locker room
Next article

Leading the Charge

UB’s basketball teams brought national attention to Buffalo with superb seasons

CJ Massinburg during a game at Alumni Arena against Kent State.

Massive attack: Bulls guard CJ Massinburg takes the rock to the rim at Alumni Arena. Photo: Paul Hokanson

By David J. Hill

Print

The electricity was palpable inside Alumni Arena this winter as the UB men’s and women’s basketball teams posted record-setting seasons, generating some pulse-pounding MACtion.

As of press time, both teams were the hottest in the MAC heading into their respective conference tournaments. Felisha Legette-Jack’s women’s team was eyeing its second trip to the NCAA Tournament in three years, while Nate Oats’ men’s team was poised to advance to the Big Dance for the third time in four years.

The arena buzzed with excitement as fans filled the stands to check out two of the area’s best college basketball teams. But the Bulls’ success also garnered attention around the country. For the first time in Legette-Jack’s tenure at UB, the Bulls received votes in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi projected UB to be a 13-seed in the men’s tourney.

Here's a look at one impact player from each squad, along with a few regular-season highlights.

Go behind the scenes of #UBDancing

Men’s Highlights:

Nov. 29: Buffalo ties a school record for points in a road game with a 106-87 victory over Big 4 rival Niagara. It’s also the first time in UB’s Division I history that three players score more than 20 points in the same game.

Dec. 28: Senior Wes Clark, who transferred to UB from Missouri, leads the Bulls with 27 points as UB closes out its nonconference schedule with an 86-81 overtime win over New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Jan. 16: Junior Nick Perkins pours in 26 points and UB cruises past Northern Illinois, 95-67. The win marks the first time the Bulls begin 5-0 in the MAC and ties their best-ever start to conference play; UB went 5-0 in 1997-98, when it was a member of the Mid-Continent Conference.

Feb. 27: The Bulls overpower Akron with an 80-68 victory, clinching the top seed in the MAC Tournament for the first time in program history. It was also the Bulls’ 14th conference win, a new program record. The “W” earns UB a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament and an automatic NIT bid if they don’t make the NCAAs.

March 3: The Bulls claim their first outright MAC regular-season title after beating Bowling Green, 100-70. The win ties the school record for regular-season victories (23).

Men's Player Profile

CJ Massinburg.

CJ MASSINBURG

HEIGHT: 6-3
YEAR: Junior
HOMETOWN: Dallas, Texas
POSITION: Guard
MAJOR: Sociology

Amassin’ Points: Massinburg, a scoring machine for the Bulls, became the 20th player in UB history—and seventh fastest—to reach 1,000 career points. National media took notice of the All-MAC guard’s explosive output, with CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein tweeting that “Nate Oats and Buffalo have a stud in CJ Massinburg.”

MAC Championship game

Photos: Paul Hokanson

NCAA Tournament First-Round Game vs. Arizona

Photos: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

Women’s Highlights:

Watch Video

UB's Felisha Legette-Jack is leading Buffalo women's basketball on and off the court.

Nov. 24: UB clobbers ACC member Clemson, 61-41, in the San Juan Shootout in Daytona Beach, Fla. With the win, the Bulls start the season 4-0 for the third straight year.

Dec. 30: Felisha Legette- Jack notches her 100th career victory as head coach at UB when the Bulls open MAC play with an 89-66 victory over Akron.

Jan. 20: Senior Stephanie Reid surpasses Catherine Jacobs as UB’s all-time leader in career assists as the Bulls defeat defending MAC champion Toledo, 87-69.

Feb. 24: Sophomore Summer Hemphill sets a UB Division I record by snagging 23 rebounds in a 70-53 win over Ohio.

March 3: The Bulls blast Bowling Green, 74-38, to cap a regular season in which they set program records for MAC (16) and overall (25) wins, and earn the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.

Women's Player Profile

Cierra Dillard.

CIERRA DILLARD

HEIGHT: 5-9
YEAR: Junior
HOMETOWN: Rochester, N.Y.
POSITION: Guard
MAJOR: Communication

Dilly Dilly: A transfer from the University of Massachusetts, Dillard made an immediate impact in her first season with the Bulls. She led the team with 14.5 points per game and finished second in the MAC in steals, averaging nearly 3 per game. Dillard put up a career-best 30 points in UB’s regular-season win over defending MAC champion Toledo.

NCAA Tournament First-Round Game vs. South Florida

The UB Bulls gather on the court prior to the start of their game against South Florida in the NCAA basketball tournament in Tallahassee, Florida, on March 17.

 The UB Bulls gather on the court prior to the start of their game against South Florida in the NCAA basketball tournament in Tallahassee, Florida, on March 17.

Bulls forward Summer Hemphill is introduced prior to the start of the game.

 Bulls forward Summer Hemphill is introduced prior to the start of the game.

The Bulls are in the spotlight as player introductions begin.

 The Bulls are in the spotlight as player introductions begin.

Junior guard Cierra Dillard (center) celebrates making a three-point shot with senior guard Stephanie Reid (left) as senior guard Katherine Ups joins in during the first half of the game against South Florida.

 Junior guard Cierra Dillard (center) celebrates making a three-point shot with senior guard Stephanie Reid (left) as senior guard Katherine Ups joins in during the first half of the game against South Florida.

Cierra Dillard (#24) celebrates making a three-point shot.

 Cierra Dillard (#24) celebrates making a three-point shot.

UB Coach Felisha Legette-Jack directs her team during first-half action.

 UB Coach Felisha Legette-Jack directs her team during first-half action.

UB senior guard Katherine Ups blocks the shot of South Florida forward Maria Jespersen.

 UB senior guard Katherine Ups blocks the shot of South Florida forward Maria Jespersen.

Katherine Ups steals the ball in second-half action.

 Katherine Ups steals the ball in second-half action.

UB center Cassie Oursler (#31) and the rest of the team celebrate a three-point shot.

 UB center Cassie Oursler (#31) and the rest of the team celebrate a three-point shot.

The Bulls hold a conference in front of their fans in the second half of the game against South Florida.

 The Bulls hold a conference in front of their fans in the second half of the game against South Florida.

Junior guard Cierra Dillard shoots free throws.

 Junior guard Cierra Dillard shoots free throws.

UB guard Ayolek Sodade (center) celebrates the Bulls' 102-79 victory over the South Florida Bulls in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

 UB guard Ayolek Sodade (center) celebrates the Bulls' 102-79 victory over the South Florida Bulls in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

It's "horns up" for Coach Felisha Legette-Jack as she leaves the court after her team's 102-79 victory over the South Florida Bulls.

 It's "horns up" for Coach Felisha Legette-Jack as she leaves the court after her team's 102-79 victory over the South Florida Bulls.

Junior forward Courtney Wilkins (left), who scored a career-high 23 points off the bench, and senior guard Stephanie Reid talk to the press after the game.

 Junior forward Courtney Wilkins (left), who scored a career-high 23 points off the bench, and senior guard Stephanie Reid talk to the press after the game.

Coach Felisha Legette-Jack tears up during the press conference. The Bulls will take on Florida State in second-round action.

 Coach Felisha Legette-Jack tears up during the press conference. The Bulls will take on Florida State in second-round action.
Slideshow
previous next
of change view fullscreen

Photos: Mark Wallheiser

NCAA Tournament Second-Round Game vs. Florida State

Freshman guard Hanna Hall leads the Bulls onto the court for their second-round game against Florida State.

 Freshman guard Hanna Hall leads the Bulls onto the court for their second-round game against Florida State.

The Tallahassee Boys Choir sings the national anthem prior to the start of the game.

 The Tallahassee Boys Choir sings the national anthem prior to the start of the game.

Florida State center Ama Degbeon and UB guard Katherine Ups battle for a rebound.

 Florida State center Ama Degbeon and UB guard Katherine Ups battle for a rebound.

UB forward Summer Hemphill (right) and center Cassie Oursler trap Florida State center Ama Degbeon under the basket.

 UB forward Summer Hemphill (right) and center Cassie Oursler trap Florida State center Ama Degbeon under the basket.

UB forward Summer Hemphill (left) and guard Cierra Dillard battle Florida State center Chatrice White for a rebound.

 UB forward Summer Hemphill (left) and guard Cierra Dillard battle Florida State center Chatrice White for a rebound.

The teams watch a loose ball bounce in first-half action.

 The teams watch a loose ball bounce in first-half action.

UB guard Katherine Ups (right) congratulates center Cassie Oursler after Oursler hit a shot.

 UB guard Katherine Ups (right) congratulates center Cassie Oursler after Oursler hit a shot.

UB guard Stephanie Reid (center) passes off for the assist as she's triple-teamed by Florida State.

 UB guard Stephanie Reid (center) passes off for the assist as she's triple-teamed by Florida State.

UB guard Stephanie Reid (right) and teammates react to a shot in the second half.

 UB guard Stephanie Reid (right) and teammates react to a shot in the second half.

UB guard Stephanie Reid leaves several Florida State players in her wake as she heads toward the UB basket.

 UB guard Stephanie Reid leaves several Florida State players in her wake as she heads toward the UB basket.

The Bulls' bench erupts as time runs out in the second-round NCAA tournament game in Tallahassee.

 The Bulls' bench erupts as time runs out in the second-round NCAA tournament game in Tallahassee.

UB guard Stephanie Reid (center) and the rest of the team celebrate their upset of Florida State, 86-65, on Florida State's home court.

 UB guard Stephanie Reid (center) and the rest of the team celebrate their upset of Florida State, 86-65, on Florida State's home court.

Bulls head coach Felisha Legette-Jack (center) is surrounded by jubilant players after defeating Florida State, 86-65, on its home court.

 Bulls head coach Felisha Legette-Jack (center) is surrounded by jubilant players after defeating Florida State, 86-65, on its home court.

Victory is sweet for Bulls head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and junior guard Cierra Dillard.

 Victory is sweet for Bulls head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and junior guard Cierra Dillard.

UB guard Katherine Ups and coach Felisha Legette-Jack both wipe their eyes at mid-court after celebrating their win over Florida State.

 UB guard Katherine Ups and coach Felisha Legette-Jack both wipe their eyes at mid-court after celebrating their win over Florida State.
Slideshow
previous next
of change view fullscreen

Photos: Mark Wallheiser

Next article