Buffalo Looks to Continue Hot March Against Arizona State
#6 Buffalo (31-3, 16-2 MAC) vs. #11 Arizona State (23-10, 12-6 PAC-12)
March 22, 2019
BOK Center - 4:00 pm ET (TNT)
Story Courtesy of Buffalo Sports Information
The Bulls head to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five years, one of just 25 teams nationally to make at least four tournaments over the last five year period. UB became the first MAC team ever to win four conference tournaments in a five-year stretch with its 87-73 win over Bowling Green in the MAC Championship on Saturday night. Buffalo heads into the NCAA Tournament as a #6 seed in the West Region, the highest seeding for a MAC team since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
Buffalo is one of 23 schools to have both their men's and women's team in the NCAA Tournament, but one of only three schools to have earned the league's automatic bid on both sides, joining Abilene Christian out of the Southland and New Mexico St. out of the WAC.
Buffalo enters the NCAA Tournament as a #6 seed in the West Region, the highest by a MAC program since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. This is the second straight year UB is in the NCAA Tournament and the fourth time in five years. Buffalo is one of just 25 teams that has made four tournaments over the last five year period.
The meeting against Arizona State will be a reunion between current UB head coach Nate Oats and his predecessor Bobby Hurley, who is in his fourth season at Arizona State after spending two years as the head coach at Buffalo, leading the Bulls to their first NCAA Tournament in 2014-15.
The Bulls enter the NCAA Tournament with a 31-3 record, tied with Houston for the best record in the nation. The 31 wins are the most ever by a Mid-American Conference team.
Senior CJ Massinburg one of just four players in the nation with over 1,900 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists, and 100 steals, joining Ethan Happ of Wisconsin, John Konchar of Purdue-Fort Wayne, and Justin James of Wyoming.
UB has won 58 games over the last two seasons, tied for the sixth highest total in the nation.
