June 9, 2011 - 10:38 AM
---St. Joe's quarterback Chad Kelly, who is being recruited heavily by UB, ranks 80th on ESPNU's Top 150 rankings. Kelly, the nephew of Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, is the No. 5 ranked QB on the list.
Kelly is also being recruited by Syracuse Clemson, Alabama, Florida State and Michigan State among others. Kelly and Rochester offensive tackle Jarron Jones are the only New Yorkers mentioned. Jones has already verballed to Penn State.
---Rodney McKissic
June 7, 2011 - 11:04 AM
---It's official: Will Regan, the former Nichols standout, has signed a scholarship agreement to attend UB, the school just announced.
Regan, a two-time Buffalo News Player of the Year, will have to sit out the 2011-12 season and have three years of eligibility remaining. A 6-foot-8 freshman forward, Regan played in 20 games for the Cavaliers, scoring 25 points with 18 rebounds. Regan, who is transferring from Virginia, made an official visit to UB May 31-June 2.
UB offered Regan a scholarship as an eighth grader and he made an unofficial visit to UB before selecting Virginia. Regan cancelled a scheduled visit to Niagara University.
"I think it's a good fit for Will," UB coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "He's grown up watching us and he's familiar with us. He's a terrific student. He compliments the things that we like to do. It's a good fit for both parties and we are really excited to have him home again."
Signing Regan is a major coup for Witherspoon and his staff. The Bulls lose two senior big men next season in Mitchell Watt and Titus Robinson and Regan figures to slide into a starting role on the frontline in 2012-13.
---Rodney McKissic
June 7, 2011 - 10:25 AM
---Pat Chambers, pictured left, believes he can change the perception that Penn State is a bad coaching job. Why Chambers got into coaching is a good story.
---Gary Parrish hopes that no coach patterns his coaching career after former Kelvin Sampson.
---Bob Knight calls some NCAA rules idiotic.
---Jason King previews the top junior transfers in 2011-12.
---Here's a list of the 12 most-hyped recruits ever.
---The movers and shakers from pre-draft workouts.
---Rodney McKissic
June 6, 2011 - 12:48 PM
---With the 2011 season slowly arriving, the Bleacher Report takes a peek at all 120 FBS teams.
---This is a few days old, but UB associate head coach Ernest Jones talks about former Bull Josh Thomas.
---UB athletic director Warde Manuel joins Allen Wilson, Joe Major and myself on The Sports Insiders at 6:30 tonight on www.weck1230.com.
---Rodney McKissic
June 2, 2011 - 8:56 AM
---Big 4 coaches, like Canisius' Tom Parrotta, view the Ohio State scandal as a time to educate student-athletes about off the field issues.
---These assistant coaches will be head coaches soon.
---Doug Flutie a head football coach?
---Is Thursday night the right night for Syracuse's opener?
---Army to the Big East?
---Rodney McKissic
May 19, 2011 - 9:55 AM
---Juwan Howard, pictured above, is the Fab 5's last chance to get a championship ring.
---The one-and-done rule isn't going anywhere.
---A top ten list of the schools that will benefit the most from JuCo transfers, including St. John's, who signed ECC's God's Gift Achiuwa.
---Mike DeCourcy provides his list of winners and losers from the 2011 recruiting battles. DeCourcy also ranks his top ten recruiting classes.
---Georgetown transfer Vee Sanford has decided to attend Dayton.
---Bill Self believes his job is better than most NBA coaching gigs, and is not likely to leave Kansas any time soon.
---Zeke Chapman, the son of former NBA guard Rex Chapman, has committed to Ball State.
---Rodney McKissic
May 18, 2011 - 12:16 PM
---The Cleveland Cavaliers are the big winners in this year's draft lottery and here's an early mock of the first 14 picks:
1. Cleveland: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke - It's time for The Recovery in Cleveland.
2. Minnesota: Derrick Williams, SF, Arizona: Could jump to No. 1.
3. Utah: Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky: Coach Cal develops NBA ready PGs.
4. Cleveland: Enes Kanter, PF, Turkey: Difficult to contain in the low post.
5. Toronto: Jonas Valanciunas, PF, Lithuania: Has grown four inches in four years and is now 6-10.
6. Washington: Jan Vesely, F, Czech Republic: Would have been a top 10 pick last year.
7. Sacramento: Kemba Walker, PG, UConn: Another Ben Gordon.
8. Detroit: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas: Needs to find a position.
9. Charlotte: Donatas Motiejunas, C, Lithuania: Add weight and you'll have Pau Gasol.
10. Milwaukee: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado: Very athletic guard prospect.
11. Golden State: Bismack Biyombo, PF, Congo: Best rebounder/defender available.
12. Utah: Chris Singleton, PF, Florida State: Can defend multiple position.
13. Phoenix: Jimmer Fredette, PG, BYU: Perfect for the Suns offense.
14. Houston: Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas: Could be selected higher.
---Rodney McKissic
May 17, 2011 - 9:02 AM
---SI's Bruce Schoenfeld provides a look at the life of college basketball recruiters.
---A look at Syracuse's potential dance-partners in next season's Big East/SEC Challenge.
---Dana O'Neil profiles piece former Villanova forward Will Sheridan, who openly admits that he is gay.
---In a surprising move, Xavier assistant Pat Kelsey is leaving the coaching profession because of personal issues.
---Coach-K made $4.7 mil during Duke's 2010 National Title run. Worth every penny.
---Rodney McKissic
May 17, 2011 - 8:43 AM
---And Phil Steele is the most accurate. Or so he says.
---Here's a 2011 preview of Syracuse.
---UMass' Together We're One Tour begins in Boston.
---Tony Barnhart writes that coaches need to stop oversigning.
---Rodney McKissic
May 16, 2011 - 5:18 PM
---This year’s Sporting News College preview just arrived at my door – I received a free copy since I wrote the MAC preview – are here is the predicted order of finish for the league:
East
1. Temple
2. Miami (Ohio)
3. Ohio
4. Akron
5. UB
6. Bowling Green
7. Kent State
West
1. Northern Illinois
2. Toledo
3. Western Michigan
4. Central Michigan
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Ball State
In the Rating the MAC section, UB’s Steven Means is the best interview, while linebacker Khalil Mack is all-league. The recruiting roundup, written by TSN’s Brian McLaughlin, ranks the Bulls class 11th in the conference.
Big East
1. West Virginia
2. South Florida
3. Pitt
4. Cincinnati
5. Louisville
6. Syracuse
7. UConn
8. Rutgers
In rating the players, Syracuse DE Chandler Jones was named the player with the best instincts while the Orange’s recruiting class was rated seventh. Jones, OL Justin Pugh, and DB Phillip Thomas were all named All Big East.
Top 10
1. LSU
2. Oklahoma
3. Bama
4. Stanford
5. Oregon
6. Boise State
7. Florida State
8. Ohio State
9. Texas A&M
10. Nebraska
---Rodney McKissic
Western New York native Bob DiCesare covers UB football, Big 4 basketball and writes an occasional column. He still holds a grudge against Chris Ford who, he's convinced, cost St. Bonaventure the 1970 NCAA basketball championship.
Rodney McKissic began his journalism career in 1989 after graduating from the University of Cincinnati and has worked for The Buffalo News since 2001. A proud father of four children, he enjoys reading in his spare time.
Amy Moritz, a native of Lockport, hhas covered colleges for The Buffalo News since 1999. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism/mass communication from St. Bonaventure University and a master’s degree in humanities from the University at Buffalo. An endurance athlete, she has completed several triathlons, half marathons and marathons.
