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

Frustrating, That is all if have to say. I hate loosen, especially at home. Still, we are going to end up better then I thought we would at the start of the season (18-9) at the worse.

Whats the problem, Coach, players, no depth. What do you guys really think happened? Honestly, no, COACH SUCKS, bla, bla, bla. Back up your argument with something please.

Interesting question- one we've all been thinking about. I think it comes down to three things, in no particular order:

1. Lack of a consistently productive inside game, leaving to depend too much on the perimeter game. [U] Gerwig and Edwards have both had flashes (no pun intended )of brilliance, but their production has been pretty inconsistent. As stated on an earlier post, Gerwig's inconsitency can be attributed somewhat to his shoulder, but Edwards is a mystery. Plus, no one else seems to come off the perimiter and go to the hole.

2. Little balance in production on everything [U], leaving it pretty easy to figure out how to stop them. Gates is in the top 25 of the MAC in points per game, rebounds and assists, but no consistently productive players. If you want to get even more depressed, check out the MAC top 25 lists in shooting percentage, rebounds, assist and steals. Gates shows up everywhere, then maybe one other Flashes way down every the list, except for Haynes on assists.

3. This is an intangible, but lack of consistent leadership and intensity. Of the two seniors on the team, Gates does not seem to relish an on court leadership role ala Shaw or Mitchell for intensity, or Huffman for leadership.
Wilkins, a fifth year senior caption, has been a huge disappointment in production or leadership. Of the other guys, the only ones that occasionally show some fire are Gerwig, Bedford and Jakeway. Haut talks intensity but I sure don't see it.

Finally, guess all of these can be attiributed to coaching, but I'm willing to give Christian and staff a learning year and a clean slate for '03-'04.

Thanks for the question. I'll look forward to what the other guys think.

I tend to agree with you FlashFan. Part of our (the fans') problem is that we were seriously overachieving inthe the first half of the season and set expectations for the second half higher than they should have been, realistically. And we had a tougher first half schedule, too!
The BG game at home should have been a red flag. It showed a weakness in determination that had not been present before.
When this season started, I said I'd take 13-5 in either division and take my chances. Now it looks like 13-5 could well win both.
I, too, question the leadership within the team. It's hard to know what is really going on, but one thing is obvious, if there is leadership, it is ineffective. This team has not fired out of the gate in a long time--they seem to be sluggish for long stretches. Who knows what, if anything, it will take to get this team back to the level of intensity it will take to advance this year?
Other teams are fired up by the chance to knock us off, too, and are clearly hungrier than we are. How we can not be hungry to get back to the NCAA, I don't know, but it hasn't looked like this team has the desire to play hard throughout the last 3 weeks. Are there any players left on any other MAC team who has won the MAC tournament? They want it. We have an 8 game winning streak at the Gund (6 in MAC tourneys) and we are playing like a team that doesn't realize what it took to accomplish what KSU has accomplished in the last 4 seasons.
I also give Coach Christian a pass at this point. This team should belong to the seniors who have been through the wars. Coach deserves a couple of seasons to establish his own style and methods. Very tough to be the 3rd coach in 3 years anywhere inthe country, let alone in the MAC.
End of ramble.
I want my team back.
I want them back Saturday.
I still feel that if every team in the MAC plays its best game every time out in the tourney, we would win it.
:saber:

A few days have passed and the pain is subsiding, so here goes the optimism again:

1. You're right, axeme, I really do believe the Flashes are as capable of winning the MAC as any other team. It's not like we have a MVC thing going like SIU and Creighton. Whether they win is another thing, but the talent is there.

2. Maybe they are just a pis**d off as we are at this point. Read some quotes by Coach C. today- he's there. So if the "need something to prove" factor is what got us to 17-2, it sure should be there now.

You folllow the Flashes, jar3232. What's your take?

Coach C deserves no time. Didn't even earn the job, just fell into it because AD was scared to go to the outside for a search. After coming off an elite 8 we could have gotten someone very similar to Waters and Heath. Not someone who was out of coaching for 2 years. He's too young but the best coach on the Kent bench is Geno Ford.

I don't see any flexability in his coaching style. The other MAC coaches gotta be licking their chops watching film of us. My mother-in-law who knows little about basketball asks why the run the same play every time (Gates on a clearout). Strang substituion patterns while letting the bench rot. Half of the MAC teams would have Bedford as a starter and he doesn't play for us.

I hope this guy proves me wrong but i don't see to date. And before you ask i wasn't thrilled when we were on a role either. (i.e see the BG game and a 24 point lead)

FlashFan Wrote:Read some quotes by Coach C. today- he's there. So if the "need something to prove" factor is what got us to 17-2, it sure should be there now.

Where would I find them?

Yes! You can still read the Daily Can't Stand It online!

<a href='http://www.stater.kent.edu/today/sports/' target='_blank'>http://www.stater.kent.edu/today/sports/</a>

I referred to Monday's articles titled "Basketball Team Faces Unlikely Reflections" and "Spiraliing Downward."

What do I think. I am happy with their record, just not how it has come about.

I think we have lots and talent and could use it a "little" better, and i mean just a little.

At the start of the season it seemed like we were playin basketball as a team, now, it just looks like we either toss up a 3 pointer for give it to Gates and spread the court.

We have no on court leadership, which is the biggest problem I think. I just to me, and I am not playin, but it looks like no EVER takes charge to rally the team. Its just usually like they just say, ok Gates your good enough, go win for us.

If they play as a TEAM, they can win the MAC, no question there. This is a BIG test for Coach C, and the program as a whole.

JMO

Lots can be cured by a win Saturday. Then Thursday. Friday. Saturday.

By the way, there's another Player of the Year Poll on the MAC board.
You can vote for Gates, Hunter, or Kamen:

<a href='http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/mac/invision/index.php?act=ST&f=1&t=3670&s=388d3912c792c78bed5a7119ce828297' target='_blank'>POY Poll</a>

GO FLASHES!

Tonight we passed up some really good shots we normally take," Christian said. "That's a sign of a lack of confidence. When you're playing basketball, and when you're competing, there comes a time when pride has to take over.

"When you're guarding somebody, pride has to become involved. Right now we're not playing with enough pride."


A team doesn't start off 17-2, beat Boston College, MAC West leader Central Michigan and MAC East leader Miami -- twice -- with no talent.

Call it pride, call it confidence, call it mental toughness -- something is missing.

"It doesn't hurt our basketball team enough when people score on us," Christian said. "That's really alarming to me. It's not been the case since I've been here, and it was definitely not the case our first 19 games. But our collective pride needs to improve."


Well, tomorrow we will see.

Go Flashes!!