ZubazPants.com Goes to the MAC Tournament ... and BEYOND!

By The Zubazkateers in March of 2005

The entries are sorted from newest at the Top to oldest at the Bottom

Michael Scott:As Chapter Closes, Four Bulls Head for the Sunset

Nicholas Mendola:Yamahama in Cleveland

Mike Scott:Die Another Day

Mike Scott: Dragons Are Lambs Being Led to the Slaughter

Jim Byrne: Pimps and Suits of the NCAA be Damned

Mike Scott: After OT Loss, Is Buffalo’s NCAA Bid Still Breathing?

Nicholas Mendola: Disbelief in Cleveland

Jim Byrne: I Still <3 The Bulls

Mike Scott: History Written As You Watch, UB Advances to Title Game

Introduction by Jim Byrne

I suppose I should start off by explaining the banner that you just clicked on.

Yes, that is Zubazkateer Mike Scott. Yes, those are two bottles of beer in his mouth. And yes, he pounded that dual action in about eight seconds.

But Mike will explain that feat in a later article.

This here is about the Mid-American Conference Tournament and the exploits of ZubazPants.com in its host city of Cleveland, Ohio, and hopefully anything that happens after that.

Last year at this time, myself and Zubaz comrades Scott, Nicholas Mendola and Darren Riethmiller trekked to Cleveland to cover the Tournament for our school paper at the University at Buffalo, The Spectrum. Our team, the Buffalo Bulls, were having a breakout season and had just made it to Cleveland for the first time in school history, so needless to say, we were exhilarated to go along for the ride.

The trip was epic.

Despite the fact that our Bulls were bounced in the first round, we stayed for the rest of the tournament and enjoyed everything that came along with it. The free food that they give to the press for breakfast and dinner, the amazing times at the Cleveland bars, and of course, the exciting MAC basketball from the best seats in the house, press row. You can read more about last year’s events here.

Unfortunately for me, I graduated last year just as UB had finally turned the corner in terms of the men’s basketball team. Since graduation, I have moved back down south to the NYC area and currently work at Madison Square Garden. Much to my dismay, I was not able to make it to Cleveland this year. And it is killing me.

Buffalo has tore it up this season with a record of 22-8 as of press time and have made it to the MAC Tournament Final which is to air live tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN 2. They have never looked so damn good. It has truly been a dream season spurred by a total team effort. Coaches, players and fans have all worked their asses off to make this possible.

If you have never attended or lived in Buffalo, you have no idea just how much this means to the school and its alumni. With the chance to make the NCAA Tournament tonight, the Bulls are on the cusp of unprecedented history for the school. This is what everyone associated with the school has dreamed of since UB made the controversial leap to Division I sports in the late 90’s. The dream can be realized tonight.

And god dammit I am not going to be there to see it live. But, hey, the game is televised nationally on ESPN 2, and considering how far UB has come, that is pretty freaking sweet if you ask me.

And even though I will not be there, Scott, Mendola, and hordes of UB fans that made the 4-hour journey from UB to Cleveland to cheer on their Bulls will be. And it will be glorious!

So in honor of this monumental occasion, we here at ZubazPants.com felt the need to document it. Over the course of what is hopefully a run to the NCAA Tournament for the Bulls, we will blog the events that happen in Cleveland, the NYC bar that I will be watching the game at with UB alumni and of course anything that happens after that.

Here’s to that “anything” making for a magical March for the University at Buffalo family.

Let’s get NUTS!