Buffalo Bulls men's basketball#Honored jerseys
{{Short description|Men's college basketball team}}
{{Infobox CBB Team
|name = Buffalo Bulls men's basketball
|logo = Buffalo athletics wordmark 2016.png
|logo_size = 200
|current = 2024–25 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team
|university = University at Buffalo
|conference = Mid-American
|record = 683–641 ({{Winpct|683|641}})
|location = Buffalo, New York
|coach = George Halcovage
|tenure = 2nd
|arena = Alumni Arena
|capacity = 6,783
|nickname = Bulls
|bestfinish = 8
|NCAAchampion =
|NCAAfinalfour =
|NCAAeliteeight=1957*
|NCAAsweetsixteen=1957*, 1965*
|NCAAroundof32 = 2018, 2019
|NCAAtourneys = 1957*, 1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1963*, 1965*, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
|conference_tournament = 1982, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
|conference_season = 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019
|division_season = 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021
|h_body= 005BBB
|h_pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite
|h_shorts= 005BBB
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|a_body= 005BBB
|a_pattern_b=_thinwhitesides
|a_shorts= 005BBB
|a_pattern_s=_thinwhitesides
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}}
The Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represents the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, United States. The team currently competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division. Buffalo began play in 1915 and joined the MAC in 1998. They won their first MAC East Division title in 2009, and won a third MAC East Division title in 2015 along with their first outright MAC Regular-Season championship and first MAC Tournament title to earn the program's first bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The Bulls also have six appearances in the NCAA College Division Basketball Championship between 1957 and 1965 and two appearances in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their head coach position was filled on March 30, 2023 when Buffalo hired Villanova associate head coach George Halcovage.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=UB hires basketball coach George Halcovage from Villanova |url=https://www.wivb.com/sports/university-at-buffalo-bulls-college-sports/ub-hires-basketball-coach-george-halcovage-from-villanova/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=WVIB |language=en-US|author=Jonah Bronstein}}
Conference affiliations
- 1915–16 to 1942–43 – Independent
- 1943–44 to 1944–45 –
- 1945–46 to 1977–78 – Independent
- 1978–79 to 1987–88 – State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC)
- 1988–89 to 1990–91 – Mid American Conference
- 1991–92 to 1993–94 – East Coast Conference
- 1994–95 to 1997–98 – Mid-Continent Conference (Mid-Con)
- 1998–99 to present – Mid-American Conference
Postseason
=NCAA Division I tournament=
The Bulls have appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament four times. Their combined record is 2–4.
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Buffalo Bulls|Year|Seed|Round|Opponent|Result}} | ||||
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| 2015 | #12 | First round | #5 West Virginia | L 62–68 |
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| 2016 | #14 | First round | #3 Miami | L 72–79 |
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| 2018 | #13 | First round Second Round | #4 Arizona #5 Kentucky | W 89–68 L 75–95 |
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| 2019 | #6 | First round Second Round | #11 Arizona State #3 Texas Tech | W 91–74 L 58–78 |
=NCAA Division II Tournament results=
The Bulls have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament six times. Their combined record is 5–8.
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Buffalo Bulls|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} | |||
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| 1957 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Capital Evansville Kentucky Wesleyan | W 75–64 W 77–75 L 68–72 |
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| 1958 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | American Wagner | L 60–77 L 65–72 |
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| 1959 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | Saint Michael's Williams | L 51–53 W 78–53 |
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| 1960 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | Wabash Arkansas State | L 65–76 W 53–52 |
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| 1963 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | South Carolina State Youngstown State | L 63–80 L 53–65 |
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| 1965 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Randolph-Macon Akron | W 81–69 L 58–69 |
=NIT results=
The Bulls have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) two times. Their record is 1–2.
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Buffalo Bulls|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} | |||
2005 | Opening Round First round | Drexel Saint Joseph's | W 81–76 L 50–55 |
2021 | First round | Colorado State | L 73–75 |
Alumni Arena
File:Victor E. Bull, November 5, 2013.jpg, Buffalo Bulls Mascot, November 5, 2013]]
The Buffalo Bulls play their home games at Alumni Arena, located in Amherst, New York. The arena seats 6,100 spectators and features a state of the art video-board, sound, and lighting systems.
Notable former players
=NBA players=
Two former Bulls have played in the National Basketball Association (NBA):
- Sam Pellom: Played for the Atlanta Hawks (1979–82) & Milwaukee Bucks (1982–83)
- Jeenathan Williams: Debuted for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023
=Other notable alumni=
- Turner Battle, MAC Player of the Year (2005), former Bulls assistant coach, athletic director of The Park School of Buffalo
- Wes Clark, 2022 TBT Champion
- Modie Cox
- Shannon Evans
- Blake Hamilton, 2022 TBT Champion
- Jeremy Harris, 2022 TBT Champion
- Yassin Idbihi, former professional player, 3× Bundesliga champion and 2× All-Star
- C.J. Massinburg, 2022 TBT Champion & MVP
- Javon McCrea, MAC Player of the Year (2014), basketball player for Buffalo eXtreme of the American Basketball Association
- Justin Moss
- Nick Perkins, 2022 TBT Champion
- Jarryn Skeete
- Mitchell Watt, basketball player for Ironi Nes Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Super League
Retired numbers
{{main|List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers}}
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! colspan=6 style= {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Buffalo Bulls}} |Buffalo Bulls retired numbers | |||
style= {{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Buffalo Bulls}} width=40px| No.
! style= {{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Buffalo Bulls}} width=150px| Player ! style= {{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Buffalo Bulls}} width=100px| Tenure ! style= {{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Buffalo Bulls}} width= px| Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|
{{center|13}} | Jim Horne | 1970–73 | [https://library.buffalo.edu/ub-sports/mens-sports/basketball/1954-1955-buffalo-bulls-basketball/ 1954-1955 Buffalo Bulls Basketball] by Scott Hollander at University at Buffalo Libraries |
{{center|19}} | Harold Kuhn | 1951–55 | |
{{center|50}} | Sam Pellom | 1949–52 | |
{{center|52}} | Curtis Blackmore | 1970–1973 | [https://issuu.com/buffalobulls/docs/buffalo_1819mediaguide 2018-19 Buffalo men's basketball media guide], p. 94–95 |
Honored jerseys
Jerseys were retired but the numbers remain available:
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team= Buffalo Bulls|No. | Player | Tenure | Ref.}} | |||
{{center|11}} | Rasaun Young | 1993–98 | [https://web.archive.org/web/20190324134122/http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190228hxvc8l Bulls to Honor Former Standout Rasaun Young on March 8], 28 Feb 2019 at UBBull.com (archived) |
{{center|11}} | Turner Battle | 2001–05 | {{cite web | last=Buffalo | first=University at | title=UB to Honor Former Standout Turner Battle on Feb. 17 | website=University at Buffalo | date=January 6, 2024 | url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2024/1/6/mens-basketball-ub-to-honor-former-standout-turner-battle-on-feb-17.aspx | access-date=January 7, 2024}} |
All-Americans
The following Buffalo players were named NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans:
- Turner Battle – 2005 (AP Honorable Mention){{cite web|date=March 22, 2005|title=Hamilton Earns Honorable Mention All-America Honors|url=http://goholycross.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/041205aaa.html|website=GoHolyCross.com|publisher=College of the Holy Cross|access-date=16 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150416193944/http://goholycross.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/041205aaa.html|archive-date=16 April 2015}}
- Mitchell Watt – 2012 (AP Honorable Mention){{cite web|date=March 26, 2012|title=Mitchell Watt Earns AP All-America Honorable Mention Honors|url=http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/20120326jdd7s1|website=UBBulls.com|publisher=University at Buffalo Athletics|access-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417000554/http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/20120326jdd7s1|archive-date=17 April 2015|url-status=dead}}
- Javon McCrea – 2014 (AP Honorable Mention){{cite web|date=March 31, 2014|title=Javon McCrea Named AP All-America Honorable Mention|url=http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20140331781vyo|website=UBBulls.com|publisher=University at Buffalo Athletics|access-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416220533/http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20140331781vyo|archive-date=16 April 2015|url-status=dead}}
- Justin Moss – 2015 (AP Honorable Mention){{cite web|date=March 30, 2015|title=Justin Moss Named AP All-America Honorable Mention|url=http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/20150330ykpveq|website=UBBulls.com|publisher=University at Buffalo Athletics|access-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416220003/http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/20150330ykpveq|archive-date=16 April 2015|url-status=dead}}
- C. J. Massinburg – 2019 (AP Honorable Mention){{cite web|date=April 2, 2019|title=Duke freshmen Williamson, Barrett top AP All-America team|url=http://apnews.com/f8c39394a4154829941deea4b257b225|website=APNews.com|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=2 April 2019}}
Academic All-Americans
The following Buffalo players were named Academic All-Americans:
- Turner Battle – 2005
Mid-American Conference award recipients
=[[Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|Player of the Year]]=
- Turner Battle – 2005{{cite web|title=2014 MAC Record Book|url=http://www.mac-sports.com/documents/2015/3/5/2014MACRecordBook.pdf|website=MAC-Sports.com|publisher=Mid-American Conference|access-date=16 April 2015}}
- Mitchell Watt – 2012
- Javon McCrea – 2014
- Justin Moss – 2015{{cite web|date=March 11, 2015|title=Justin Moss Named MAC Player Of The Year|url=http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/20150311rap5ks|website=UBBulls.com|publisher=University at Buffalo Athletics|access-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311012143/http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/20150311rap5ks|archive-date=11 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
- C. J. Massinburg – 2019{{cite web|date=March 13, 2019|title=Buffalo's Oats, Massinburg Earn Top MAC Honors|url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2019/3/13/mens-basketball-buffalos-oats-massinburg-earn-top-mac-honors.aspx|website=getsomemaction.com|publisher=Mid-American Conference|access-date=19 March 2019}}
=[[Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament|Tournament MVP]]=
=Coach of the Year=
- Reggie Witherspoon – 2004
- Nate Oats – 2018, 2019
=Defensive Player of the Year=
- Dontay Caruthers – 2017, 2019
- Davonta Jordan – 2020
- Josh Mballa – 2021
=Freshman of the Year=
- Javon McCrea – 2011
=Sixth Man of the Year=
- Mark Bortz – 2005
- Nick Perkins – 2017, 2018, 2019
- Ronaldo Segu – 2020
=Academic All-MAC=
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
- Mark Bortz – 2004, 2005
- Turner Battle – 2003, 2004, 2005
- Vadim Fedotov – 2009
- John Boyer – 2010
- Byron Mulkey – 2011
- Tony Watson II – 2012
- Will Regan – 2013, 2014
- Shannon Evans – 2015
- Nikola Rakicevic – 2017
- Dontay Caruthers – 2019
- Brock Bertram – 2020, 2021
- Tra'Von Fagan – 2021
- David Skogman – 2021
}}
=All-MAC teams=
==All-MAC First Team==
- Turner Battle – 2005
- Rodney Pierce – 2009, 2010
- Mitchell Watt – 2012
- Javon McCrea – 2012, 2013, 2014
- Justin Moss – 2015{{cite web|date=March 9, 2015|title=MAC Announces Men's Basketball All-MAC, All-Freshman Teams|url=http://mac-sports.com/news/2015/3/9/MBB_0309152155.aspx|website=MAC-Sports.com|publisher=Mid-American Conference|access-date=16 April 2015}}
- C. J. Massinburg – 2018, 2019
- Nick Perkins – 2018, 2019
- Jayvon Graves – 2020
- Jeenathan Williams – 2022
==All-MAC Second Team==
- Turner Battle – 2004
- Calvin Cage – 2006
- Byron Mulkey – 2011
- Shannon Evans – 2015
- Blake Hamilton – 2017{{cite news|title=Hamilton, Massinburg, Caruthers Earn All-MAC Honors|url=http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170306l1l9dv|access-date=7 March 2017|work=www.ubbulls.com|publisher=University at Buffalo Athletics|date=6 March 2017|language=en}}
- Jeremy Harris – 2018, 2019
- Jayvon Graves – 2021
- Jeenathan Williams – 2021
- Josh Mballa – 2021, 2022
- Ronaldo Segu – 2022
==All-MAC Third Team==
- Lamonte Bearden – 2016{{cite news|title=MAC ANNOUNCES MEN'S HOOPS ALL-MAC, ALL-FRESHMAN & ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAMS|url=http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-basketball/2016/3/7/11174526/2016-all-mac-basketball-teams-announced|access-date=16 March 2016|publisher=Mid-American Conference|date=March 7, 2016}}
- Blake Hamilton – 2016
- Wes Clark – 2018
- Curtis Jones – 2023{{cite news |title=2022-23 MAC Basketball Postseason Awards Released |url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2023/3/6/mens-basketball-2022-23-mac-basketball-postseason-awards-released.aspx |access-date=5 June 2025 |publisher=Mid-American Conference |date=8 March 2023 |language=en}}
==All-Freshman Team==
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
- Yassin Idbihi – 2004
- Javon McCrea – 2011
- Jarryn Skeete – 2013
- Shannon Evans – 2014
- Lamonte Bearden – 2015
- C.J. Massinburg – 2016
- Ben Michaels – 2025{{cite web |title=Men's Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Winners |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/men/mac-all-frosh.html |website=College Basketball Reference |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=5 June 2025 |language=en}}
}}
==All-Defensive Team==
- Willie Conner – 2016
- Dontay Caruthers – 2017, 2019
- Davonta Jordan – 2018, 2019
- Josh Mballa – 2021, 2022
==All-Tournament team==
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
- Turner Battle & Yassin Idbihi – 2005
- Max Boudreau – 2009
- Mitchell Watt – 2012
- Shannon Evans & Xavier Ford – 2015{{cite news|last1=Wright|first1=Branson|title=Buffalo Bulls forward Xavier Ford named MVP of MAC Tournament 2015: Notebook (photos)|url=http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2015/03/mac_tournament_2015_notes.html|access-date=16 March 2016|work=Cleveland.com|publisher=The Plain Dealer|date=March 14, 2015}}
- Lamonte Bearden, Willie Conner & C. J. Massinburg – 2016{{cite news|last1=Wright|first1=Branson|title=Buffalo Bulls' Willie Connor named tournament MVP: MAC Tournament 2016 (video)|url=http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2016/03/buffalo_bulls_willie_connor_na.html|access-date=16 March 2016|work=Cleveland.com|publisher=The Plain Dealer|date=March 12, 2016}}
- Wes Clark & Jeremy Harris – 2018{{cite web |title=Men's All-Mid-American Conference Tournament |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/men/all-mac-tourney.html |website=College Basketball Reference |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=5 June 2025 |language=en}}
- Josh Mballa & Jeenathan Williams – 2021
}}
See also
- Blue Collar U, a team of primarily Buffalo Bulls alumni that participates in The Basketball Tournament
References
{{reflist}}