The Golden Flashes will once again open the MAC Tournament on "campus sites" when they face the Central Michigan Chippewas on Monday night. The good news (or maybe the bad news) is that the campus site this year is the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
Central comes into the game on a cold streak. The Chips have lost 7 in a row including 4 home games and a loss at Miami. Assuming CMU has not mailed it in, they will be relying on a pair of 5'9 guards in junior Marcus Keene and senior Braylon Rayson to lead their offense. Keene is the leading scorer in the MAC with a 29.6 per game average. Rayson is averaging just over 20 per game. Both had big games in Central's win over the Flashes. They were joined that night by 6'4 junior Josh Kozinski who scored 18.
Inside, the Chips rely on 6'7 David DiLeo, 6'9 junior DaRohn Scott and 6'6 junior Cecil Williams. None of those three should intimidate KSU.
This is a big one for Kent State Basketball. Getting to back to Cleveland would do wonders for the gameday experience. This prediction is for burden....
Kent State 68
Central 61
Defense, as always, prevails.
(03-05-2017 01:40 PM)fallsdog Wrote: [ -> ]The Golden Flashes will once again open the MAC Tournament on "campus sites" when they face the Central Michigan Chippewas on Monday night. The good news (or maybe the bad news) is that the campus site this year is the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
Central comes into the game on a cold streak. The Chips have lost 7 in a row including 4 home games and a loss at Miami. Assuming CMU has mailed it in, they will be relying on a pair of 5'9 guards in junior Marcus Keene and senior Braylon Rayson to lead their offense. Keene is the leading scorer in the MAC with a 29.6 per game average. Rayson is averaging just over 20 per game. Both had big games in Central's win over the Flashes. They were joined that night by 6'4 junior Josh Kozinski who scored 18.
Inside, the Chips rely on 6'7 David DiLeo, 6'9 junior DaRohn Scott and 6'6 junior Cecil Williams. None of those three should intimidate KSU.
This is a big one for Kent State Basketball. Getting to back to Cleveland would do wonders for the gameday experience. This prediction is for burden....
Kent State 68
Central 61
Defense, as always, prevails.
Thanks. I needed to supplement my Social Security this month.
Down 11 early. Maybe getting a hand Keene'so face would help?
"It's 20 to 5 in first round MAC Tournament game at the MAC Center" -the voice of the Flashes.
Right when they get back in the game...the fundamentals break down and a senior gets hit with a technical. I would hate for this to be the swan song of the season but right now, they deserve it.
Here's to a heckuva 2nd half effort!
(03-06-2017 07:15 PM)fallsdog Wrote: [ -> ]Down 11 early. Maybe getting a hand Keene'so face would help?
I don't really think it would. He's a Vinnie Johnson/World B Free clone, I think.
And the lead is down to 1. Mid American Conference Basketball baby!! And how about the 68 - 61 prediction!
Kent State vs. Buffalo will be the late game on Thursday. NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a crazy game! Fifty-one points in the 2nd half and perfect from the field in the OT.
Like everybody said the last thing we want is to get into a track meet with CMU. This might have been the best game I've seen at Kent. There have been better endings but this one never let up from minute one to minute 45. Keene was exhausted at the end and the shots started missing. Averys three threes in OT were huge. Going four guards was a good move but installing him at the point guard was just as big. Next stop Cleveland vs. Buffalo.
First thing tomorrow I'm gonna seek out a Jalen Avery replica jersey (all right, I probably won't find one). A point guard is born. What a performance (along with the others, of course). What a game!
26 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists from the bench. Four players playing 40 or more minutes.
Wow, one of the most exciting games I think I've ever seen in person. Seemed like we played into their hands playing that pace, but we got it done. The way the game started look to have us on edge but the way they came out for the second half was huge. For the most part I thought we defended their guards pretty well. There were a few times Peterson and Edwin gave Keene too much space but for the most part we were all over them all night. Those guys can just really shoot it. Individual comments.
Jimmy Hall, absolutely dominated inside. What a stat line for his final game in the MACC. 33 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals, and 0 turnovers. He's been a lot of fun to watch over the years but tonight he was really special. He had some really crazy offensive rebounds where it looked like he had no chance at it but came out of there and got a put back.
Jaylin Walker, I was getting nervous when it seemed like he and Rayson were getting into a one-on-one shootout, but what a performance. This was clearly his style of game. At one point he got up in Rayson's grill on defense, they missed a shot, then he came down and drilled a three. Rayson immediately started calling for the ball and it was clear he was going to shoot it no matter what. Walker played great defense and Rayson missed an off balanced shot. Loved it. Oh, and 14 rebounds tonight? Unreal performance. He's finally realizing with his quickness and leaping ability he can be a force on the glass. It's exciting to think what he could become over the next two years.
Jalen Avery, I've been really happy with what I've seen from him over the last few weeks but tonight was huge. Those shots he hit in OT were so huge. After tonight he's up to nearly 42% from three. He can shoot it. Hopefully tonight helps him realize he should be shooting it more. He could be an X factor in Cleveland. Some very big finishes on drives and clutch free throws tonight as well. There was one big defensive possession late in OT where Keene had just run down and hit a three the possession before. He looked like he wanted to do it again but Avery was all over him and didn't let him get the shot he wanted. It wound up burning more clock and forcing him to pass. Very nice play. He's been playing pretty good defense lately.
Deon Edwin, visibly frustrated early but wound up playing a very solid game as well. 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 0 turnovers. He's such a good defensive player but this was a tough match up for him defensively because of how small and quick those two guards are. While he wasn't the primary defender on either, I thought he did a really nice job when switched out on them. Managed to not pick up any cheap fouls too.
As a team we only had 6 turnovers in a game that had to have the highest number of possessions from any Kent game I've ever seen. That's huge. What a game. Now let's get the starters in an ice bath and get ready for Thursday night.
I may get the rubber match I wanted.
(03-06-2017 10:18 PM)JSF Wrote: [ -> ]I may get the rubber match I wanted.
You should probably focus on beating Toledo first.
I am exhausted and just had to get my cardiologist out of bed tonight. What a game. Those two guards have to be the best tandem in the country. The effort by our entire team was superb. Almost super human.
Tonight was the crowning touch of all games I have ever witnessed at the MAC Center and I go way, way back. This game even topped the mid 90's game when Nate Reinking threw up a half court shot with Geno Ford of Ohio U. in his face to win a last second victory. The relentless 3 point shooting that CMU has is mind boggling. Just about everything they threw at the basket from way out went in. This was an unbelievable effort by Senderoff's players. They never, never gave up. What a wonderful effort by ALL the players to pull out a win against a team that seemed could do no wrong. This was totally amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow and WOW!
Congrats to all the coaches and players for providing the most entertaining and spectacular game probably ever played at Memorial Hall!!!!!
