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

Those really long bus rides are miserable for athletes, even with 24 hrs from the time you arrive. Maybe I was looking for it, but it seemed like we not nearly as sharp as we were in Muncie. A lot of near steals, a lot of shots just off, passes that weren't as crisp, cuts the wrong way. To me, those are the signs of a travel-weary team.

Now we have a couple days at home, then three straight home games. I think we will see a much more together team over the next week and a half. Plus, a win like we had last night can only bring this team closer together. A lot of things didn't go right last night, but we got the win anyway, and it took some big plays from everyone to get it done. It wasn't pretty, but it was intense, and it took everything we had to win it on a night when we were not "on."

I only watched 2nd half but it was the weirdest games for the following:

- while im watching im also watching CAVS games which ended with 2 very bad calls.
- In the 2nd half and OT i dont think there were any more than 6-8 shots made outside of 10 feet.
- we're down 3 and NIU is shooting 2 with 18 secs left and we somehow send it to OT without making a FG.
- we're up 3 with 4 secs and a half court shot goes in to go to double ot.
- mincy makes a clutch 3.
- we turn it over like 23 times and win. fish had 3-4 to's in critical places
- our historically poor FT shooters make FT's
- our post d was terrible (which really isnt weird but normal)
- we couldnt get consistent rb's
- 2 announcers that made Bill Neddle look like a Hall of Famer
- nobody in gym

It's kinda like we robbed a bank and got away with it.

Remember the 14 hour round trip bus ride (mid season, with the home leg an all nighter) the next time someone questions why a head coach would take a "sideways" move to a program with its own jet and budget to take it to away games.

The game reminds me of the remarks from the Miami interim coach
(name escapes me) after our last second victory over the RH in the MAC Tourney last year. To paraphrase him: "It's Kent State. You can't just take them to the cliff and hope they jump. You have to push them."

While not the same team as last year, I've seen (cough) "flashes" of that same grit in the last 2 games. That's very good.

(02-11-2009 01:27 PM)axeme Wrote:  Those really long bus rides are miserable for athletes, even with 24 hrs from the time you arrive. Maybe I was looking for it, but it seemed like we not nearly as sharp as we were in Muncie. A lot of near steals, a lot of shots just off, passes that weren't as crisp, cuts the wrong way. To me, those are the signs of a travel-weary team.

Now we have a couple days at home, then three straight home games. I think we will see a much more together team over the next week and a half. Plus, a win like we had last night can only bring this team closer together. A lot of things didn't go right last night, but we got the win anyway, and it took some big plays from everyone to get it done. It wasn't pretty, but it was intense, and it took everything we had to win it on a night when we were not "on."

I am pretty sure Dave wrote an article on the womens game on Sunday. He is still alive and kicking.

Also, don't forget about the 10 hour (round trip - muncie) bus ride for the Ball State game just 2 days prior to the 7 hour one way trip to Dekalb, and practice, leg weary is putting it politely!

I know it was not pretty and it wasn't the beat down I was hoping for, but all things considered I feel better about this team today than I have since the St. Louis game.

(02-10-2009 10:17 PM)ksu315 Wrote:  LOL. Is MAC basketball really this piss poor????

lol lucky for us it is

Honestly, top to bottom, I cannot remember a weaker MAC. Certainly not in the last 15 years? 20 years?

Buffalo has been the conference's best so far, but they are just experienced and have some balance which this year so far has been enough.

The MAC is so weak that I predict that for the first time in ages NOBODY will start a thread about an at-large bid(s).

Because I am now a one-month subscriber to NIU/CBS All-Access, I was able to go back today and watch a replay of the game on Tuesday. I tuned in at the point Chris fouled out--about 2:20 left in regulation, and watching it again I was left with a couple of points:

•How we got out of regulation was crazy. We were done. Finished. Game over. Mike McKee really earned his bones at the end. Clutch, clutch, clutch.
•Simpson got so many big boards, we have to forgive his letting that guy drive right past him for the layup, and the travel from the top of the key, even though either one of those could have decided the game. He hit that 10 ft jumper from the side in OT, made big FT's, etc.
•Al and Tyree were just gold from the line. Smooth makes from both.
•Mincy's rainbow 3 from in front of the bench--just amazing. How clutch was that?

Let's hope this was the game, as ugly as it was at times, that gave this team its identity and togetherness. I really like the way we hung together.

axeme,

good stuff!

i too hope that this win at NIU brings the team together & gives them new sense of identity. ice water in veins.. sense of purpose.. determination.. will to survive/win.

mike
'86

...the eye of the tiger?

So many times it happens too fast. You trade your passion for glory. Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past. You must fight just to keep them alive.