2015–16 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team

The 2015–16 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represented the University at Buffalo during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulls, led by first year head coach Nate Oats, played their home games at Alumni Arena as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 20–15, 10–8 in MAC play to finish in a tie for third place in the East Division and third place overall. They defeated Miami (OH), Ohio, and Akron to be champions of the MAC Tournament and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. In their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, they lost to Miami (FL) in the first round.

2015–16 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball
MAC Tournament champions
NCAA Tournament, First Round
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionEast Division
2015–16 record20–15 (10–8 MAC)
Head coachNate Oats (1st season)
Assistant coaches
Home arenaAlumni Arena
2015–16 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
East
Akron13–5 .722  26–9  .743
Ohio11–7 .611  23–12  .657
Kent State10–8 .556  19–13  .594
Buffalo †10–8 .556  20–15  .571
Miami (OH)6–12 .333  13–20  .394
Bowling Green5–13 .278  16–18  .471
West
Ball State10–8 .556  21–14  .600
Central Michigan10–8 .556  17–16  .515
Northern Illinois9–9 .500  21–13  .618
Eastern Michigan9–9 .500  18–15  .545
Toledo8–10 .444  17–15  .531
Western Michigan7–11 .389  13–19  .406
† 2016 MAC Tournament winner

Previous season

The Bulls finished the 2014–15 season 23–10, 12–6 in MAC play to be co–champions of the East Division and co–champions of the MAC overall regular season. They defeated Akron and Central Michigan to become champions of the MAC Tournament. They received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, their first NCAA Tournament bid in school history, where they lost in the second round to West Virginia.

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Will Regan2F6'8"230SeniorBuffalo, NYGraduated
Bobby Frasco3G6'4"185FreshmanMount Prospect, ILTransferred to Quincy University
Shannon Evans11G6'1"170SophomoreSuffolk, VATransferred to Arizona State
Justin Moss23F6'7"240JuniorDetroit, MIDismissed from the team due violation of team rules
Xavier Ford35F6'7"210SeniorColorado Springs, COGraduated

Incoming Transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Blake Hamilton0G6'6"205JuniorPasadena, CAJunior college transferred from Mt. San Antonio College
Willie Conner III2G6'5"185JuniorChicago, ILJunior college transferred from Angelina College
David Kadiri4F6'8"190JuniorFort Washington, MDJunior college transferred from South Plains College

Recruiting class of 2015
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Nick Perkins
PF		 Ypsilanti, MI Milan High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) N/A Sep 24, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
C. J. Massinburg
SG		 Dallas, TX South Oak Cliff High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/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:

  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 19, 2015.

    Recruiting class of 2016

    Roster
    2015–16 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G/F 0 Blake Hamilton 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg) JrPasadena HS
    Mt. San Antonio College    		 Pasadena, CA
    G 1 Lamonte Bearden 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)160 lb (73 kg) SoGermantown HS Milwaukee, WI
    G/F 2 Willie Conner 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg) JrRichard T. Crane HS
    Angelina College    		 Chicago, IL
    G 3 C. J. Massinburg 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)170 lb (77 kg) FrSouth Oak Cliff HS Dallas, TX
    F 4 David Kadiri 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrCoolidge HS
    South Plains College    		 Laurel, MD
    G 5 Mory Diane 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg) SoPershing HS Detroit, MI
    G 10 Jarryn Skeete 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg) SrWasatch Academy
    Bridgton Academy    		 Brampton, ON
    G 15 Zac DiSalvo 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)165 lb (75 kg) FrGreece Athena HS Rochester, NY
    G/F 20 Rodell Wigginton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)215 lb (98 kg) SrLee Academy
    College of Central Florida    		 Dartmouth, NS
    G/F 21 Nikola Rakićević 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrE-Gimnazija Novi Sad Smederevska Palanka, Serbia
    G 24 Christian Pino 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)145 lb (66 kg) RS SoRomulus HS
    Arizona State    		 Detroit, MI
    F 31 Raheem Johnson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)235 lb (107 kg) SrRomulus HS
    Barton CC    		 Detroit, MI
    F 33 Nick Perkins 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg) FrMilan HS Ypsilanti, MI
    F 34 Ikenna Smart 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)235 lb (107 kg) RS FrNew Garden Friends School Greensboro, NC
    G 35 Tyler Moffe 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)168 lb (76 kg) FrElmira HS Elmira, NY
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule

    Source:

    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    11/06/2015*
    9:00 PM    		 Daemen W 87–68 
    		 25 – Massinburg  11 – Smart  5 – Bearden  Alumni Arena (3,257)
    Amherst, NY
    Non-conference regular season
    11/13/2015*
    9:00 PM    		 Pittsburgh–Bradford W 109–49  1–0
    		  25 – Wigginton  10 – Wigginton  4 – Bearden  Alumni Arena (3,112)
    Amherst, NY
    11/16/2015*
    7:00 PM    		 at Old Dominion
    Hall of Fame Tip Off    		 L 58–77  1–1
    		  12 – Skeete  5 – Tied  2 – Massinburg  Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,906)
    Norfolk, VA
    11/18/2015*
    7:00 PM    		 at Saint Joseph's
    Hall of Fame Tip Off    		 L 67–89  1–2
    		  14 – Hamilton  7 – Hamilton  4 – Skeete  Hagan Arena (3,451)
    Philadelphia, PA
    11/21/2015*
    7:30 PM    		 vs. North Carolina A&T
    Hall of Fame Tip Off    		 W 86–68  2–2
    		  19 – Wigginton  11 – Wigginton  5 – Wigginton  Mohegan Sun Arena (4,507)
    Uncasville, CT
    11/22/2015*
    8:00 PM    		 vs. Vermont
    Hall of Fame Tip Off    		 W 77–71  3–2
    		  20 – Bearden  7 – Hamilton  4 – Bearden  Mohegan Sun Arena (3,813)
    Uncasville, CT
    11/28/2015*
    2:00 PM    		 Canisius W 98–96 OT 4–2
    		  18 – Bearden  8 – Wigginton  5 – Bearden  Alumni Arena (3,112)
    Amherst, NY
    12/02/2015*
    7:00 PM    		 St. Bonaventure L 58–60  4–3
    		  16 – Wigginton  10 – Wigginton  2 – Wigginton  Alumni Arena (4,192)
    Amherst, NY
    12/05/2015*
    5:15 PM, ESPN2    		 at No. 7 Duke L 59–82  4–4
    		  17 – Massinburg  9 – Smart  3 – Bearden  Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314)
    Durham, NC
    12/07/2015*
    9:00 PM, ESPNU    		 at No. 4 Iowa State L 63–84  4–5
    		  16 – Skeete  4 – Tied  3 – Bearden  Hilton Coliseum (14,130)
    Ames, IA
    12/12/2015*
    2:00 PM    		 Binghamton W 80–64  5–5
    		  17 – Massinburg  11 – Wigginton  8 – Hamilton  Alumni Arena (3,031)
    Amherst, NY
    12/19/2015*
    2:00 PM    		 Montana State W 80–73  6–5
    		  18 – Bearden  8 – Wigginton  4 – Bearden  Alumni Arena (2,384)
    Amherst, NY
    12/22/2015*
    7:00 PM, CSNMA    		 at VCU L 69–90  6–6
    		  17 – Wigginton  9 – Wigginton  4 – Massinburg  Siegel Center (7,637)
    Richmond, VA
    12/29/2015*
    7:00 PM    		 Delaware W 99–79  7–6
    		  23 – Connor  7 – Tied  6 – Connor  Alumni Arena (3,212)
    Amherst, NY
    MAC regular season
    01/05/2016
    7:00 PM, ASN/ESPN3    		 Akron L 71–75  7–7
    (0–1)    		  16 – Connor  7 – Connor  3 – Hamilton  Alumni Arena (2,226)
    Amherst, NY
    01/08/2016
    7:00 PM, CBSSN    		 at Kent State W 76–67  8–7
    (1–1)    		  22 – Connor  8 – Wigginton  8 – Bearden  MAC Center (3,522)
    Kent, OH
    01/12/2016
    7:00 PM, ESPN3    		 at Eastern Michigan L 69-81  8-8
    (1-2)    		  16 – Hamilton  13 – Perkins  2 – Tied  Convocation Center (1333)
    Ypsilanti, MI
    01/16/2016
    3:30 PM, ESPN3    		 Central Michigan W 74-61  9-8
    (2-2)    		  14 – Hamilton  9 – Hamilton  12 – Skeete  Alumni Arena (3,547)
    Amherst, NY
    01/19/2016
    7:00 PM, ESPN3    		 at Miami (OH) W 77–60  10–8
    (3–2)    		  22 – Hamilton  10 – Smart  4 – Tied  Millett Hall (1,221)
    Oxford, OH
    01/23/2016
    4:35 PM    		 at Western Michigan L 71–91  10–9
    (3–3)    		  17 – Connor  8 – Hamilton  4 – Skeete  University Arena (3,079)
    Kalamazoo, MI
    01/26/2016
    7:00 PM    		 Ball State W 76–64  11–9
    (4–3)    		  18 – Bearden  9 – Hamilton  6 – Tied  Alumni Arena (3,522)
    Amherst, NY
    01/30/2016
    7:00 PM    		 at Toledo W 73–68  12–9
    (5–3)    		  17 – Hamilton  8 – Wigginton  3 – Tied  Savage Arena (5,041)
    Toledo, OH
    02/02/2016
    9:00 PM, ASN/ESPN3    		 at Northern Illinois W 90–78  13–9
    (6–3)    		  23 – Bearden  7 – Tied  7 – Bearden  Convocation Center (1,494)
    DeKalb, IL
    02/06/2016
    3:30 PM    		 Eastern Michigan W 80–70  14–9
    (7–3)    		  14 – Tied  9 – Hamilton  4 – Tied  Alumni Arena (3,417)
    Amherst, NY
    02/09/2016
    7:00 PM, TWCSC/ESPN3    		 Toledo L 69–71  14–10
    (7–4)    		  17 – Perkins  6 – Perkins  8 – Hamilton  Alumni Arena (2,706)
    Amherst, NY
    02/13/2016
    2:00 PM, ESPNU    		 Ohio L 75–94  14–11
    (7–5)    		  36 – Massinburg  6 – Hamilton  4 – Hamilton  Alumni Arena (2,702)
    Amherst, NY
    02/16/2016
    7:00 pm    		 at Akron L 70–80  14–12
    (7–6)    		  21 – Massinburg  8 – Hamilton  3 – Hamilton  James A. Rhodes Arena (3,069)
    Akron, OH
    02/20/2016
    12:00 PM    		 Bowling Green W 88–74  15–12
    (8–6)    		  24 – Hamilton  7 – Hamilton  6 – Bearden  Alumni Arena (3,397)
    Amherst, NY
    02/23/2016
    6:00 PM, TWCSC/ESPN3    		 Kent State W 87–70  16–12
    (9–6)    		  21 – Massinburg  7 – Smart  8 – Bearden  Alumni Arena (3,284)
    Amherst, NY
    02/27/2016
    3:30 PM    		 at Ohio L 96–103 OT 16–13
    (9–7)    		  28 – Connor  11 – Hamilton  4 – Bearden  Convocation Center (7,221)
    Athens, OH
    03/01/2016
    7:00 PM    		 Miami (OH) L 59–67  16–14
    (9–8)    		  20 – Hamilton  13 – Hamilton  7 – Bearden  Alumni Arena (4,798)
    Amherst, NY
    03/04/2016
    7:00 PM    		 at Bowling Green W 87–83  17–14
    (10–8)    		  20 – Tied  5 – Tied  4 – Bearden  Stroh Center (2,189)
    Bowling Green, OH
    MAC Tournament
    03/10/2016
    9:00 PM, ESPN3    		 (3) vs. (11) Miami (OH)
    Quarterfinals    		 W 94–81  18–14
    		  25 – Connor  16 – Hamilton  7 – Hamilton  Quicken Loans Arena (2,311)
    Cleveland, OH
    03/11/2016
    9:00 PM    		 (3) vs. (2) Ohio
    Semifinals    		 W 88–74  19–14
    		  22 – Connor  9 – Tied  9 – Bearden  Quicken Loans Arena (6,427)
    Cleveland, OH
    03/12/2016
    7:30 PM, ESPN2    		 (3) vs. (1) Akron
    Championship game    		 W 64–61  20–14
    		  18 – Massinburg  11 – Hamilton  6 – Bearden  Quicken Loans Arena (6,719)
    Cleveland, OH
    NCAA Tournament
    03/17/2016*
    6:50 pm, TNT    		 (14 S) vs. (3 S) No. 11 Miami (FL)
    First round    		 L 72–79  20–15
    		  20 – Perkins  9 – Hamilton  3 – Bearden  Dunkin' Donuts Center (11,559)
    Providence, RI
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. S=South Region.
    All times are in Eastern Time.

    References
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