By Paul Casey Gotham
Setting: It’s the “Battle of Main Street” as Reggie Witherspoon brings his 2-1 UB Bulls west a few stop lights to the Koessler Athletic Center for a throw-down with Tom Parrotta and the 2-1 Canisius Golden Griffins.
Plot: Mid-American Conference meets Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference for hometown bragging rights.
Sub-plot: Both teams are coming off home wins on Saturday. UB knocked off Towson while Canisius took care of Eastern Michigan. Both teams spend the next week on the round. UB travels to Indiana St., Army and St. Bonaventure before returning home to play Niagara on December eighth. The Griffs set out for Binghamton, Iona, Marist and South Dakota before hosting St. Francis on the tenth. Canisius is looking to go 3-0 at home for the first time since 1995-96.
Flashback: A year ago, Frank Turner hit a jumper in the final seconds as the Griffs trimmed the Bulls 73-71 at Alumni Arena. The win ended a five-game streak for the Bulls in the series. Canisius holds a 29-13 edge in the all-time series.
Canisius has earned four invitations to the NCAA tournament with back-to-back Elite Eight showings in ’55 and ’56.
Foreshadowing: Eleven Golden Griffins have gone on to play in the National Basketball Association including Mike Smrek who won a pair of titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Conflict: Which team will dictate pace? The Bulls will want to push the ball in transition and look for the first available shot. The Griffs want to confuse opponents with a variety of defenses.
UB averages 76 points per game while allowing 62. The Griffs score a little less than 73 and give up 69. At first glance, it seems the two teams play at a similar pace. Take out the 86-67 loss to Syracuse and the Griffs’ numbers change. Canisius held Eastern Michigan (another MAC school) to 51 points over the weekend. Buffalo has attempted 193 field goals to 176 for Canisius. It doesn’t seem like much, but that is six shots or possibly six possessions per game.
Which team will impose their will upon the other?
The Griffs defensive comes from their offense. Canisius uses made baskets and dead ball situations to establish their three-quarter court press.
For UB, junior, Zach Filzen, leads a quartet of Bulls scoring in double figures. The 6’3″ guard hits 39 percent from behind the arc. He has 11 of 28 from long range thus far. Byron Mulkey and Dave Barnett combine for another 25 points from the perimeter. Javon McCrea comes off the bench and adds 10 points and leads the Bulls with eight rebounds per game. McCrea and Mitchell Watt have each grabbed 11 offensive rebounds.
The Griffs defense starts with their offense. They will need to slow the Bulls in transition and keep them off the glass. Canisius uses made baskets and dead ball situations to establish their three-quarter court press. Canisius confused Eastern Michigan with a variety of defenses. Using the 1-2-2 three-quarter court press the Griffs transitioned into either a 2-3 zone or man to man.
Seniors starters, Julius Coles, Elton Frazier, Robert Goldsberry and Tomas Vazquez-Simmons have all take turns leading the Griffs. Coles poured in 21 versus St. Bonaventure. Frazier turned in a double-double (16 points and 12 rebounds) at the Carrier Dome. Goldsberry and Vazquez-Simmons scored 14 apiece in the 20-point win over EMU. Meanwhile, Gaby Belardo averages over four assists and one steal per game.
Canisius might be best measured by its bench which outscores the opposing pine 80-48. Senior, Greg Logins knocks down 10 a game including 5-16 from behind the arc. Reggie Groves and Alshwan Hymes keyed a 10-0 run against EMU. Hymes averages eight a game and hits 42.9 percent from behind the arc.
Resolution: Early-season statistics can be deceiving. On paper, the Bulls may look superior, but that is only because of the Griffs took on national power, Syracuse. The Koessler is becoming not-so-friendly for visitors. The trend continues tonight as the Griffs tame the running of the Bulls.
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