The Buffalo Bulls are back in the NCAA Touranment for the second straight season after upsetting Akron in the MAC Tournament Championship, and they're looking for their first tournament win in school history. Here's everything you need to know about the Bulls:
Resume:
Record – 20-14 (10-8 in MAC)
RPI – 96
Strength of Schedule – 89
Starting Lineup:
G Lamonte Bearden (So.) – 13.6 ppg, 4.1 apg
G Blake Hamilton (Jr.) – 13.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg
G Jarryn Skeete (Sr.) – 8.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg
F Willie Conner (Jr.) – 12.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg
F Ikenna Smart (Fr.) - 3.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Key Player:
Lamonte Bearden
Bearden has been Buffalo's best player for each of the past two seasons, and he leads them in scoring, assists, and steals. He runs the Bulls' offensive system to perfection, using his quickness and athleticism to attack the basket and finish at the rim.
Biggest Strength:
Rebounding
Buffalo is a relatively small team compared to others around the country, but there's no mistaking their dominance on the glass. Using their supreme athleticism, the Bulls rank 46th in the country with 39 rebounds per game.
Biggest Weakness:
Three-point shooting
Though Buffalo's offense if their strength, they struggle mightily from beyond the three-point line. The Bulls shoot just 33.5 percent from long range as a team, ranking them 230th in the country in that category.
Outlook:
Buffalo nearly pulled off an upset over West Virginia last season in the first round, and they're a threat to do the same this year. However, I think their lack of shooting will ultimately keep them from doing so.