(01-10-2019 09:52 AM)GoBullsGo Wrote:  It's an impossible question right now because the strength of Kent State's run was all about January forward.

On this day in 2002, Kent State was 9-5 with losses to Hofstra (finished 12-20), #13 Kentucky (finished 22-10), Youngstown State (finished 5-23), Xavier (finished 26-6) and Buffalo (finished 12-18). They really didn't have much in the way of quality non-conference wins - UC Irvine may have been the best, finishing the year 21-11. But after that, Kent State won 21 straight before falling to Indiana in the Elite 8. Had they lost in the MAC championship game, they would have been on the bubble at 26-6 with their lone win against a tournament team coming from the MAC representative. They may still have made it, but it would have been close.

Reminds of 2011 Butler. A loss on February 3rd in Youngstown put Butler 14-9 and 5-5 in the Horizon League.

Two months later, they were playing for a national title.

Incredible. My first year watching CBB was ‘03 so I really regret having missed Kent’s run.