Men's Basketball | 11/16/2021 12:15:00 PM
For a team without a lot of obvious holes, the Buffalo men’s basketball squad is always happy to dig into fresh solutions in the hunt for victories.
That explains how the Bulls have buried doubts about their strengths in the world of mid-major college hoops, with four postseason appearances in the past six years and a very high-achieving roster for 2021-22, which will be on full display at the Cancun Challenge. Buffalo plays Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 23 at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, then either Illinois State or Saint Louis on Nov. 24.
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Men's Basketball - Cancun Challenge
Only one starter from last year’s 16-9 team needed to be replaced; the Bulls were terrific on defense that season in allowing 41.5 percent shooting (29 percent from 3-point range), outrebounding teams by more than eight per game and averaging 81.4 points per contest. A 10-1 stretch in the last half of the season was doused with two losses to end the campaign, one to Ohio in the Mid-American Conference tournament and the other a two-point setback to Colorado State in the first round of the NIT.
Head coach Jim Whitesell had his contract extended through 2024-25; he was on the staff when the Bulls went 59-13 over two seasons (2017-19) and has high expectations for his current group, packed with experience and young potential that many national observers see earning an NCAA berth this time around.
“We were strong last year, a good rebounding team, one of the better ones, but you’ve got to sharpen your sword,” Whitesell said. “You hang your hat on good defense, rebounding, making good shots – you’ve got to have that foundation and continue to work on your weaknesses. Whatever you’ve done well, try to do it better. The good thing is, with experience, that’ll help us.
“You’ve got to be motivated and work with more resolve. Those games with Ohio and Colorado State, much like this year and our games with Michigan, the Cancun tournament, is having quality opponents every night. That’s how you get better, and that’s what our program has always been about. We’ll have to be a good road team.”
The Bulls bring electric energy to the court with multiple players, paced by seniors Jeenathan Williams (17.6 ppg) and Josh Mballa (MAC defensive player of the year). Williams improved dramatically as a scorer and rebounder (6.8 boards per game) from the previous year, comfortable with contact at 6-foot-5, 205 lbs., but quick enough to get his shot off accurately when the Bulls played with pace.
“I never got discouraged about anything; I knew I was a worker. You keep pounding the stone, one day it’s going to crack, and it finally did,” said Williams, who shot a solid 39 percent from 3-point range last season. “I had the mentality to get better and trusted the process for my career, and I know I’ve got a lot more in me. I’m OK with staying in the gym and working to be a better basketball player. I trust myself on the court, a guy with a good IQ, and I’ve put in the work. I do have room to get better, and I’m chipping away at that.
“I don’t care about what went great … I’m more concerned about the two losses, and that’s what I’ve been harping on in the offseason. Watching tape of those games, knowing how close we were and that we could have beaten those teams. We’re looking for revenge, coming in with a chip on our shoulder, and we’re ready to step on the court and show you why Buffalo is going to win.”
“Every year he’s made a big jump, and that’s because he works his rear end off,” Whitesell said. “He’s in the gym all the time; he’s pretty coachable in terms of making the reads, but in the end you’ve got to put in the work. That’s good when your all-conference guy is the one coming back who’s most improved. That’s why I think he’s going to have a special year; he’s a pretty driven kid.”
Mballa (6-7, 220) is hard to move around, and he’s got quick hands as well (No. 2 on the team in steals). Senior point guard Ronaldo Segu is a proven asset (13.3 ppg, assist leader and most 3-pointers from a year ago) as well.
Whitesell also likes the profile of two players he thought probably should have played more last year in 6-10 center David Skogman and 6-8 forward Tra’Von Fagan. Newcomers Curtis Jones and Kuluel Mading are looking useful in the early going, and Fordham transfer Ty Perry is expected to help with outside shooting and ball pressure from the guard spot.
During preseason practices, the Bulls were trying to crank up the tempo in practice and directing attention toward reading defenses better. Williams and the other veterans have been aware of the need to let the younger players feel out the whole process, where hiccups and errors can get sorted out early.
“The newcomers are doing great, and the guys we had from last year that you don’t know about are playing great as well. Playing through mistakes, that’s not a problem for me,” Williams added. “That’s what it takes to build confidence; we’ve got energy guys who come off the bench and can spark it up. It’s the details. If everyone plays their role and does their job, we can reach our potential. I love this team, and I think this is the best team Buffalo has had as far as talent.”