The league needed another program (playing at 11 is not good especially if your name is the Big Ten) and the Bulls needed a conference.  It is way better than being 13 for obvious as there were some rumors the MAC was going to bring back long time member Marshall into the ‘herd.’  That is not happening.  Yet.  The Bulls taking the 12th spot is a great move for this program and the city of Buffalo but the ‘shuffling’ process is difficult to say the least.  The Buffalo Bulls are struggling to adjust to the world of big time college basketball. As a matter of fact this program has yo-yoed between D-1 and D-2 for quite some time and even done some time in the Mid-Continent League, one of the lowest rated in the big boy ranks.  The MAC is not the Mid-Continent and this program is for sure going to have some growing pains but they do have a few big time players to hang their hats on.  New to division one basketball, this once former division 2 & 3 school has to cope with the struggles of playing against established programs,  The Bull may get there someday but until they can figure out how to get some wins so they can gain some legitimacy. The Bulls newness made their scheduling difficult at best.  

 The Bulls, behind Coach Len Serfustini, did a pretty good job of keeping things together for the Bulls in the first season in D-1 last year.  Playing with no conference affiliation greatly affected the wear and tear on the Bulls players.  After globetrotting the US last season the farthest the Bulls will play away from Buffalo was to Montana State in December and then in an in-conference game to Illinois late in the year.  This is a huge difference from last year but most definitely does not mean there are going to be anymore wins as the Bulls are not quite ready for the MAC. But at least up front the Bulls do have two upperclassmen that are ready for prime time and can hang with anyone in the MAC.  Well, anyone not named Nate Thurmond!   

The Bulls are lucky to have not only experience but size and toughness on their front line.  Juniors Sam Pellom and Curtis Blackmore may be the meanest two hombres this side of Georgetown playing together.  They also have a third partner in crime filling out a great frontline in senior Jim Horne.  Horne may not be as ready for the next step as his compadres up front but this front line will not be the reason the Bulls do not compete for the MAC title.  This trio is without question the impetus behind what little success this team will have and their presence almost assuredly had a big impact in them being invited to join this league.  Pellom and Blackmore are two old school players who have penchant for mixing it up underneath.  They look like they just appeared in a Blaxploitation film but have game to match.  Both are terrific rebounders and have the chiseled bodies to back up their rough stuff.  They are not overly gifted offensive players but are improving and love to throw it down in any situation.  They are intimidating to play against not only because of they way they look but can back up their talk with action.  Pellom is six foot nine and a solid 225 pounds of muscle and plays center most of the time.  A terrific shot blocker and low post defender this kid from Wilmington North Carolina still has a long way to go on the offensive end as he was recruited mainly due to his size and strength with virtually no offensive game.  As a matter of fact, Pellom was out of high school for four years when he was discovered by assistant Coach Leo Richardson who was in town visiting his parents playing in a city league game. With all of that ‘the Franchise’ as he is known in Buffalo (yes he is that important to this program) might be the second best post defender in the conference already (nobody is better than Thurmond and those crazy long arms).  And his rebounding is pure ridiculous with incredible timing and magnet like hands that seem to gobble up any basketball near him.  Sam averaged over ten boards a game last season which placed him in the top 20 in the country and he also averaged almost 3 blocks a game.  If Pellom can improve his low post moves he might have a shot at getting to the next level which would be quite a coupe for this program.  The Bulls have never had anyone close to pro caliber but Pellom has the goods if he continues to improve.  Pellom might look tough but he is obviously more mature than most juniors in college and he truly is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and a true world class person. 

Pellom’s sidekick is as slick looking as they get. This junior to be looks like he just came off the streets of Harlem but Curtis Blackmore can ball.  Not as big as Pellom (6’6 220) and nowhere near as good defensively. Blackmore has a more finely tuned offensive game.  He can score inside with a variety of power moves and can even run the court a bit but sometimes gets overmatched down low.  Not on the strength or toughness factor but it’s hard guarding six nine guys or getting shots off against them when you are giving up that many inches.  Blackmore is solid on the boards and helps Pellom do the dirty work no matter how big the trees that come to Buffalo are no one leaves Alumni Gym unscathed by these two physically intimidating studs.  Blackmore might not have next level game (or size) like his partner in crime but nobody wants these two coming into your park and taking over your street game.  They would rule!  And then take your women too!    

Horne is even more old school than his two buddies up front and is a bit undersized but man can he play.  The six foot three wing with the appropriate nickname of ‘Jumpin Jim’ is a terrific athlete who can run and gun with the best of them.  But Horne is more than that.  He is a student of the game that thinks himself around the court.  Horne has a solid all-around offensive game but takes it to the next level with his ability to predict what, where and how opponents are going to defend him.  He has been the main offensive weapon for the Bulls since this local hero was recruited from nearby Emerson High. Horne is a responsible kid who stayed near home for his family turning down other schools and took on the role of superstar to this city.  He does not shy away from that as he loves this city and knew that he would be counted on not just as a scorer but as a role model to this much more urban city than you think near the Canadian border.  Horne has used his new found love for golf (‘toughest game I ever played’) to help with his basketball game on how to think his way around the course or court.  A good touch around the basket with a variety of ways to finish off the break and in traffic which he likes, Horne can also fire from the perimeter.  He is not a three point threat as of yet but he does have range up to about 18 feet, Horne led the team in scoring for the third straight year and though he might not have the future of his two front court mates has been the most important player in the development and thus movement of this program.  Horne might not have the game for the pros but he will end up somewhere (Harlem perhaps) and you will no doubt find him traveling around with a pair of gold clubs in his trunk ready to play a round of golf somewhere and teaching some kid the facts of life.  Jim Horne is the type of kid who will move onto much bigger and better things but at least for one more year he will be the main man in Buffalo. 

The backcourt for the Bulls is nowhere near as talented as the front court studs and will be a problem.  Senior Harold Kuhn has been a great Bull for his entire career but blew out a knee a third of the way through last season. They actually granted Kuhn a medical redshirt so he is back and will compete for his old starting role but he will have some competition from some incoming freshmen.  The likelihood is that Kuhn will quickly be replaced as even before the injury Kuhn was giving up minutes to other players as he is nowhere near athletic enough to play the two in D-1.  Too bad as Kuhn was once the man here, before Horne, and can flat shoot the ball.     

Coach Serfustini has some real issues trying to find a point guard though he has a few more than willing participants in this battle,  Juniors Gary Domzalski and Bob Vartanian split most of the minutes and had varied success.   These two are peas in a pod with similar styles and attitudes.  Neither is going to remind you of Butch Komives but they are tough kids who know how to play the game.  Vartanian is 6’2 183 from Worcester Mass and plays the game with that kind of Boston toughness you would expect.  A great drive and dish guy he can also hit open jumpers and played a bit of two when Kuhn went down.  Domzalski is a pure point guard who does not score much but man can he pass.  This duo played together some and it confused other teams as they did not know which one was which?  Just kidding there but Sefustini knows he has a pair of gamers at point but of course he would rather have a stud or two with a little more speed and athleticism and has recruited accordingly.

There is a long list of returnees who have played here and like Kuhn will get a shot again this year but the future is here and seniors like Harve Poe and Jack Chalmers are not in it.  You can say the same for front court players Chuck Daniels, Bill Barth and Kenneth Parr.  Barth at 6’5 230 from Fedonia New York is a beast on the boards but plays the same position as the two vangaurds but might steal some minutes and is security if they get hurt.  Parr and Daniels are just too small for this level but had some nice years in the tundra of Buffalo.  Now JV studs from last year Michael Washington, John Fitzpatrick, Darryl Hall (this team needs to find an Oats) and Wayne James might have a shot at some minutes but that might not mean much as the JV team finished 2-18!  There are a couple of upperclassmen who should contribute this year.  Senior Gary Hanley is a 6’5 post who lost his starting role to Blackmore and Pellom and is nowhere near their talent or size.  Hanley is a gamer though and will battle as he has done for the last 3 years and is the type of guy you want on your bench.  The other player with a real chance is junior Otis Horne.  No relation to Jim, he is a 6’3 wing who can score.  Sound familiar?  Strange isn’t it this program has two players with the same unique spelling last name with similar styles and size?  He also helps on the boards and will be the sixth man, at least to being the season.  He is not quite Jim but Otis can play too!  Another senior, Dan Bazzani, was scheduled to be the team captain but has given up that role to take over coaching the JV team.  The 6’2 Niagara Falls product saw the writing on the wall last year as he barely played even after Kuhn’s injury but this kid bleeds Bulls royal blue and has already been a huge asset to Serfustini on the recruiting trail bringing in a JC guard who can flat play.  The funny thing is that this kid, Ed Johnson, is the only junior college kid on the roster as the Bulls are intent on building long term though like all programs they will take advantage of the new portal. Sefustini has recruited 9 guards so they definitely understand the weakness on this roster and how to build but this coach might just be recruiting for his successor.   

The Buffalo Bulls are one of those Nomadic tribes who finally have a place to call home.  The bad thing is that they are new to this world of big time college basketball and are trying to figure out some things. The good thing that they have more talent than one might suggest and a great pair of power players inside who will pound it with anyone in the might MAC in the paint.  Well besides perhaps Bowling Green.  Lol. Now if their back court can continue to improve the future is bright in Western New York and maybe Buffalo will become a bit more of a Bulls town than just the Bills (or Braves for that matter).  Can you imagine if they had a Bulls Mafia?  This program will improve as they grow and come hell or high water will move up the standings in the MAC.  In this case there will be some pretty big falls to deal with in the next few years but for now the Bulls have arrived in the big time and hopefully this time are here to stay!