive and kick. When he kicks the ball out for an open shot, he stays to crash the offensive glass, which he's very good at.
Titus Robinson, 6'7" 190 Fr. 4 pts, 2 reb. 56% FG, 53% FT. Athletic freshman who's very long and good at slashing to the basket. 6'7" 190 seems slight, but he can finish strong around the basket.
Mitchell Watt, 6'9" 210 Fr. 3 pts, 2 reb. 39% FG, 47% FT. Another athletic, long freshman who can finish around the basket.
Off the Bench
Vadim Fedotov, 6'9" 260 Sr. 5 pts, 2 reb. 53% FG, 82% FT. Gotten a lot bigger and plays much stronger around the basket. Good at finding open spots after rolling to the basket after screens.
Max Boudreau, 6'7" 230 Jr. 4 pts, 3 reb. 45% FG, 67% FT. Probably UB's best inside player offensively. Can post up and finish at the basket. Also very capable of hitting the spot-up jumper. Underrated passer at the high post.
Jawaan Alston, 6'8" 220 So. 3 pts, 3 reb. 48% FG, 24% FT. Another long, athletic UB post player who can slash to the basket. If he can't dropstep to the basket, he goes to the baby hook. Make him go left.
Sean Smiley, 6'1" 165 Jr. 3 pts, 2 reb. 35% FG, 39% 3PFG. Shooter off the bench and has deep range. Can't help off of him.
John Boyer, 6'1" 185 Jr. 2 pts, 2 reb. 23% FG, 18% 3PFG, 67% FT. Numbers-wise, doesn't look like much of a player, but he came out of nowhere last year in the MAC Tournament and drained 3 triples. Does a good job of running the point off the bench, nothing fancy.
Offensively, Buffalo plays fast, in transition and half-court situations. In transition, UB runs your basic high school formation, push the ball to the corner and look at the big inside. If the big isn't open, the ball is reversed to the opposite wing with either the inside big flashing to the opposite block, or the trailing big reverses and comes over to set a screen for the wing (Gamble or Pierce). If nothing presents itself after the ball reversal, UB gets right into their continuity offense because they're already in position to do so. They don't pull the ball out to set up the offense, which doesn't give the defense a time to get set. UB plays a 4 out, 1 in offense, but it's different than the dribble/drive offense. On ball movement, if the guard cuts, they look for the pass and go through to the other side. If the big decides to cut, they cut and post hard until the ball is reversed through the big out high. What makes this tough to defend is that UB's bigs do a great job of making themselves available to catch the ball. They get wide in the post and do a great job of sealing off the defender wherever the ball is. It is hard for a post defender to maintain denial position as the ball is reversed, which UB takes advantage of with high-low action from the top of the key. If the big doesn't cut, they go ball side and set a screen and roll to the bucket. The roller isn't open much, but what opens up is the big that was low comes out and over to set another screen, in which the 2nd screener slips to the basket, a la Kansas. The slipper is usually open because they do a great job of executing it quickly, not giving the weakside help a chance to rotate over. One set play UB likes to run is a double stack on each side with the wings on one side and the bigs on the other. A wing pops out as the low wing uses the double screen set by the bigs on the other side. If the wing is open coming off the double screen, the ball will go there, but what opens up then is one big flashing into the lane for a 6-footer. If the flash cut isn't open, the ball is reversed and the big who didn't flash is posting up. One of those 3 options is usually open. What makes UB tough to guard is that they play fast. There is no wasteful dribbling or fiddling around with the ball out top, the ball and players are constantly moving.
Defensively, UB puts a lot of pressure on the ball. All of their perimeter players move their feet well and have quick hands. One change from the past is UB doesn't get out into the passing lanes as they used to. They'll certainly challenge passing lanes with basic help-denial, but UB plays very good helpside defense, which is something you could rarely say about them. Their bigs will half-deny the post, but are content to play behind because of their length. They'll play solid, straight up defense inside, contest shots, then explode for the rebound. UB is in the top 50 in offensive and defensive rebounding nationally, which gives an indication of how hard they crash the boards. UB will pick up full court a lot, which is what I expect them to do against us.
UB has a multi-pronged inside attack. No one has great individual numbers, but when you put them all together, they add up to be significant. When they need a big play, they go to Pierce and Gamble. And their offensive scheme is hard to defend because they play fast for 40 minutes due to the liberal use of their bench. Where they can get into trouble is if they start playing too fast. That's when they'll drive to the basket out of control, take bad shots, and turn the ball over more. Also, if you're able to put some pressure on them, they panic and don't run their offense. UB wants to move the ball around and create space so if you can make them a 1on5 team, you'll be able to defend them better. Defensively, if you can handle their guards, you can handle their defense. UB will let you run your offense, but they won't necessarily give you the shots you're accustomed to taking.
So, offensively, our guards have to be aggressive and get to the rim, not always settling for jump shots. Defensively, ball pressure, communication on their offense, and rebounding are the big keys. Buffalo is the best MAC team I've scouted thus far, it's going to take a great effort to beat them.
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