2017–18 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represented the State University of New York at Buffalo during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulls, led by third-year head coach Nate Oats, played their home games at Alumni Arena in Amherst, New York as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 27–9, 15–3 in MAC play to win the MAC East Division and regular season championships. they defeated Central Michigan, Kent State, and Toledo to win the MAC tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As the No. 13 seed in the South region, they upset Arizona in the First Round before losing to Kentucky in the Second Round.[1][2]

2017–18 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball
MAC tournament champions
MAC East division champions
MAC regular season champions
NCAA tournament, Second Round
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record27–9 (15–3 MAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaAlumni Arena
Seasons
2017–18 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
Buffalo 15 3   .833 27 9   .750
Kent State 9 9   .500 17 17   .500
Miami (OH) 8 10   .444 16 18   .471
Bowling Green 7 11   .389 16 16   .500
Ohio 7 11   .389 14 17   .452
Akron 6 12   .333 14 18   .438
West
Toledo 13 5   .722 23 11   .676
Eastern Michigan 11 7   .611 22 13   .629
Ball State 10 8   .556 19 13   .594
Western Michigan 9 9   .500 17 15   .531
Central Michigan 7 11   .389 21 15   .583
Northern Illinois 6 12   .333 13 19   .406
2018 MAC tournament winner

Previous season

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The Bulls finished the 2016–17 season 17–14, 11–7 in MAC play to finish in a tie for second place in the East Division. As the No. 3 seed in the MAC tournament, they lost in the quarterfinals to Kent State.[3]

Offseason

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2017 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
James Reese
SG
Columbia, SC A. C. Flora High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Oct 1, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 5, 2016.

Roster

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2017–18 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 James Reese 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 167 lb (76 kg) Fr A.C. Flora Eastover, SC
F 1 Montrell McRae 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Jr Cleveland Central Catholic
South Plains College
Cleveland, OH
G/F 2 Jeremy Harris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 176 lb (80 kg) Jr Page
Gulf Coast State College
Greensboro, NC
G 3 Jayvon Graves 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Fr St. Vincent–St. Mary Malvern, OH
G 4 Davonta Jordan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Montverde Academy Cocoa, FL
G 5 C. J. Massinburg 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 194 lb (88 kg) Jr South Oak Cliff Dallas, TX
G 10 Wes Clark 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 177 lb (80 kg) Sr Romulus
Missouri
Detroit, MI
G 20 Colby Moultrie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Canisius North Tonawanda, NY
F 21 Dominic Johnson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Fr Catholic Central Windsor, ON
G 22 Dontay Caruthers 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS Jr East
Midland/Indian Hills
Rochester, NY
F 24 Gabe Agorioge 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 233 lb (106 kg) Sr Transit Tech
Hostos CC
Brooklyn, NY
F 33 Nick Perkins 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Jr Milan HS Ypsilanti, MI
F 34 Ikenna Smart 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 241 lb (109 kg) RS Jr New Garden Friends School Greensboro, NC
C 41 Brock Bertram 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) So Apple Valley Apple Valley, MN
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

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The Bulls participated in the Cayman Islands Classic held in the Cayman Islands and faced Cincinnati in their first game.[4][5] The three-game tournament took place between November 20 and 22.[6]

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Oct 28, 2017*
1:00 pm
at Rhode Island
Charity Exhibition for Disaster Relief
L 72–80 OT
 21  Harris   11  McRae   3  Tied  Ryan Center (1,363)
Kingston, RI
Nov 3, 2017*
8:00 pm, ESPN3
Daemen W 77–55 
 20  Perkins   11  Harris   6  Caruthers  Alumni Arena 
Amherst, NY
Non-conference regular season
Nov 11, 2017*
1:00 pm, ESPN3
Canisius W 80–75  1–0
 26  Perkins   8  Jordan   3  Caruthers  Alumni Arena (3,279)
Amherst, NY
Nov 15, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Jacksonville State W 81–76  2–0
 25  Massinburg   7  Massinburg   5  Massinburg  Alumni Arena (2,319)
Amherst, NY
Nov 20, 2017*
7:30 pm, FloHoops.com
vs. No. 12 Cincinnati
Cayman Islands Classic first round
L 67–73  2–1
 29  Massinburg   10  Massinburg   4  Jordan  John Gray Gymnasium (1,200)
Cayman Islands
Nov 21, 2017*
5:00 pm, FloHoops.com
vs. UAB
Cayman Islands Classic consolation round
W 96–91 OT 3–1
 23  Caruthers   7  Caruthers   6  Jordan  John Gray Gymnasium (404)
Cayman Islands
Nov 22, 2017*
2:30 pm, FloHoops.com
vs. South Dakota State
Cayman Islands Classic 5th place game
L 80–94  3–2
 17  Perkins   4  Tied   5  Tied  John Gray Gymnasium (450)
Cayman Islands
Nov 29, 2017*
7:00 pm
at Niagara W 106–87  4–2
 25  Massinburg   8  Massinburg   7  Jordan  Gallagher Center (1,664)
Lewiston, NY
Dec 2, 2017*
2:00 pm
St. Bonaventure L 62–73  4–3
 21  Tied   8  Tied   4  Jordan  Alumni Arena (6,212)
Amherst, NY
Dec 6, 2017*
7:00 pm, CBSSN
at Delaware W 75–72  5–3
 30  Massinburg   14  Massinburg   4  Jordan  Bob Carpenter Center (2,326)
Newark, DE
Dec 9, 2017*
2:00 pm, ESPN3
Central Penn W 88–54  6–3
 18  Reese   11  Massinburg   6  Tied  Alumni Arena (2,225)
Amherst, NY
Dec 16, 2017*
2:00 pm
Robert Morris W 86–70  7–3
 23  Massinburg   10  Massinburg   7  Jordan  Alumni Arena (2,158)
Amherst, NY
Dec 19, 2017*
7:00 pm, ACCN Extra
at Syracuse L 74–81  7–4
 18  Perkins   8  Massinburg   6  Clark  Carrier Dome (17,335)
Syracuse, NY
Dec 21, 2017*
9:00 pm, SECN
at No. 8 Texas A&M L 73–89  7–5
 20  Massinburg   8  Massinburg   8  Clark  Reed Arena (6,554)
College Station, TX
Dec 28, 2017*
7:00 pm
NJIT W 86–81 OT 8–5
 27  Clark   10  Massinburg   6  Clark  Alumni Arena 
Amherst, NY
MAC regular season
Jan 2, 2018
7:00 pm, CBSSN
Toledo W 104–94  9–5
(1–0)
 27  Massinburg   10  Perkins   5  Tied  Alumni Arena (1,100)
Amherst, NY
Jan 6, 2018
2:00 pm, ESPN3
at Ball State W 83–63  10–5
(2–0)
 16  Tied   11  Perkins   5  Massinburg  Worthen Arena (3,622)
Muncie, IN
Jan 9, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3
at Akron W 87–65  11–5
(3–0)
 17  Tied   12  Massinburg   5  Clark  James A. Rhodes Arena (2,924)
Akron, OH
Jan 13, 2018
2:00 pm
Miami (OH) W 82-66  12–5
(4–0)
 23  Harris   11  Massinburg   7  Clark  Alumni Arena (3,139)
Amherst, NY
Jan 16, 2018
7:00 pm
Northern Illinois W 95–67  13–5
(5–0)
 26  Perkins   7  Smart   8  Jordan  Alumni Arena (2,098)
Amherst, NY
Jan 19, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPNU
at Western Michigan W 84–74  14–5
(6–0)
 20  Tied   8  Massinburg   9  Clark  University Arena (2,548)
Kalamazoo, MI
Jan 23, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Eastern Michigan W 83–69  15–5
(7–0)
 22  Harris   14  Harris   4  Tied  Alumni Arena 
Amherst, NY
Jan 26, 2018
6:30 pm, CBSSN
at Ohio W 73–66  16–5
(8–0)
 20  Perkins   14  Smart   3  Tied  Convocation Center (6,470)
Athens, OH
Jan 30, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3
at Kent State L 79–82  16–6
(8–1)
 20  Harris   4  Harris   5  Jordan  Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (2,877)
Kent, OH
Feb 2, 2018
7:00 pm, CBSSN
Western Michigan W 92–86  17–6
(9–1)
 26  Massinburg   6  Tied   9  Clark  Alumni Arena (6,670)
Amherst, NY
Feb 6, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3
at Central Michigan W 88–82  18–6
(10–1)
 22  Harris   7  Tied   6  Clark  McGuirk Arena (1,979)
Mount Pleasant, MI
Feb 10, 2018
4:30 pm, ESPN3
at Northern Illinois L 88–90 OT 18–7
(10–2)
 22  Perkins   9  Perkins   5  Jordan  Convocation Center (1,565)
DeKalb, IL
Feb 13, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Kent State W 84–72  19–7
(11–2)
 24  Harris   10  Perkins   7  Massinburg  Alumni Arena (3,707)
Amherst, NY
Feb 16, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPNU
Bowling Green W 95–82  20–7
(12–2)
 24  Massinburg   12  Massinburg   8  Jordan  Alumni Arena (5,707)
Amherst, NY
Feb 20, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3
at Miami (OH) L 81–84  20–8
(12–3)
 23  Harris   8  Harris   3  Tied  Millett Hall (1,870)
Oxford, OH
Feb 24, 2018
3:30 pm, ESPN3
Ohio W 108–82  21–8
(13–3)
 21  Perkins   10  Harris   11  Clark  Alumni Arena (6,198)
Amherst, NY
Feb 27, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Akron W 80–68  22–8
(14–3)
 26  Massinburg   10  Massinburg   5  Clark  Alumni Arena (3,659)
Amherst, NY
Mar 2, 2018
6:00 pm, ESPNU
at Bowling Green W 100–70  23–8
(15–3)
 19  Tied   9  Perkins   6  Jordan  Stroh Center 
Bowling Green, OH
MAC Tournament
Mar 8, 2018
12:00 pm, ESPN3
(1) vs. (8) Central Michigan
Quarterfinals
W 89–74  24–8
 27  Harris   10  Harris   8  Caruthers  Quicken Loans Arena (2,023)
Cleveland, OH
March 9, 2018
6:30 pm, CBSSN
(1) vs. (5) Kent State
Semifinals
W 78–61  25–8
 22  Harris   7  Tied   4  Clark  Quicken Loans Arena (4,625)
Cleveland, OH
March 10, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN2
(1) vs. (2) Toledo
Championship
W 76–66  26–8
 26  Clark   8  Harris   4  Jordan  Quicken Loans Arena (5,633)
Cleveland, OH
NCAA tournament
March 15, 2018*
9:40 pm, CBS
(13 S) vs. (4 S) No. 12 Arizona
First Round
W 89–68  27–8
 25  Clark   6  Massinburg   7  Clark  Taco Bell Arena (11,673)
Boise, ID
March 17, 2018*
5:15 pm, CBS
(13 S) vs. (5 S) No. 18 Kentucky
Second Round
L 75–95  27–9
 26  Clark   8  Massinburg   6  Clark  Taco Bell Arena (11,686)
Boise, ID
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
S=South.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
APRVRVNot released
CoachesRV

*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings

References

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  1. ^ "No Bull: Buffalo pulls off big upset, knocks off Arizona". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "Not happening here: Kentucky stops Buffalo cold, 95-75". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "MAC Tournament 2017: Kent State outlasts Buffalo in 68–65 foul fest". Hustle Belt. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  4. ^ "Bulls to Face Cincinnati in Opening Round of Cayman Islands Classic". ubbulls.com. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "UC to face Buffalo in its Cayman Island Classic opener". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  6. ^ "C.I. Basketball Classic bracket revealed – Cayman Sports Buzz". www.caymansportsbuzz.com. Retrieved August 16, 2017.