The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

fallsdog · 12-09-2015 09:46 AM

The University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks invade the MAC Center on Thursday night. ULAM is 4-2 with wins over Louisiana Lafayette, Chattanooga, Northwestern State and a couple of smaller schools.

The Warhawks are led by 6'10 185 pound senior Majok Deng. Deng is averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds a game. Deng is joined under the basket by 6'6 freshman Travis Munnings who averages 10 points (59% from the field) and 6 rebounds per game and 6'9 senior Jamaal Samuel. Lots of size on a team outrebounding their opponents 39 to 33.

In the backcourt ULAM starts 5'11 guard Nick Coppola and 6'1 guard Justin Roberson. As a team, they seem to go 8 or 9 deep on most nights.

They gave Minnesota (67-56 loss) and Houston (76-64 loss) decent games. The freshman (Munnings) was a beast in both of those games.

This looks like a good test for KSU and nice matchup for both squads. I think if the starters can stay out of foul trouble KSU can ride them to victory. Davis, Jones and company should be able to handle the load on Saturday against Canisius so rack up those minutes.

Expect a little zone to keep Hall from having to guard Deng/Munnings all night and expect a big game from Xavier Pollard. But most of all, expect a KSU K-O!

Kent State 74
ULAM 69
Pollard with 18 points and Hall with yet another double double

mmucha · 12-09-2015 01:01 PM

as we await the tip-off of next game, want to say a few things about this year's team...

WOW! this is a special group!! 04-cheers

love love love this years roster.

Jimmy Hall
Xavier Pollard
Chris Ortiz
Kellon Thomas
Galal Cancer
Khaliq Spicer
Jaylin Walker
Deon Edwin

pollard has been AMAZING!
kellon thomas has been AMAZING!
jaylin walker is playing like an upper classman!
ortiz has new found confidence :)
jimmy hall is his usual awesome self 01-ncaabbs

cancer, spicer & edwin all playing solid.

the coaching has been OUTSTANDING.
coach sendy & top assistant haut are doing a GREAT job!! 04-cheers

Bobby Steinburg is doing a GREAT job getting all the super star recruits!
i want to see this dream team of coaches stay together!

this team is going to the NCAA tournament.
as a result, one or more coaches will be lured away :(

if i win the lottery, i'm giving 100K raise to each coach mentioned above!! :)

you folks in northeast ohio have it so lucky.. getting to see most of the games in-person. i will try to get out to the games in las vegas. x-mas expenses making it tough :(

GO FLASHES!!! 04-rock

KSU Agee · 12-09-2015 04:51 PM

(12-09-2015 01:01 PM)mmucha Wrote: as we await the tip-off of next game, want to say a few things about this year's team...

WOW! this is a special group!!
love love love this years roster.

Jimmy Hall
Xavier Pollard
Chris Ortiz
Kellon Thomas
Galal Cancer
Khaliq Spicer
Jaylin Walker
Deon Edwin

pollard has been AMAZING!
kellon thomas has been AMAZING!
jaylin walker is playing like an upper classman!
ortiz has new found confidence :)
jimmy hall is his usual awesome self

cancer, spicer & edwin all playing solid.

the coaching has been OUTSTANDING.
coach sendy & top assistant haut are doing a GREAT job!!
Bobby Steinburg is doing a GREAT job getting all the super star recruits!
i want to see this dream team of coaches stay together!

this team is going to the NCAA tournament.
as a result, one or more coaches will be lured away :(

if i win the lottery, i'm giving 100K raise to each coach mentioned above!! :)

you folks in northeast ohio have it so lucky.. getting to see most of the games in-person. i will try to get out to the games in las vegas. x-mas expenses making it tough :(

GO FLASHES!!!

Boy do I share your enthusiasm! I have a year and a half left at KSU and I would love to root for a really good team! It seems as though if a player or two is "off" on any given night, then we are deep enough where others can bail us out.

We have had a perennial winner for quite some time now. Any chance we could finally get some top 100 recruits and become a Gonzaga of the MAC???

I'll be there tomorrow night at the MACC. I've convinced about 6 other geology majors to join me. I'm trying my best to recruit some support for this team, especially because we now have a president who REALLY wants this team to win!

mmucha · 12-09-2015 05:32 PM

"Any chance we could finally get some top 100 recruits and become a Gonzaga of the MAC???"

we've been doing well. see other posts about this.

Slinkin Street Flash · 12-09-2015 09:59 PM

Yes - going into this season, we thought the critical things were:
1) Jimmy Hall needed to be at the same level as last year
2) Kellon Thomas had to come back strong from his injury, play a good point, and score more
3) Ortiz and Spicer had to both step up a bit, with more scoring and more rebounds
4) Pollard and Cancer had to be as productive at Kent State as they were at the previous schools
5) Marvin Jones and Deon Edwin needed to be able to perform in the rotation

All these are happening, so the team can be special.

Getting some good minutes out of the freshmen is gravy, not a critical need but good to see.

I always hope to see a 4-year starter. Maybe Jaylin Walker could be one

fallsdog · 12-10-2015 08:36 AM

There is no doubt that we are seeing plenty of bright spots so far this season. But to pump the breaks just a bit here. There are a few things that haven't worked themselves out just yet....

*Ortiz has had a couple (at least one) nice games. But it would be helpful if he could find some consistency. Obviously the Flashes are a much tougher out when he is playing well and that hasn't happened on a regular basis this season.

*It seems that Edwin and Jones are still feeling their ways into the rotation. Even though both are only averaging approximately 10 minutes per game, neither is giving the type of output that says this team in deep.

Who knows what the rest of the season will bring but I will point to those 3 players filling out roles as a key to continued success.

But I will say that right now with Hall, Thomas, Spicer and Pollard playing at the levels they are that the Flashes are in a good spot after 7 games.

Old School Flash · 12-10-2015 02:07 PM

(12-10-2015 08:36 AM)fallsdog Wrote: There is no doubt that we are seeing plenty of bright spots so far this season. But to pump the breaks just a bit here. There are a few things that haven't worked themselves out just yet....

*Ortiz has had a couple (at least one) nice games. But it would be helpful if he could find some consistency. Obviously the Flashes are a much tougher out when he is playing well and that hasn't happened on a regular basis this season.

*It seems that Edwin and Jones are still feeling their ways into the rotation. Even though both are only averaging approximately 10 minutes per game, neither is giving the type of output that says this team in deep.

Who knows what the rest of the season will bring but I will point to those 3 players filling out roles as a key to continued success.

But I will say that right now with Hall, Thomas, Spicer and Pollard playing at the levels they are that the Flashes are in a good spot after 7 games.

Agree completely! I want Ortiz to fall out of love with the 3 and drive it to the hoop more.

ksu315 · 12-10-2015 02:29 PM

Bottom line is 95% of the teams we play are going to zone us up and force us to hit the 3. So we need to either hit those 3's or really attack the high low game in the zones.

I sat next to akron assistant at a high school game the other night and we talked about kent and I gave him my assessment on the zones and teams consistently doubling Hall and forcing him to be a passer. He loved Hall and essentially said making hall a facilitator and forcing others to beat you will be a scenario he thinks we'll see a lot this year.

I also said we sure could use some Akron guys to get in trouble like years past. He laughed and said you never know but they have a good group this year.

thanksjim · 12-10-2015 07:09 PM

Big break, Majok Deng not in the lineup tonight!

fallsdog · 12-10-2015 09:01 PM

A KSU K.O! Let them lament being shorthanded...the Flashes will take the VICTORY!

burden · 12-10-2015 09:05 PM

Another win tonight. I've missed three games this year which is three more than usual. Just a coincidence as I'm planning on being there Saturday and all the rest of them. I hope I don't jinx them.

thanksjim · 12-10-2015 09:05 PM

Guard play is really heating up, hopefully it opens up Jimmy Hall

thanksjim · 12-10-2015 09:09 PM

I know its early, but their RPI is up to 60

dannyb73 · 12-10-2015 09:16 PM

(12-10-2015 09:09 PM)thanksjim Wrote: I know its early, but their RPI is up to 60

Beat SMU in Vegas and the RPI will soar.

thanksjim · 12-10-2015 09:18 PM

(12-10-2015 09:16 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:
(12-10-2015 09:09 PM)thanksjim Wrote: I know its early, but their RPI is up to 60

Beat SMU in Vegas and the RPI will soar.

Bingo

anti-zip · 12-10-2015 10:19 PM

Walker 8-8 from the line tonight.

flash77 · 12-10-2015 11:06 PM

Nice win.

Am waiting when everyone is hitting on all cylinders. When they do, they can compete with anyone.

Slinkin Street Flash · 12-11-2015 09:14 AM

(12-10-2015 10:19 PM)anti-zip Wrote: Walker 8-8 from the line tonight.

But only 1-7 from the field

JimJoyce · 12-11-2015 11:14 AM

From the Akron Beacon Journal

Only 2,689 people attended the game Thursday, and Senderoff — who reminded the media in his postgame press conference he’s never before said anything like this — said he couldn’t understand why there weren’t more students there.

“We’re playing a team that’s 4-2, we were 5-2, and I don’t get why people aren’t at the games to be perfectly honest with you. That’s incredibly disappointing,” Senderoff said. “For the community and for our students to not come out, it’s disappointing ... What’s going to happen if we don’t win?”

Senderoff added the game was between two teams that combined for 47 wins last season, and there should’ve been a matchup of two of the better players in mid-major college basketball — redshirt junior Jimmy Hall and the Warhawks’ Majok Deng, who sat out Thursday with an injury. Deng was named the National Mid-Major Player of the Week on Monday for his performance last week.

“I’m not telling you we’re a great team, but we’re a good team. We have some good players and better kids than we have players,” Senderoff said. “If Kent State and our program and our community wants to continue to have a winning program, it’s not just done with players and coaches … it’s done with 30,000 students that go to school here. It takes everybody. God forbid we were 2-5 right now — like, there’d be what, 500 people at this game? I mean, that’s a joke. It’s frustrating sometimes.”

dannyb73 · 12-11-2015 11:43 AM

He is right. At the very least, the students should be there. Sometimes locals have legit excuses (like young kids with activities or it's too far to drive them home for a weeknight game). But there is no reason we shouldn't have more butts in the seats.

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