Buffalo's basketball program started in 1915 and the Bulls compete in the Mid-American Conference. The program rose to national prominence under Bobby Hurley and then Nate Oats in the 2010s, making three NCAA Tournament appearances in four years. Buffalo's uptempo style made them a dangerous tournament team.
The Bulls nickname was adopted in 1931, a nod to the city of Buffalo's name and the powerful, charging nature of the animal.
Demolishing fourth-seeded Arizona 89-68 in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament, one of the most lopsided upsets in tournament history.
Buffalo's Alumni Arena seats over 6,100 and was renovated for basketball in 2012; the team's 2018 and 2019 tournament appearances were the first time a MAC team went dancing in consecutive years since the early 2000s.
The Buffalo Bulls compete in the MAC and hold an all-time record of 713–705 (.503 winning percentage) across 57 recorded seasons dating back to 1906-07.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 17-15 | 7-11 (MAC) | George Halcovage | |
| 2024-25 | 9-22 | 4-14 (MAC) | George Halcovage | |
| 2023-24 | 4-27 | 2-16 (MAC) | George Halcovage | |
| 2022-23 | 15-17 | 9-9 (MAC) | Jim Whitesell | |
| 2021-22 | 19-11 | 13-6 (MAC) | Jim Whitesell | |
| 2020-21 | 16-9 | 12-5 (MAC) | Jim Whitesell | |
| 2019-20 | 20-12 | 11-7 (MAC) | Jim Whitesell | |
| 2018-19 | 32-4 | 16-2 (MAC) | Nate Oats | AP #14 |
| 2017-18 | 27-9 | 15-3 (MAC) | Nate Oats | |
| 2016-17 | 17-15 | 11-7 (MAC) | Nate Oats | |
| 2015-16 | 20-15 | 10-8 (MAC) | Nate Oats | |
| 2014-15 | 23-10 | 12-6 (MAC) | Bobby Hurley | |
| 2013-14 | 19-10 | 13-5 (MAC) | Bobby Hurley | |
| 2012-13 | 14-20 | 7-9 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2011-12 | 20-11 | 12-4 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2010-11 | 20-14 | 8-8 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2009-10 | 18-12 | 9-7 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2008-09 | 21-12 | 11-5 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2007-08 | 10-20 | 3-13 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2006-07 | 12-19 | 4-12 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2005-06 | 19-13 | 8-10 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2004-05 | 23-10 | 11-7 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2003-04 | 17-12 | 11-7 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2002-03 | 5-23 | 2-16 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2001-02 | 12-18 | 7-11 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 2000-01 | 4-24 | 2-16 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon | |
| 1999-00 | 5-23 | 3-15 (MAC) | Reggie Witherspoon,Tim Cohane | |
| 1998-99 | 5-24 | 1-17 (MAC) | Tim Cohane | |
| 1997-98 | 15-13 | 9-7 (Mid-Cont) | Tim Cohane | |
| 1996-97 | 17-11 | 11-5 (Mid-Cont) | Tim Cohane | |
| 1995-96 | 13-14 | 10-8 (Mid-Cont) | Tim Cohane | |
| 1994-95 | 18-10 | 12-6 (Mid-Cont) | Tim Cohane | |
| 1993-94 | 10-18 | 3-2 (ECC) | Tim Cohane | |
| 1992-93 | 5-22 | Ind | Dan Bazzani | |
| 1991-92 | 2-26 | 0-12 (ECC) | Dan Bazzani | |
| 1976-77 | 5-21 | Ind | Leo Richardson | |
| 1975-76 | 10-16 | Ind | Leo Richardson | |
| 1974-75 | 8-17 | Ind | Leo Richardson | |
| 1973-74 | 5-20 | Ind | Leo Richardson | |
| 1931-32 | 15-4 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1930-31 | 15-0 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1929-30 | 15-1 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1928-29 | 7-11 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1927-28 | 8-8 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1926-27 | 11-4 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1925-26 | 11-6 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1924-25 | 7-6 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1923-24 | 7-6 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1922-23 | 7-5 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1921-22 | 5-7 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1920-21 | 12-6 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1919-20 | 9-1 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1918-19 | 8-5 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1917-18 | 6-2 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1916-17 | 6-8 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1915-16 | 7-4 | Ind | Arthur Powell | |
| 1906-07 | 6-2 | Ind | Unknown |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|