Campus Watch

UB-Miami game thread

Final: UB 42, Miami 17. Bulls break a three-game losing streak.

6:00 left in the fourth: Jerry Davis in at QB.

6:58 left in the fourth - FYI: Thermilus is going to be the player of the game in UB-Miami game analysis. He just scored his third TD.

9:51 left in the fourth - Domonic Cook just forced a fumble that was returned by Mike Newton to the UB 25.

7:30 left in the third - Miami finally scored its first TD on a 6-yard TD pass from Zac Dysert to Dustin Woods. 28-10 UB.

12:55 left in the third - UB pulled out an oldie but goodie: A double reverse from Terrell Jackson to Jesse Rack for a 30 yard touchdown. Rack was so wide open that he back peddled into the end zone. Last time UB tried that was the season opener at UTEP.

13:49 left in the third - Thermilus already has his career high with 114 yards

13.2 seconds left in the second quarter - I just got faked out. I thought Thermilus went in for his third TD, but Zach Maynard scored on a keeper and now the Bulls have a commanding 21-3 lead.

2:27 left in the second quarter - So far it's the Brandon Thermilus Show. He just scored on a 31-yard run, his season high and the Bulls lead 14-3. He has 93 yards on just five carries.

6:49 left in the second quarter - The Bulls take a 7-3 lead on a 3-yard run by tailback Brandon Thermilus. Thermilus, who started the season as the starter at tailback, set up the score with a 27-yard run to the Miami 3.

10:10 left in the second quarter - Miami's Trevor Cook hit a 37-yard field goal to give the RedHawks a 3-0 lead. Miami is going on long drives to start the game which could eventually tire out the UB defense. This scoring drive went 15 plays.

UB 0, Miami 0, end of first quarter - The Bulls have run exactly six plays from scrimmage and have 16 yards of total offense.

1:11 left in the first quarter - Mike Newton intercepted Zac Dysert in the end zone and returned it 30 yards to the UB 30.

5:25 - Both teams are going through their warm ups. It's rainy and considering both teams are playing for last place, they'll be lucky to get 2,000 people here tonight.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Simpson signs with UNC Greensboro

Trevis Simpson, who gave a verbal commitment to UB last month, has switched gears and instead signed with UNC Greensboro.

The school officially released its early signings and listed Simpson as one of its recruits. Simpson visited UNC Greenboro the weekend before the start of the early signing period which began last Wednesday.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Vermont-UB game analysis

 

 Former Niagara University and Utah Jazz coach Frank Layden waves to the crowd at Alumni
 Arena on Sunday evening.   Mark Mulville/Buffalo News

 

Game Analysis: Scoring, a bugaboo for the Bulls last year, might be an issue again in 2009-10. The Bulls made just 17 field goals on 55 attempts as they lost their season opener to Vermont, 58-57

How UB Lost: Has anyone seen UB’s offense? Anyone? The backcourt of Rodney Pierce, John Boyer, Sean Smiley and Zach Filzen were a combined 4 of 31 from the field and 2 of 14 from three-point range. The defense might be able to carry the team on most nights, but someone – anyone – has to emerge as a consistent scorer if the Bulls want to win the MAC.

Turning Point: After a John Boyer to Titus Robinson alley oop, the Bulls trailed 52-46 but it seemed to ignite the team and Alumni Arena as well.

Player of the Game: Marqus Blakely (17 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists) is better than advertised.

Stat of the Game: Seriously, did you see what the Bulls guards shot?

Cool note: Vermont’s Simeon Marsalis is the son of jazz legend and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.

He Said It: “I wasn’t happy with them after the game.’’ – UB coach Reggie Witherspoon.

In the House: Former Niagara and Utah Jazz coach Frank Layden was among the 2,996 at Alumni Arena.

Up Next for Bulls: The Bulls hit the road for a non-league game at Navy on Nov. 19.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

West suspended for Miami game

Senior right tackle Andrew West will not play in UB's game next Wednesday at Miami (Ohio) for disciplinary reasons, coach Turner Gill said today.

West was ejected from the Ohio game following an unsportsman like conduct penalty for blocking below the knees. Gill added that the league could discipline West further.

"This is on our behalf," Gill said. "We're still waiting to hear from the Mid-American Conference, the commissioner is going to evaluate it and they're going to make a decision. If they have something that's more than one game then we'll have to (respond) according to what they do."

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Maynard, Jackson out for first quarter

UB sophomore quarterback Zach Maynard and sophomore wide receiver Terrell Jackson are being disciplined by coach Turner Gill for tonight's game after being late for a team meeting, a source said.

Maynard and Jackson will miss the first quarter of tonight's nationally televised game against Ohio. Maynard has started all nine games at quarterback, while Jackson is a backup to senior Brett Hamlin.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Houston coming to Buffalo

UB recently received a verbal commitment from South Carolina cornerback Okoye Houston from Woodmont High.

Houston received offers from East Carolina, Marshall, Vandy and Western Kentucky among others, according to Rivals.com. The 6-foot, 185-pound Houston is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Griffs pick up Bronx forward

Chris Manhertz, a 6-5 power forward from Cardinal Spellman High in the Bronx, has given a verbal commitment to Canisius according to a source. Manhertz is the 172nd ranked power forward in the country according to ESPN.com who has this to say about him:

'"Manhertz has very good leaping ability and athleticism, which helps him to overcome his lack of height for the post. He has very good quickness and when he receives the ball in the paint, he attacks the rim with great vigor. He rebounds the ball very well on both ends of the floor due to his good, quick leaping ability, length, as well as his overall aggression with respect to rebounding. He runs the floor very well and can finish in transition. Manhertz will have to continue to work on his post moves as well as add counter moves to his post repertoire for the paint when he encounters bigs with a height advantage."

The fall signing period begins Wednesday.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Petit out for Bowling Green

---Sophomore cornerback Joe Petit (concussion) has been ruled out for Tuesday night’s game against Bowling Green, UB coach Turner Gill said during his weekly MAC conference call.

Petit and senior right tackle Andrew West (broken hand) were listed as doubtful for the game but Gill said Petit is the only one who has been ruled out at this point. Junior tailbacks Ike Nduka (ankle), Brandon Thermilus (ankle) and senior tailback Mario Henry (ankle) were listed as questionable late last week as were junior left guard Peter Bittner (ankle), junior tight end Kyle Brey (shoulder) and junior corner Josh Thomas (concussion).

“Everyone else should be available,’’ he said. “We’ll see on game day.’’

---The Bulls are 3-point favorites for the Bowling Green game. The Bulls are 3-5 against the spread this year.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Two verbals for UB football

The UB football team received commitments from two players recently: Devon Hughes, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver from Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Ga., and James Potts, a 5-11, 175-pound tailback from American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Fla.

Potts is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com who received offers from Memphis, Michigan State, Indiana, Northern Illinois and Vanderbilt among others according to the recruiting website. Hughes is also a three-star recruit and scouts feel the Bulls got a sleeper.

“I committed to the University of Buffalo,’’ Hughes told Rivals. “Me and my family just feel like it’s a good situation for me. It’s a positive opportunity and I just feel that it's a good fit. They throw the ball, I'll have an opportunity to play as a freshman and academically it's a great school.”

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

UB's injury list adds more names

The ever-expanding UB injury list grew a little more on Friday. Redshirt freshman defensive end Willie Moseley and senior free safety Chris Storr are both done for the season.

Moseley suffered a fractured his hip during the Bulls' loss last week at Western Michigan and the injury required season-ending surgery. Storr suffered an MCL sprain during the Western Michigan game and his career is over.

Senior right tackle Andrew West (broken hand) and sophomore cornerback Joe Petit (concussion) are doubtful. Junior tailbacks Ike Nduka (ankle), Brandon Thermilus (ankle) and senior tailback Mario Henry (ankle) are questionable as are junior left guard Peter Bittner (ankle), junior tight end Kyle Brey (shoulder) and junior corner Josh Thomas (concussion).

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)