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Whoever wrote those rankings has NO clue. This team is going to compete for the MAC East title. Book that ****.

(10-19-2016 06:01 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  Whoever wrote those rankings has NO clue. This team is going to compete for the MAC East title. Book that ****.

I agree, we are Kent State

We got 'em right where we want 'em.

Anyone hear how any of the new guys are looking?

I watched Carducci's interview with De La Rosa and Zabo. I was surprised Zabo mentioned they're not sure if Johnson will play this year. I assumed he was sitting out for transferring. I guess we're appealing that? I think he was the one that only played a couple games last year or something.

(09-30-2016 04:34 PM)mussel-man77 Wrote:  

(09-30-2016 02:11 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  New guys have talent. A.D. and Leo will help. So will Zabo, DeBerry and Des. Alonzo Walker and Mitch nice role players. Someone will redshirt I'm sure....just not sure who that will be. Give me a week or so and I can get more details.

DannyB - I saw the new team picture on fb today. There's a white kid wearing number 25. Who is that? He's not on the roster that's on the website.

The roster's been updated - #25 is Tanner Castora, a guard out of Strongsville. He was on SC Upstate's roster last year, but didn't get into any games.

Here's an article about Tanner going to Update -> http://www.thepostnewspapers.com/strongs...4501c.html

Men's and women's basketball Press Day is Wednesday. I'll file for the blog for the women and post something on the men as soon after that as I can. It might take me overnight.

But I haven't seen anything on this site from last week's Tip-Off Breakfast. There was very little news from the women but a number of interesting things from men's coach Rob Senderoff.

Biggest news is very big -- 7-foot sophomore center Adonis de la Rosa. This time last year he weighed 330 pounds, and a lot of us wondered what he'd be like. As Senderoff said at the breakfast, de la Rosa has remade his body. "What are you at?" Senderoff asked him in front of the breakfast. "264?"

"259," de la Rosa replied. He looked sleek and fit and very, very tall.

Weight went in a different direction for another player -- 6-9 freshman Danny Pippen from Allen Academy in Detroit. Senderoff said he came to campus at 197. He's now at 220. The coach gave new basketball strength and conditioning coach Rhen Vail credit for a lot of that. Vail, whose title is also listed as performance coach, is the first person in the MAC to be assigned only to basketball (men's and women's). Pippen, by the way, was also valedictorian of his high school class. He was a first-team class C (fairly small schools) all-state, averaging 12.8 points and 12.5 rebounds a game.

Senderoff said sophomore point guard Jalen Avery had improved "as much as any player he had ever seen" between his freshman and sophomore season. He compared his improvement to that of Devareaux Manley, who played very little his freshman year and went on to be a second-team all-MAC player.

The coach also compared junior college transfer Jerrelle DeBerry to Manley, calling him the team's best three-point shooter since Manley. Then Senderoff quickly added, "Jaylin may argue with that."

Jaylin is Jaylin Walker, the sophomore guard who played well as a freshman starter until he suffered a stress fracture in his foot in midseason. Walker broke a bone in his other foot in practice this fall, but the coach said his recover was progressing and he might be backer for KSU's opener Nov. 12.

Quick notes from Senderoff on other players:

Desmond Ridenour, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Duquesne, reminds the coach of former guard Derek Jackson in that he does "a lot of the little things that make a team go." He said Ridenour had been practicing at point guard.

The third point guard on the roster is Kevin Zabo, a three-star high school player who began his career at San Diego State, then went to junior college for a year. Senderoff said Zabo was "getting better every practice."

6-8 junior college transfer Leo Edwards is a "Tristan Thompson-like player" -- a defender and rebounder.

Preseason all-MAC player Jimmy Hall and Deon Edwin are the only scholarship seniors on the team. Senderoff highlighted the toughness of Edwin, a 6-3 guard who played 17 games last season with a damaged MC, Edwin had off-season surgery and was doing well.

I also just found a video from Monday in which Senderoff talked about the team's scrimmage with St. Bonaventure over the weekend. He said he saw some good things, but the team needed to cut down turnovers and fouls. (He said a "point of emphasis" for referees this season is to police contact in the post offensively and defensively.)

Senderoff said the team got good video from the scrimmage and that working on problems they saw would be key in the two weeks before their opener against Cleveland State.

There's an open practice for fans at noon Sunday. You can get tickets for $10 (it includes food) at http://www10.ticketingcentral.com/V2/Qua...D99&og=-1.

Season ticket holders get in free.

Here's link to the Senderoff interview with Dave Carducci of the KSU athletic department.

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Notes from the men's press day this week:

Coach Rob Senderoff seemed happy with the talent level of his team. But with only four players on the roster who saw action at Kent State last season, trying to put the pieces together is an ongoing process.

He said the five players he thought were his best two weeks ago aren't the same ones he thinks are the best now. He said the lineup that will start at this week's scrimmage against Robert Morris won't be the same one that started last week at St. Bonaventure. (He didn't say what either lineup was)

He said he likes closed scrimmages better than exhibition games -- the team can get better competition. Exhibitions are usually against Division II or Division III schools.

Jimmy Hall, recently named to the preseason all-MAC East team for the second year in a row, said he thought he was stronger and quicker than a year ago. He said winning the MAC and going to the NCAA tournament his senior year "would be everything to me."

Senderoff said Hall had expanded his game to the three-point line and actually had the best three-point percentage on the team in practice. He quickly added that Hall wouldn't be taking the most three-pointers on the team.

The coach also said a key to Hall's being noticed by NBA scouts would be to increase his rebounding -- meaning lots of double-digit rebounding games.

Senderoff talked about needing a two-to-one assist-to-turnvover ratio from his three point guards -- sophomore Jalen Avery, junior college transfer Kevin Zabo and redshirt freshman Rosel Hurley. He added that Hall also was part of that group because the offensive often runs through him. (I thought Senderoff had mentioned Des Ridenour as a point guard at last week's tipoff breakfast, but he didn't mention him at press day.)

Senior guard Deon Edwin said he was feeling "like his old self" after off-season surgery on his MCL.

Senderoff said Edwin and Hall were having to learn how seniors lead. For them, "it's not just practicing hard, it's making sure others practice hard."

He say that 6-8 freshman Danny Pippen "listens to everything Jimmy says and does everything Jimmy does -- he looks up to him every day."

Walk-on senior guard Jon Fleming (Senderoff always brings all of his seniors to press day) said he wanted to a coach some day and hoped to be a graduate assistant at KSU next year.

Senderoff said playing teams like Texas and Oregon State this season was the kind of thing he tried to do every year. The really big deal, Senderoff said, was the fact that Oregon State will play at Kent State in 2017. He said he didn't think any team in the MAC was playing a Power 5 conference team at home this season.

He said "equally if not more important" than games against big name opponents were ones against good Mid-Majors -- "playing at Northeastern is like playing at Bowling Green." And playing Cleveland State at a neutral site (the Coaches Against Cancer doubleheader in Youngstown) was like playing at the MAC tournament. So is playing three games in three days at the Gulf Coast Showcase in November.

The team's opener against Cleveland State is Saturday, Nov. 12. First home game is Wednesday, Nov. 16, against Mississippi Valley State.

cschierh

good stuff! thanks for sharing.

i have a good feeling about this years team.

I meant to post the video links to press day.

Here are the players (Hall, Edwin, Fleming):
https://youtu.be/cRysMyg5vO0

Here is Senderoff:
https://youtu.be/SpmOpV75SKk

I saw the men's "open practice" on Sunday. I'm not smart enough to gauge the quality of a team from practice, but it was fun to watch. Senderoff had them in almost constant motion with drills on fast break and breaking press and things like making 80 baskets or 100 points in four or five minutes.

There are some very good athletes on the team. De la Rosa moved well for a seven footer. Jaylin Walker shot well. So did Mitch Peterson at times. Danny Hall, the 6-8 freshman from Detroit, looks solid.

Could be an interesting year.

Jersey numbering has gotten weird. Used to be the lowest numbers were the guards. De la Rosa is #1. New point guard Kevin Zabo is #55.

It should be an interesting year. The comments in this thread sound promising. What's really encouraging to me is that the comments on de la Rosa, Pippen, and Avery speak to the health of the program. A good program gets good recruits then develops them. So far in a few months our training programs have overcome the biggest knock on Pippen and de la Rosa. The claim that Avery has improved more than any player sendy has had between his first two years shows development that's always huge for mid majors. Hopefully all this translates to the court...

I really like the athleticism. I hope we can find some leaders. Jimmy and Jaylin need to temper their emotions

There is no doubt in my mind that developing 4 year players (Avery) and making some splashes with recruits like De La Rosa are going to be the difference between stagnation and moving the program forward.

BJ Duling is a Kent State Golden Flash! Welcome to the family! Kudos to the coaches for holding off the P5 schools that wanted him.

Wow!! That is huge news. Fantastic for the coaches. Any chance the kid from Lorain makes back on campus?

From the video on KSU Men's Basketball media day and comments from Allen Moff of the Record Courier.

-At Point Guard, it is a battle between Zabo, Avery, & Hurley
-At Shooting Guard, Walker is coming back from the foot injury and Ridneour might play some @ PG but mostly at the SG spot. Not sure if Peterson will play or redshirt?
-At Small Forward, DeBerry & Edwin will see the most time at this position
-At Power Forward, Jimmy Hall the obvious starter, and Pippen, Edwards, & Walker battling for time
-At Center, Adonis De La Rosa

A few notes:
Taishaun Johnson, #4, is waiting for a ruling on whether he will be eligible to play in the 2nd semester, but he definitely isn't eligible to play for 1st semester of this season.

#25 is Tanner Castora, originally from Strongsville OH and played @ USC Upstate, before transferring to Kent State as a walk-on.

Danny Pippen has put on 20lbs of good weight since he arrived on Kent campus in the summer.

Is everyone excited for men's basketball season? In the pictures/videos, the new chairbacks and video board entrance @ the MACC both look great. So does the new athletic training center expansion.

(11-09-2016 07:05 PM)GoFlashes7 Wrote:  From the video on KSU Men's Basketball media day and comments from Allen Moff of the Record Courier.

-At Point Guard, it is a battle between Zabo, Avery, & Hurley
-At Shooting Guard, Walker is coming back from the foot injury and Ridneour might play some @ PG but mostly at the SG spot. Not sure if Peterson will play or redshirt?
-At Small Forward, DeBerry & Edwin will see the most time at this position
-At Power Forward, Jimmy Hall the obvious starter, and Pippen, Edwards, & Walker battling for time
-At Center, Adonis De La Rosa

A few notes:
Taishaun Johnson, #4, is waiting for a ruling on whether he will be eligible to play in the 2nd semester, but he definitely isn't eligible to play for 1st semester of this season.

#25 is Tanner Castora, originally from Strongsville OH and played @ USC Upstate, before transferring to Kent State as a walk-on.

Danny Pippen has put on 20lbs of good weight since he arrived on Kent campus in the summer.

Is everyone excited for men's basketball season? In the pictures/videos, the new chairbacks and video board entrance @ the MACC both look great. So does the new athletic training center expansion.

Hurley isn't going to play much at all.

(11-09-2016 07:14 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  

(11-09-2016 07:05 PM)GoFlashes7 Wrote:  From the video on KSU Men's Basketball media day and comments from Allen Moff of the Record Courier.

-At Point Guard, it is a battle between Zabo, Avery, & Hurley
-At Shooting Guard, Walker is coming back from the foot injury and Ridneour might play some @ PG but mostly at the SG spot. Not sure if Peterson will play or redshirt?
-At Small Forward, DeBerry & Edwin will see the most time at this position
-At Power Forward, Jimmy Hall the obvious starter, and Pippen, Edwards, & Walker battling for time
-At Center, Adonis De La Rosa

A few notes:
Taishaun Johnson, #4, is waiting for a ruling on whether he will be eligible to play in the 2nd semester, but he definitely isn't eligible to play for 1st semester of this season.

#25 is Tanner Castora, originally from Strongsville OH and played @ USC Upstate, before transferring to Kent State as a walk-on.

Danny Pippen has put on 20lbs of good weight since he arrived on Kent campus in the summer.

Is everyone excited for men's basketball season? In the pictures/videos, the new chairbacks and video board entrance @ the MACC both look great. So does the new athletic training center expansion.

Hurley isn't going to play much at all.

True ... but that was the plan as they are developing him to be a PG down the road ... (development again!!) ... biggest issue now I believe is a groin injury

I know the Hustle Belt website is slanted towards certain teams, and not very deep or accurate, but....

...they have Jimmy Hall rated the #2 player in the MAC for this upcoming season. Only they didn't include the link to their own article on their MAC Basketball page. Here's the link if you want to read it...

http://www.hustlebelt.com/2016/11/9/1357...kent-state

(11-09-2016 07:14 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  

(11-09-2016 07:05 PM)GoFlashes7 Wrote:  From the video on KSU Men's Basketball media day and comments from Allen Moff of the Record Courier.

-At Point Guard, it is a battle between Zabo, Avery, & Hurley
-At Shooting Guard, Walker is coming back from the foot injury and Ridneour might play some @ PG but mostly at the SG spot. Not sure if Peterson will play or redshirt?
-At Small Forward, DeBerry & Edwin will see the most time at this position
-At Power Forward, Jimmy Hall the obvious starter, and Pippen, Edwards, & Walker battling for time
-At Center, Adonis De La Rosa

A few notes:
Taishaun Johnson, #4, is waiting for a ruling on whether he will be eligible to play in the 2nd semester, but he definitely isn't eligible to play for 1st semester of this season.

#25 is Tanner Castora, originally from Strongsville OH and played @ USC Upstate, before transferring to Kent State as a walk-on.

Danny Pippen has put on 20lbs of good weight since he arrived on Kent campus in the summer.

Is everyone excited for men's basketball season? In the pictures/videos, the new chairbacks and video board entrance @ the MACC both look great. So does the new athletic training center expansion.

Hurley isn't going to play much at all.

Its scaring me how much I've been agreeing with Danny lately but IMO Hurley wont ever play a significant role here and one year from now i'd suspect he may be gone