The biggest challenge for every new coach in college basketball
With the coaching carousel finally at rest (we think), here's the toughest task for each of the 59 new Division I bosses.
2020 ScheduleAll times ET
2020 Schedule
1st in MAC E
- 11/8
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 11/11NAZh:mm a z, US/Eastern
- 11/16
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 11/21
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 11/30
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/3
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/8
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/14
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/18
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/21
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/30
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/4
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/7
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/10
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/14
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/18
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/21
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/24
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - TBD
- 1/31
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 2/4
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 2/8h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- TBD
- 2/18h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- 2/22h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- 2/25h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- 2/29h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- 3/3h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- TBD
- Full Schedule
Your guide to 13 early-season college basketball tournaments
The fields for 13 early-season college basketball tournaments were announced Thursday. Here's your handy guide to all 13 ESPN-aired events.
Vols-Huskies to highlight Naismith tripleheader
Toronto will host a college basketball tripleheader featuring three teams that reached the NCAA Tournament this past season.
Bama gets good news: Lewis to return next year
Alabama guard Kira Lewis Jr., the SEC All-Freshman who entered the NCAA transfer portal following the departure of coach Avery Johnson two weeks ago, announced on Monday that he'll return to Tuscaloosa for his sophomore season.
Buffalo promotes top assistant to replace Oats
Jim Whitesell, the top assistant under Nate Oats as Buffalo made the NCAA tournament three times over the past four seasons, will take over as the new coach of the program.
Alabama hires Buffalo's Oats as head coach
Alabama has hired Nate Oats as its next coach, replacing Avery Johnson. Oats led Buffalo to the second round of the 2018 and 2019 NCAA tournaments.
Culver, stifling defense, send Texas Tech over Buffalo 78-58
Texas Tech dominated on defense once again and, boosted by Jarrett Culver's 16 points and 10 rebounds, shut down Buffalo 78-58 Sunday to reach the Sweet 16 for the second straight year.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
Texas Tech delivered yet another dominant defensive performance, holding Buffalo to 27 points below its scoring average. During one smothering stretch, the Bulls went more than 11 minutes without a field goal. As a result, Chris Beard and the Red Raiders are back in the Sweet 16 for a second consecutive year.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
Buffalo's fewest points scored in a half this season had been 30, per ESPN Stats & Info. Texas Tech has held the Bulls to 25 through one half in Tulsa.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
Stat of the game so far: Texas Tech has 7 offensive rebounds. Buffalo has 4 rebounds total. Red Raiders imposing themselves in the paint at both ends.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
It's defense vs. offense in the Tulsa regional, with a Sweet 16 berth on the line. High-powered Buffalo averages more than 85 points per game, fourth-most in Division I. On the other side, Texas Tech boasts one of college hoops' most hellacious defenses; the Red Raiders surrender only 59 points a game, third-fewest in Division I.
Paul Sabin ESPN Analytics
BPI favorites were 8-0 in the round of 32 on Saturday despite LSU and Auburn having less than a 55% chance to win. On Sunday there could be less drama as Texas Tech, who has a 71% chance to beat Buffalo, is the most vulnerable favorite per espn.com/bpi .
Reseeding the 2019 NCAA tournament field for the round of 32
We started with 68 on Tuesday night. Now we're down to 32. Here's how we rank them heading into Saturday.
Looking dangerous, No. 6 seed Buffalo breezes past ASU
Looking like a No. 6 seed no one wants to play, high-scoring Buffalo breezed into the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
In the aftermath of Buffalo handling Arizona State, Nate Oats was appreciative, while Bobby Hurley was complimentary. Oats, who coached under Hurley before succeeding him at Buffalo in 2015, said just before tip, he thanked Hurley "for everything he's done for my career. ... I just tried not to look down (his) way during the game.” Hurley, who noted he'll be pulling for Buffalo the rest of the way, said Oats' own personality has "rubbed off" on the Bulls in "how hard the team competes."
Farnham, Ellis predicting deep runs for Buffalo (0:56)
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
On the way to destroying former coach Bobby Hurley and Arizona State, Buffalo put up 91 points, tied for third-most ever by a MAC team in an NCAA Tournament game, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Oklahoma is the only other team to score 90-plus this tournament. The Bulls remain on fire, having not lost since the first day of February.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils have no answer for his former team right now. Buffalo is controlling the glass and exploding into transition. After a quick start fresh off the flight from Dayton, Arizona State is teetering on the edge of getting blown out.
Giant Killers' 10 most likely first-round upsets in the 2019 NCAA tournament
Looking for a first-round upset? The Giant Killers model has several possibilities, including Ja Morant and Murray State pulling off a surprise.
Bilas: Two of the best non Power-5 teams in West (4:20)
2019 NCAA tournament bracket projection for Buffalo Bulls
ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi's team of bracketologists examines the 2019 NCAA tournament outlook for the Buffalo Bulls.
Raging Bulls: Buffalo wins fourth MAC title in 5 years
Jeremy Harris scored 31 points, C.J. Massinburg added 17 and No. 18 Buffalo won its fourth Mid-American Conference title in five years -- and further stamped itself as a team to fear in the NCAA Tournament -- by beating Bowling Green 87-73 on Saturday...
Harris drops 31 as Buffalo wins MAC Championship (1:18)
Graves knocks down big 3 (0:26)
Plowden ties game with deep 3 (0:21)
2018-19 MAC Standings
| EAST | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 16-2 | - | 32-4 |
| Bowling Green | 12-6 | 4 | 22-12 |
| Kent State | 11-7 | 5 | 22-11 |
| Akron | 8-10 | 8 | 17-16 |
| Miami (OH) | 7-11 | 9 | 15-17 |
| Ohio | 6-12 | 10 | 14-17 |
| WEST | CONF | GB | OVR |
| Toledo | 13-5 | - | 25-8 |
| Central Michigan | 10-8 | 3 | 23-12 |
| Eastern Michigan | 9-9 | 4 | 15-17 |
| Northern Illinois | 8-10 | 5 | 17-17 |
| Ball State | 6-12 | 7 | 16-17 |
| Western Michigan | 2-16 | 11 | 8-24 |
Team Stats
Points Per Game84.412th
Rebounds Per Game40.920th
Assists Per Game16.626th
Points Allowed70.8162nd
2020 Recruits
| NAME | POS | STATUS | GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chanse Robinson | PG | Committed | 80 |
Find Tickets
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Tournament History
| Final Fours | 0 |
| Tournament Record | 0-2 |
| Championship Seasons | None |
| Tournament Appearances | 2 |