Sports
Related Photos
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Betts brings a lot to the table for UB
AMHERST — Calvin Betts has climbed his way up to fourth on the University at Buffalo’s all-time rebounding list, an impressive position for a 6-foot-3 wing player who only occasionally moonlights at power forward.
“It’s definitely a good feeling to be up there with those big boys — Mark Bortz, Yassin Idbihi, 6-11, 7-foot guys,” Betts said this week.
Coming out of Rochester’s Rush-Henrietta High School four years ago, the burly Betts had the instincts of a post player. He’s evolved into a well-rounded force for the Bulls, leading the team in rebounds and steals, and ranking second in scoring and third in assists and blocks in his senior season.
“We can’t win without him,” said Rodney Pierce, UB’s leading scorer and one of the candidates for Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. “When he plays well, when he plays with energy and determination, we rarely lose.”
Last year, Betts led UB in 3-point percentage (39.4), and though his accuracy has dipped a bit this year, he’s still a threat from long-range. In Saturday’s home win over Kent State, he hit three 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes to help the Bulls stake out a big early lead.
“He’s improved as a shooter every year,” coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “He’s not as good as he thinks he is. He thinks he can live on the arc. We need him to rebound.”
Betts is averaging 7.3 rebounds this season, which ranks fourth in the MAC. He’s had eight or more boards in four of the Bulls’ last five games.
“He’s quick to the rim and he’s strong,” Witherspoon said. “He has a combination of strong hands and soft hands, so if he gets his fingertips on it, he can pull it in.”
Betts was playing at a similarly high level for the first half of last season, before hurting his knee in the middle of January. He missed only one game due to the injury, then averaged just 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds over the next six weeks. At the same time, he was grieving the loss of his grandfather.
“I think it affected him tremendously. He went into a slide there for a while, and really struggled to exert himself,” Witherspoon said. “Three things come into play. First and foremost was the passing of his grandfather, who he was close with. Second was his injury, and third was we won some games when he wasn’t at his best, and he began to defer a little bit.”
Betts returned to full strength and regained his assertiveness around in time for the MAC tournament. In a quarterfinal win over Kent State, he has 18 rebounds, the second most in tournament history.
This season, Witherspoon has had to remind Betts to assert himself like that every time he’s on the floor.
“When he does that, he really uplifts us,” Witherspoon said.
Betts said that has gotten easier as the season progressed because he’s dropped about 20 pounds since training camp, getting down to his listed weight, 225.
“The guys on the team call him ‘Snacks.’ We wanted from him to have a little discipline in that area, and he’s done that,” Witherspoon said. “Calvin is a compassionate person. He’s somebody who really cares. He’s come a long way academically as well and he’s going to leave here with a four-year degree. He’s learned a lot of life lessons and grown up a lot.”
GAME NIGHT
UB (14-9, 7-5 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (13-11, 6-6)
• WHEN: 7 p.m.
• WHERE: Alumni Arena
• RADIO: WECK 1230
• TV: TW-13
- Sports
-
-
Bulls come out firing in opener
The Buffalo Bulls are off to a fast start under new coach Jeff Quinn.
After using the first quarter of Thursday night’s opener to get warmed up, UB’s no-huddle spread offense exploded for three second quarter touchdowns, propelling the Bulls to a 31-0 victory over visiting Rhode Island.
-
Bills lose early lead in preseason finale
Matthew Stafford had an interception returned for a touchdown, but third-stringer Drew Stanton threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes to lift the Detroit Lions to a 28-23 win over the Buffalo Bills in their preseason finale Thursday night.
-
Bisons fall, get ousted
To the delight of the season’s third-largest crowd, the Bisons won the final inning Thursday night. And little else. Picked clean by the parent New York Mets, the tattered Herd faded from the International League playoff picture in a 9-2 Coca-Cola Field loss to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankeees. It wasn’t as close as it sounds.
-
N-W’s Donner hopes to catch teams by surprise
Adam Donner doesn’t like what he’s seen in his two years with the Niagara-Wheatfield varsity football team. After a pair of sub-.500 seasons and his senior season approaching, the linebacker wanted to do his part to make the Falcons a team worth talking about this fall.
-
NCCC volleyball reloads with fresh talent
Joe Daigler isn’t certain his Niagara County Community College volleyball team will return to nationals this fall, but he’s no less confident than he was a year ago.
Joe Daigler isn’t certain his Niagara County Community College volleyball team will return to nationals this fall, but he’s no less confident than he was a year ago.Joe Daigler isn’t certain his Niagara County Community College volleyball team will return to nationals this fall, but he’s no less confident than he was a year ago. -
Falls' Starks moved to PUP
The Green Bay Packers have placed Niagara Falls native James Starks on the reserve/physically unable to perform list due to a lingering hamstring injury.
-
Oliver scurries into UB lineup
When the UB offense takes the field for tonight’s season opener against Rhode Island, it will start redshirt freshman Branden Oliver in the backfield.
-
NU spikers fall on banner night
On a night when the first-ever Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship volleyball banner was unfurled at the Gallagher Center, leave it regional rival Buffalo to steal the hosts thunder.
-
Bright outlook at UB Stadium
A crowd of more than 15,000 people is expected for Thursday night's season opener at UB Stadium, where the Bills will shine brighter than ever before.
-
UB volleyball program looks to emulate Niagara
After going 2-1 at the West Virginia Classic to open the season, UB comes to the Gallagher Center at 7 p.m. today to play the Purple Eagles, who went 2-1 at the La Salle Invitational over the weekend, and will hoist their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship banner prior to the match.
- More Sports Headlines
-
