Manhattan heads to Alumni Arena on Saturday to take on Buffalo. Tipoff occurs at 2 p.m. EST. The Jaspers have not played the Bulls since the 1999-00 season, when they lost 75-71.

In their last outing, despite 14 points from Donovan Kates, the Jaspers fell to Niagara 60-56 on Feb. 17. He contributes 2.8 rebounds per game in addition to his 6.8 points per game. In a 79-71 victory over Miami (OH) on Feb. 16, Tony Watson II put up 31 points and 6 assists for the Bulls. He contributes 2.9 assists per game in addition to his 11 points per game.

Analyzing the differences between the teams, Buffalo has an edge in one important area, scoring, where the Bulls have the upper hand over the Jaspers, 65 points per game to 59 points per game.

Buffalo StatSmack

  • The Manhattan blocks leader (Rhamel Brown, 80 blocks) has more blocks than the Buffalo blocks leader (Javon McCrea, 61 blocks).
  • Even computers respect Manhattan more. Manhattan has a better RPI this season than Buffalo (RPI: No. 219 vs. No. 223).
  • Manhattan players are more experienced than Buffalo players (14,030 minutes played vs. 9,976 minutes played).
  • Rhamel Brown is ranked 8th nationally in blocks.
  • Manhattan has a better overall winning percentage over the last 20 years (51.7 percent to 46.5 percent).
  • Over the past 10 years, Manhattan has had more players drafted by the NBA than Buffalo (one vs. zero).
  • The MAAC had more close games in conference (so the games are more exciting to watch) than in the MAC.
  • You'll do better on next semester's exams, right? Manhattan currently has a higher Academic Progress Rate (949 to 943) than Buffalo, per the NCAA.
  • The MAAC has 2 teams - Canisius (38.4 percent) and Iona (38.2 percent) - that shoot a better three-point percentage than the MAC leader, Ohio (36.3 percent).
  • The top-ranking players between the two conferences for points, rebounds, field goals made, free throws made, and three-pointers are in the MAAC.