2023–24 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team

The 2023–24 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulls, led by first-year head coach George Halcovage III, played their home games at Alumni Arena in Amherst, New York as members of the Mid-American Conference.[1][2] They finished the season 4–27, 2–16 in MAC play, to finish in last place.[3] They failed to qualify for the MAC tournament.

2023–24 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record4–27 (2–16 MAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Hamlet Tibbs (1st season)
  • Jake Presutti (1st season)
  • Calvin Cage (1st season)
Home arenaAlumni Arena
2023–24 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Toledo144 .7782012  .625
Akron135 .7222411  .686
Ohio135 .7222013  .606
Central Michigan126 .6671814  .563
Bowling Green108 .5562014  .588
Western Michigan99 .5001220  .375
Miami (OH)99 .5001517  .469
Kent State810 .4441717  .500
Ball State711 .3891516  .484
Eastern Michigan612 .3331318  .419
Northern Illinois513 .2781120  .355
Buffalo216 .111427  .129
2024 MAC tournament winner

Previous season

The Bulls finished the season 15–17, 9–9 in MAC play, to finish in a tie for sixth place.[4] As the No. 6 seed in the MAC tournament they lost to Akron in the quarterfinals.[5] On March 11, 2023, the school fired head coach Jim Whitesell.[6] On March 30, the school named longtime Villanova assistant coach George Halcovage the team's new head coach.[7]

Offseason

Departures

Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason
LaQuill Hardnett 1 F 6'8" 205 Senior Philadelphia, PA Transferred to Arkansas State
Kidtrell Blocker 2 G 6'5" 164 Sophomore Rochester, NY Transferred to IUPUI
Curtis Jones 3 G 6'5" 180 Sophomore Minneapolis, MN Transferred to Iowa State
Armoni Foster 4 G 6'4" 180 Graduate student Meadville, PA Exhausted eligibility
Devin Ceaser 10 G 6'1" 172 Freshman Waldorf, MD Transferred to Old Dominion
Kuluel Mading 11 F 6'9" 208 Sophomore High Point, NC Transferred to Norfolk State
Yadiz Powell 13 G 6'4" 195 Junior Philadelphia, PA Transferred to UTEP
Isaac Jack 31 C 6'1" 251 Freshman Port Alberni, BC Transferred to Dayton
Jaden Slaughter 33 G 6'5" 202 Freshman Buffalo, NY Transferred to Coahoma CC

[8][9][10]

Incoming transfers

Incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason
James Graham 12 G/F 6'7" 208 Junior Milwaukee, WI Transferred from Missouri State

[8][10]

Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Ryan Sabol
G
Washington, D.C. Gonzaga College High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Anquan Boldin Jr.
G
Delray Beach, FL IMG Academy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 194 lb (88 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Shawn Fulcher
G
Brooklyn, NY Ellsworth CC 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Bryson Wilson
F
Washington, D.C. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Lloyd McVeigh
F
Cabarita Beach, Australia 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Diovion Famakinde
G
Woodstock, CT Hargrave Military Academy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 224 lb (102 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 77
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:

  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Roster

2023–24 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Kanye Jones 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoBoston College Orlando, FL
F 1 Sy Chatman 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)227 lb (103 kg) Illinois State Minneapolis, MN
G 2 Ryan Sabol 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 lb (88 kg) FrGonzaga College High School Washington, D.C.
F 3 Isaiah Adams 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg) SrUCF Jacksonville, FL
G 4 Anquan Boldin Jr. 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)194 lb (88 kg) FrIMG Academy Delray Beach, FL
F 5 Zaakir Williamson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)230 lb (104 kg) RS SoNeumann Goretti HS Philadelphia, PA
G 10 Shawn Fulcher 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)170 lb (77 kg) FrEllsworth CC Brooklyn, NY
F 11 Bryson Wilson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)210 lb (95 kg) FrSt. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Washington, D.C.
G/F 12 James Graham 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)208 lb (94 kg) JrMissouri State Milwaukee, WI
G 14 Lloyd McVeigh 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrThe Southport School Cabarita Beach, Australia
F 15 Jonnivius Smith 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)200 lb (91 kg) SrSeton Hall Selma, AL
G 24 Diovion Famakinde 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)224 lb (102 kg) FrHargrave Military Academy Woodstock, CT
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: December 8, 2023

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 23, 2023*
7:00 p.m.
Daemen W 71–67 
 15  tied  7  tied  7  Adams  Alumni Arena (1,751)
Amherst, NY
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:30 p.m., ESPN+
Fairleigh Dickinson L 86–92  0–1
 28  Adams  19  Smith  5  Adams  Alumni Arena (2,500)
Amherst, NY
November 11, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
South Alabama
MAC-SBC Challenge
L 56–70  0–2
 16  Chatman  8  Chatman  5  Jones  Alumni Arena (2,080)
Amherst, NY
November 15, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Roberts Wesleyan W 89–83  1–2
 19  Chatman  16  Smith  5  Fulcher  Alumni Arena (2,169)
Amherst, NY
November 20, 2023*
7:30 p.m., FloSports
vs. Hofstra
Gulf Coast Showcase quarterfinals
L 68–102  1–3
 15  Chatman  8  Smith  5  Adams  Hertz Arena (314)
Estero, FL
November 21, 2023*
1:30 p.m., FloSports
vs. Louisiana
Gulf Coast Showcase consolation 2nd round
L 60–68  1–4
 13  tied  8  Smith  3  tied  Hertz Arena (231)
Estero, FL
November 22, 2023*
11:00 a.m., FloSports
vs. Iona
Gulf Coast Showcase 7th-place game
L 64–89  1–5
 14  Chatman  10  Smith  3  Saboi  Hertz Arena (213)
Estero, FL
November 29, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at No. 22 James Madison L 66–81  1–6
 19  Chatman  5  tied  3  tied  Atlantic Union Bank Center (5,106)
Harrisonburg, VA
December 2, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
St. Bonaventure L 65–80  1–7
 20  Chatman  11  Chatman  5  Fulcher  Alumni Arena (3,324)
Amherst, NY
December 5, 2023*
8:30 p.m., FS1
at Butler L 59–72  1–8
 16  Chatman  8  Chatman  3  Boldin Jr.  Hinkle Fieldhouse (6,262)
Indianapolis, IN
December 9, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
Western Kentucky L 65–82  1–9
 21  Chatman  11  Chatman  7  Sabol  Alumni Arena (2,186)
Amherst, NY
December 21, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Richmond L 66–72  1–10
 21  Chatman  8  Smith  3  Fulcher  Robins Center (4,897)
Richmond, VA
December 29, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Niagara L 63–69  1–11
 29  Chatman  13  Chatman  6  Sabol  Alumni Arena (4,663)
Amherst, NY
MAC regular season
January 2, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Central Michigan W 76–64  2–11
(1–0)
 26  Chatman  15  Smith  3  tied  McGuirk Arena (1,088)
Mount Pleasant, MI
January 6, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
Western Michigan L 77–82  2–12
(1–1)
 24  Chatman  13  Smith  4  Adams  Alumni Arena (2,260)
Amherst, NY
January 9, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Miami (OH) L 65–86  2–13
(1–2)
 20  Fulcher  5  tied  5  Adams  Alumni Arena (1,361)
Amherst, NY
January 12, 2024
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Akron L 59–76  2–14
(1–3)
 23  Chatman  7  tied  8  Adams  James A. Rhodes Arena (2,535)
Akron, OH
January 16, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Toledo L 66–77  2–15
(1–4)
 24  Adams  10  Smith  4  Chatman  Savage Arena (3,689)
Toledo, OH
January 23, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Ball State L 59–87  2–16
(1–5)
 27  Chatman  7  tied  5  Sabol  Alumni Arena (2,007)
Amherst, NY
January 27, 2024
3:30 p.m., ESPN+
at Eastern Michigan L 65–75  2–17
(1–6)
 13  Adams  11  Smith  4  Adams  George Gervin GameAbove Center (2,095)
Ypsilanti, MI
January 30, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Ohio L 70–91  2–18
(1–7)
 22  Chatman  13  Smith  4  Chatman  Convocation Center (3,652)
Athens, OH
February 3, 2024
8:30 p.m., ESPN+
Kent State L 52–83  2–19
(1–8)
 12  tied  5  Boldin Jr.  3  tied  Alumni Arena (2,042)
Amherst, NY
February 6, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Bowling Green L 73–87  2–20
(1–9)
 21  Sabol  9  Smith  6  tied  Stroh Center (1,704)
Bowling Green, OH
February 10, 2024*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Georgia Southern
MAC-SBC Challenge
W 82–81 OT 3–20
 24  Adams  12  Chatman  6  Adams  Hanner Fieldhouse (1,524)
Statesboro, GA
February 13, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Northern Illinois L 68–72  3–21
(1–10)
 18  Chatman  12  Smith  5  tied  Convocation Center (1,425)
DeKalb, IL
February 17, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
Akron L 62–73  3–22
(1–11)
 24  Chatman  8  Chatman  4  tied  Alumni Arena (2,721)
Amherst, NY
February 20, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Eastern Michigan W 78–69  4–22
(2–11)
 23  Chatman  13  Chatman  8  Fulcher  Alumni Arena (2,946)
Amherst, NY
February 24, 2024
2:30 p.m., ESPN+
at Western Michigan L 72–91  4–23
(2–12)
 23  Chatman  11  Smith  4  Adams  University Arena (1,928)
Kalamazoo, MI
February 27, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Kent State L 64–76  4–24
(2–13)
 19  Adams  10  Smith  5  Fulcher  MAC Center (2,928)
Kent, OH
March 2, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
Toledo L 79–85  4–25
(2–14)
 25  Chatman  10  Chatman  5  Adams  Alumni Arena (2,476)
Amherst, NY
March 5, 2024
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
Ohio L 66–78  4–26
(2–15)
 25  Chatman  8  tied  7  Adams  Alumni Arena (2,140)
Amherst, NY
March 8, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Northern Illinois L 68–78  4–27
(2–16)
 22  Sabol  7  Smith  5  Fulcher  Alumni Arena (2,416)
Amherst, NY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source[11][12]

References

  1. "GEORGE HALCOVAGE III". University of Buffalo Athletics. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  2. "MAC Men's College Basketball Standings - 2023-24". ESPN. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  3. "MAC Basketball Standings - 2023-24". ESPN. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  4. "MAC Basketball Standings - 2022-23". ESPN. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  5. "Buffalo 77, Akron 101". ESPN. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  6. "Buffalo fires men's basketball coach Jim Whitesell after 4 seasons". ESPN. 2023-03-11. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  7. "Buffalo hires Nova assistant Halcovage as coach". ESPN.com. 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  8. "2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster". Buffalo Athletics. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  9. "2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster". Buffalo Athletics. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  10. "2023 D1 Basketball Transfers". Verbal Commits. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  11. "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". University of Buffalo Athletics.
  12. "Buffalo Bulls Schedule 2023-24". ESPN.
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