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

Basketball practice starts at midnight tonight (tomorrow?). It's finally here. GO FLASHES!!

I was there:

Watch out for - Big John Edwards; he looked in great condition and also put on a few extra
much needed pounds. He looked in preseason form and dominated the
intra-squad scrimmage they held at the end of the program. If he keeps
his mental state in check he could have the kind of year everyone has hoped
the big guy might have.

Also looking very good: DeAndre Haynes and Bryon Bedford - these two were ready to go
and should be a big factor in this seasons hopes.

Did not Dress for the scrimmage: Eric Haut (ouch!!!) not sure why, but he was introduced
and walked out with a slight limp (please be healthy Eric!!)

The two new kids - Scott Cutley and D. Johnson; definitely have the talent but are raw, very
raw. The older players took them to school during the scrimmage ( I think
they were a little surprised on how good the players are on this team).

Besides the play of Edwards, one other player caught my eye:Kevin Warzynski, this guy (6'8")
was putting up some fade aways and turn arounds like a seasoned player. Since he is a
transfer they have to sit him out this year, he should help up front next year.

Since the scrimmage was not coached it was hard to really tell as to who will really help out
this year............but there is plenty in the talent pool for another good season.

I think the matchups with Akron will be bigger then they have in many years. Akron is loaded, but when Hipshier is your coach, you can lose at any time.

Does anybody remember in 99, when the Zips had Bosley and Ball, and they blew that big lead in the MAC Center? My favorite moment of that game was when Bosley went to the free trow line, and the whole gym began jingling their car keys in response to his getting in trouble at Ohio State. I was sitting way up in the rafters for that game. I turned to my friend and said, "This feels like big time college basketball." It was the best sports moment I ever personally saw at Kent.

Not only were there shaking there car keys they were chanting "Fat bald convict" at Boseley. Usually I don't like to lay it on a young kid like that but he was so dam cocky he deserved it.

I predict Akron will be real tough early on but then will fold at the end of the season like they do every year. I gotta believe the players get sick of listening to Hipsher's crap all year and at the end they just tune him out.

I remember that game with Akron and Bosley also; I think that was the first game that
really turned the students on to the KSU basketball program - it was a great atmosphere -
no doubt.

The Zippy's are the team to beat; but dam it, if what I saw with big John Edwards the other
night at Midnight Madness (come on Big John this is your year big guy!!), KSU will clearly have
the best Center combination in the MAC, with Edwards and a healthy Gerwig. Plus we have
remedied the problem with lack of depth with the backcourt situation of guard players. Now
we guards out the wazzu!!!!!!!!!!!It will be up to the forward positions to fill in the
question marks; guys like Cliff Brown and Bryon Bedford plus Freshman Scott Cutley
(lots of talent with this kid) and transfer Jason Edwin (from St Louis) will be needed to
step in and rebound and make plays.

I can't wait..............Come on Nov. 15th :)

Thanks for the news on Flashes Basketball. Can't wait.

Wonderful posts on Big John. If he realizes he's 7"...look out. He's not as beefy as Kamen at that height...but you can't coach height. Chris didn't make alot of noise before last year... maybe it's Big John's turn. An advantage at center will make the difference in the East.

We are loaded with guards...but the sleeper may be Jason Edwin. On the up side, the kid can make an immediate contribution because he's eligible this year and the MAC has not seen him. He was the second leading scorer when he left St. Louis, starting almost 30 games in CUSA, which means he had high pressure hoops experience.
He played in the smallest school class in Illinois, but this is preps hoops heaven and to be Illinois Player of the Year in any class you have to show outstanding talent. Add to that he was Class A POTY his JUNIOR year in high school ( sat out senior year due to a residency dispute) and we could have another Gates like transfer at forward. A bit small for forward, but could have great versatility.

The wild card is this kid's off the court discipline. If he's learned his lesson, we could have another ringer. If not, we'll be one of another list of teams inline wondering "what could have been ?"