Campus Watch

UB-UConn Game Analysis

UConn 17, UB 3

Game Analysis: Four plays were the difference as UB fell short in a game it could have taken. Missed tackles factored in two big plays by UConn wideout Nick Williams, one of which set up a TD and the other accounting for the game's final points. A missed FG by Peter Fardon hurt. The end zone interception thrown by Chazz Anderson was a killer. Four plays. Otherwise, UB led in first downs, 16-13. in rushing yards, 126-80. And in total yards, 319-293. They led most everywhere but the scoreboard.

Turning Point: UConn LB Yawin Smallwood stepped in front of Anderson's pass for Alex Neutz on a third-and-5 from the UConn 5 midway through the third quarter. The Bulls had started the drive on their own 15 and had covered 80 yards in 11 plays. To come away with nothing while trailing, 10-3 . . .

Player of the Game: Williams, the national leader in kick returns last year, turned two short receptions into 113 receiving yards and a touchdown and came to the rescue of a UConn offense short on firepower.

Stat of the Game: UConn punter Cole Wagner averaged 44.2 per kick and came up large on a couple of challenging occasions.

Counting: UB LB Khalil Mack had 1.5 tackles for losses. He entered with a nation-high 7.5 in the category.

Short: UB RB Branden Oliver finished with 84 yards on 23 attempts, falling shy of becoming the first Bulls back since James Starks to string four 100-yard rushing days.

He Said It: "I couldn't tell you what his 40-yard dash is but, boy, it looked fast when he had that ball running up the middle of the field." UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni on Williams.

In the House: There were 18,215 at UB Stadium for Homecoming. Who schedules a Big East team on Homecoming?

Next Up: For that matter, who schedules a trip to Tennessee with the Vols coming off a bye week (and, as it turns out, a loss to Florida)? Saturday at 12:30 the Bulls have a chance to shock the country.

-- Bob DiCesare

 

 

 

 

 

UConn 17, UB 3 -- Final

FINAL: UConn 17, UB 3.

 Huskies 2-2, Bulls fall to 1-3.

Attendance: 18,215.

4:52: McEntee and Nick Williams connected on 49-yard scoring play on third and 7. Williams shakes off Naija Johnson tackle on play. UCONN 17, UB 3.

7:24 and counting down: Bulls have to punt. Nothing for Oliver. Pressure forced Anderson to throw away second-down pass. UConn starts on own 36.

8:46: Score holds. UConn, 10-3. Huskies punter Cole Wagner a major weapon. Just nailed a bomb that Terrell Jackson fumbled and recovered on Bulls 18. . . . UB safety Josh Copeland out rest of night with undisclosed injury. Bulls have been having success with between-tackle runs of late. Would like to see them work Neutz on a slant.

END THIRD QUARTER

UConn 10, UB 3 -- Bulls have 15 minutes to get in the end zone or they're going to come away from this one kicking themselves. Fourth quarter starts with UConn facing third and 14 from own 14 after Khalil Mack sack of McEntee.

UConn 10, UB 3 -- Bulls come away empty when Anderson is picked in end zone by Yawin Smallwood on a third-down pass from Huskies 5. Yet another wasted chance. Bulls have frittered away no less than six points in this one. UB had driven from its own 15.

HALFTIME: UConn 10, UB 3 -- UB gives up 64-yard pass play and then McEntee hits Hinkley with 4-yard TD pass with 15 seconds left in half. Stunning turnaround. Drive was 83 yards in 58 seconds.

2:34: 3-3. Teggart nails 47-yard FG for Huskies... with loads of room to spare.

5:33: UB 3, UConn 0 -- Fardon barely sneaks a 28-yard FG attempt inside left upright.

6:18: Still scoreless. UB first and goal from the 18 after holding penalty on Oliver picking up pass rush. Score doesn't show it but Bulls better team by far to this point. UB got first down by penalty on drive with a fourth-down roughing passer call against Joseph

13:34: Still scoreless as Fardon hooks 30-yard FG attempt wide left from the right hash. Hold might have been a little shaky. Didn't miss by much but can't squander opportunities like that.

FIRST QUARTER

10:29: UB will start second possession on own 37 after an exchange of punts. JOhnny McEntee starting at QB for Huskies.

4:20: Means blocks 49 yards FG attempt. UB starts on own 26.

1:06: UB playing inspired defense. UConn running game getting nowhere. Bulls now start series on UConn. 35.

End First Quarter: 0-0. UB driving. First and 10 and UConn 15 after pass from Anderson to Rivers.

Hello from UB Stadium. Sunny skies. Scattered clouds. Decent student representation in the stands. The hope is to supply periodic updates but they're having campus-wide problems with the wireless so it could be touch-and-go.

Bulls (1-2) have one win over a Big East team (Rutgers 2002). UConn won last year's meeting 45-21 in Connecticutt. Huskies have QB issues but should be able to carve out a living on the ground this evening.

The game is on Time-Warner cable.

-- Bob DiCesare

 

UB-Pitt Game Thread

UB vs. Pittsburgh

at Heinz Field

First Quarter

9:10 -- Pitt 7-0 -- Panthers strike first, marching 54 yards in eight plays on their second possession. Zach Brown's 6-yard run caps the drive, which took just 2:04 as Pitt ran the no-huddle to perfection, maintaining a sharp tempo throughout. . . . Freshman LB Lee Skinner's already been in on six tackles for Bulls. He got the starting job when John Syty was declared out for season with a concussion.

End of First: Panthers driving and have a second-and-seven from the UB 13. Kevin Harper ends up missing 32-year field goal wide right after Colby Way produces first career sack on third down. Bulls getting little going offensively after opening drive on which Branden Oliver ran for 23 yards. Drive starts haven't helped. Bulls have opened series on own 5, 9, 26 and 40. Last three series have been three and out.

Second Quarter

What is it with Buffalo receivers against Pittsburgh teams? Wide-open Ed Young drops a TD pass from Anderson at the Pitt goal line. I mean, there was no one within 10 yards of him on the play from the Pitt 33. Stevie Johnson can emphathize. Bulls end up with a 40-yard Pete Fardon FG to draw within 7-3 with 4:33 until the half. It was first career attempt for Fardon.

Third Quarter

Bulls looked dead when Pitt went up 14-3 shortly after Chas Alecxih intercepted a Chazz Anderson screen and rambled 47 yards to UB 20. How did Anderson responded? By leading Bulls on a 13-play, 76-yard TD drive that ended with 4:22 left in the second quarter. Nothing like having a fifth-year senior under center.

Strong safety Issac Baugh is out (shoulder). The injury occurred on the play before Pitt's last touchdown.

Pitt answers UB touchdown and leads, 21-10. Graham rushes in from short distance. Panthers covered 74 yards in eight plays and 2 minutes, 29 seconds.

Fourth  Quarter

Chazz Anderson's the real deal. Bounce-back from INT off screen has been impressive. Great poise. Doesn't rattle. Bulls open quarter with second-and-4 from Pitt 21.

What a catch by Alex Neutz, outbattling DB Saheed Imoru for an Anderson pass good for a 20-yard gain to the  3. Oliver takes it in from there. Bulls then go for two and misfire. That was a mistake. Too early to be playing the math game. There's still 13:27 left.

Pitt 28-16. Panthers go 60 yards in six plays, needing just 1:36. Sunseri to Shanahan from 6 caps it off. There's still more than 11 minutes left.

-- Bob DiCesare

 

UB-Pitt Pregame

PITTSBURGH -- Finally made it to Heinz Field after driving all over downtown looking for the media lot. And leaving my cell phone in the car. And walking a half-mile to the media entrance in 95-degree heat (no lie). But who cares???? It's football season and opening kickoff is less than three hours away.

Quite an atmosphere outside the stadium. A lot of tailgaters. Plenty of vendor stands. Not sure if they set up all these stands for Steeler games (or for Pitt games outside of the opener) but it's a cool idea. I'd imagine UB could get more community buy-in if it turned the outside of UB Stadium into a mini Taste of Buffalo, particularly for home openers.

Looking around the MAC today . . . nice showing by Miami at Missouri. The RedHawks, defending MAC champs, lost 17-6 to the No. 21 Tigers . . . Ohio St. shallacked Akron, 42-0 . . . 'Bama's pounding Ken St., 48-7, late in the fourth. .... Earlier in the week: Temple blitzed Villanova (42-7), Central Michigan topped South Carolina St. (21-6), Toledo beat New Hampshire (58-22).

Good thing UB-Pitt kicks off at 6 p.m. instead of early afternoon. The heat's oppressive and still could be a factor for two teams that will be running the no-huddle spread.

-- Bob DiCesare

Draft night

---Seth Davis provides draft profiles for 40 of the top NBA draft prospects in the country like UConn's Kemba Walker and Butler's Shelvin Mack, pictured right.

 ---The dreams of the members of this draft class are on hold, for reasons completely out of their control.

---Can Jimmer Fredette be an explosive scorer?

---Eric Williams off-season at Niagara has been rather painful.

---Former Binghamton coach Kevin Broadus has been hired by Georgetown as a special assistant coach.

---Boston University has finally hired a new coach.

---Former UCLA stars Ed O'Bannon and Baron Davis will be returning to Westwood this summer in order to complete their studies and recieve their degrees.

---Jason King details Mike Rice's efforts to resurrect Rutgers.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Which teams will go 12-0 or 11-1?

---Phil Steele examines which teams he thinks can go 12-0 or 11-1 this season, a few of which are UB opponents.

---With an $11.4 million cut in state appropriations looming, regents will vote on Eastern Michigan's annual budget. Combined with a possible $12 million increase in expenses, the school could face a $23.4 million shortfall.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Big East is in the money

---The Big East made more money from this past season's March Madness than any other conference in the country. In fact, theleague made nearly $6 million more than the Big XII, which made the second-most this March.

---Here's a list of the five best programs without a first round draft pick since 2000.

---Temple hasn't had a player selected in the NBA Draft since Mardy Collins in 2006, but Lavoy Allen is hoping to hear his name called.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

He's a Tiger

---St. Joe's Chad Kelly announced he's headed to Clemson but he had some nice things to say about UB, who recruited him heavily.

---Meanwhile, UB coach Jeff Quinn is spreading the word about the Bulls while defensive coordinator William Inge is one of seven Division I assistant football coaches and athletic directors taking part in the NCAA's 2011 Champion Forum this weekend in Orlando.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Does UB have a chance at Kelly?

---Syracuse, Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan State and Purdue are all recruiting St, Joe's quarterback Chad Kelly, so it would be shocking if he selects hometown UB, right?

While it would be a major upset if the Bulls land Kelly, a source said UB has a chance and is one of the seven schools he's considering. Kelly will announce his college pick at a press conference Thursday at 3 p.m.

“UB offers a unique scenario for Chad because it’s close to home and he’s really close with his family,’’ a source said. “”They run a wide open offense so UB poses some aspects to really think about.’’

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Source: Stewart resignation at WVU 'imminent'

---The resignation of West Virginia football coach Bill Stewart is "imminent," a university source told ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel on Friday.

Earlier Friday, ESPN's Joe Schad reported that WVU leaders were pondering whether terminating the coach-in-waiting scenario it created this year with offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen would be in the best interests of the program. Holgorsen is scheduled to succeed Stewart after the coming season.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)