Buffalo Bulls Men’s Basketball Game Preview: Northern Illinois Huskies

The Bulls are back in action today after starting off MAC play at a historic pace! The Bulls are 4-o in MAC play for the first time ever and show no signs of stopping down, beating opponents by an average of 17 points per game. Buffalo is loaded all over with their athleticism being too much for teams in the MAC to overcome. Between CJ Massinburg, Jeremy Harris, Wes Clark and Nick Perkins, nobody has been able to keep up with the scoring pace these four bring. NIU will look to load up on defense to stop UB tonight.

NIU is a struggling program right now. The Huskies haven’t beaten the Bulls since 2006 and it doesn’t look like that will change this year. Last year, the Bulls beat them by 20 in a game in which the Bulls only scored 65 points. If the trend continues, tonight could get ugly quick, a good thing if you’re a Buffalo fan. Let’s take a look at what else to watch for tonight.

What to Watch For

Dontay Caruthers

Caruthers is back and that should be terrifying to the other teams in the MAC. Caruthers, the defending MAC DPOTY is a lock down player who the Bulls used to take most teams best player out of the game. With Thomas Wilder looming on Saturday, Caruthers return is happening at the best time.

Tempo

As you may have heard, the Bulls like to play fast. NIU does not like to play fast. The Bulls should push the ball for 40 minutes if they don’t want this game to be close. If they play tough on the perimeter, they should see a lot of transition baskets.

Jeremy Harris

Harris has been a stud in MAC play. Hopefully he keeps up his hot shooting and keeps taking the ball strong to the basket. He feels like a difference maker this season and I would prefer that not to change.

Final Thoughts

The Bulls are very talented. They have a big game coming up against WMU so hopefully they don’t look too far in the future. If they keep dominating the MAC, maybe they’d have an outside look at an at large bid, but they would need to be phenomenal. I think they will win tonight and get to 5-0, and we will start to see the pressure of this start hit them, and if they rise to the challenge. I hope everyone enjoys the game and as always, go Bulls!