Bulls Watt leads charge to Tourney

The UB Bulls find themselves two wins away from the NCAA tournament.

But the road to college basketball success was a lot longer than that for the Bulls Mitchell Watt. Watt had a long hard climb from where he was a few years ago to the top of the Mid American Conference.

Earlier this week, Watt was named the Conference Player of the Year, after averaging 16-points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the Bulls. The 6-10 senior was a dominant player all year long, finishing in the top four in scoring, rebounding, shooting and blocked shots.

"When I think about things I've done right, it's hard to overlook at things that my teammates have done as well,” Watt tells News 4 Sports. “I've gone on lulls, and they've picked me up. And vice-versa."

Watt's award is even more amazing when you know that two years ago he suffered from Guillane-Barre disease, a muscle ailment that left him unable to walk and certainly wondering if he'd ever play basketball again. But he got through it.

"Keeping a good mindset, high spirit and optimism,” he says. “That's really what got me through all of that. I never doubted it, but I couldn't imagine all the success we are having this season. It's magical."

Bulls Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon says Watt’s story is inspirational.

"For him to come from there to where he is now,” Witherspoon says, “is just a tremendous credit to his ability to persevere, his faith."

Watt’s amazing comeback will be complete, if he can help the Bulls get two more wins, and their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.

UB plays Friday night at 9:30, in the semifinal round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland. They’ll play the winner of Thursday’s game between Toledo and Ohio.