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Kent State welcomes the Tigers of Savannah State to the MAC Center on Tuesday for a 7PM tip. Savannah State was 15-17 last season, including 4-13 on the road. They are 2-3 so far this year playing a defense optional style of basketball.

The Tigers have given up 107, 98, 110, 95 and 97 in games so far. By the way, those numbers include games against Thomas (he's the cheeky one) University and Middle Georgia State. But the Tigers can score. Four players will enter the MAC Center on Tuesday averaging double digit points.

Senior Qua Smith averages 15 points a game and junior Zach Sellers is right behind him at 13 ppg. Both are 6'1 guards. Next is 6'0 155 pound (think about that, 155) guard Collins Joseph scoring about 12 points per game. Finally, Jaquan Dotson, another guard, averages about 10 points and 6 boards per game.

Three players are listed as 6'7 or taller with the biggest body being 6'8 200 pound forward Rohmani Hansen. You've gotta figure this is one the Flashes can win before heading out to Vandy on Friday.

I made the long drive to last night's game. Granted Savannah is a very poor defensive team, but I thought that Kent State played very well on both ends of the court the first 40% or so of the game, before things got sloppy as they usually do in such blow-outs. I was also impressed with Kent State's depth. The first 9 players looked solid.

Tough to have any meaningful take aways from this one. SSU's style was ridiculous. Don't attempt to defend and jack up a shot as soon as you touch it. I guess the positive takeaway is we beat them with ease like we should. It easily could've been a 40+ point win had we not got sloppy and likely bored in the second half.

Right, ant-zip. Also, when (if?) Walker and Pippen return, this could be the deepest team in quite some time. Of course, being deep doesn't necessarily indicate how good the team will be.

(11-21-2018 03:09 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Right, ant-zip. Also, when (if?) Walker and Pippen return, this could be the deepest team in quite some time. Of course, being deep doesn't necessarily indicate how good the team will be.

Nit-picking here ... I would call this bench 'long' more than 'deep.' Long in the sense that at least 10 players are available who look ad play like D1 players.

'Deep' however implies (to me) the team has multiple (quality) options at every position and that does not seem to be the case when looking at the 4-5 spots.

Again, it's a nit-pick that may or may not prove to be an issue over the course of the season.

Racking up wins at home is a good thing. Getting guys minutes against division one completion is also a good thing. Over the years I have scratched my head when guys go from being starters to 8 minutes a game players but I guess there is only one way to find out what you’ve got.

Haven’t looked at Vandy yet but I imagine it will be tough sledding under the basket.

(11-21-2018 03:09 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  when (if?) Walker and Pippen return

TV and radio both said Pippen is redshirting last night. Hopefully Walker is back Friday and keeps his nose clean.

Thanks, JimJoyce. I was afraid that Pippen may have to redshirt. It could be a good thing, unless he graduates and transfers out with eligibility remaining like many do. I hope for everyone's sake Walker keeps his nose clean.

Did they say what the injury is? I was actually expecting to hear the opposite news that he was cleared to practice because he actively dribbling around during warm ups last night. I agree that this could be a really good thing for Pippen and the program. He's got a ton of upside. The argument could even be made that he ended up being our best player last year. He needs to continue improving during this year off. And yes, of course him sticking around for his 5th year could make this work out nicely for the program.

(11-21-2018 06:25 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Did they say what the injury is? I was actually expecting to hear the opposite news that he was cleared to practice because he actively dribbling around during warm ups last night. I agree that this could be a really good thing for Pippen and the program. He's got a ton of upside. The argument could even be made that he ended up being our best player last year. He needs to continue improving during this year off. And yes, of course him sticking around for his 5th year could make this work out nicely for the program.

Summer knee surgery, if I recall right.

Certainly showed upside last season ... consistency this season was the next step. ... A bit more strength needed as well, although much stronger now than as a freshman.

(11-21-2018 07:10 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(11-21-2018 06:25 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Did they say what the injury is? I was actually expecting to hear the opposite news that he was cleared to practice because he actively dribbling around during warm ups last night. I agree that this could be a really good thing for Pippen and the program. He's got a ton of upside. The argument could even be made that he ended up being our best player last year. He needs to continue improving during this year off. And yes, of course him sticking around for his 5th year could make this work out nicely for the program.

Summer knee surgery, if I recall right.

Certainly showed upside last season ... consistency this season was the next step. ... A bit more strength needed as well, although much stronger now than as a freshman.

Yeah I mean what is the injury though? ACL meniscus, etc.

Cleveland, I see what you meant about being "long" rather than "deep". Of the 10 top players, 7 are listed at guards, basically the 1, 2 and even 3 positions. Freshmen Gholston and Norton, also. With Pippen out, only Frederick, Whittington and Duling are inside players. Which brings me to the question I asked once before - what's the story on Antonio Givens, the 6'8", 260 lb. junior who is listed as a "center" on the roster? He has yet to see any action to the best of my knowledge.

This is completely a guess on my part, but maybe Sendy doesn't view Givens as a typical walk-on but rather a project with some upside. We know Sendy develops bigs well. Therefore he's hoping to redshirt him but is keeping him dressing because our lack of depth could force us to use him at some point. It would explain why he's not getting in the game during garbage time when Norton goes in. His JUCO numbers are certainly not impressive but he is 6'8" 260 and we're not spending a scholarship on him. So if we think we can develop him into even a back end of the rotation guy why not redshirt him.

Makes sense, anti-zip. That's probably the situation. John Edwards red-shirted his first year as a walk-on.

(11-22-2018 09:23 AM)anti-zip Wrote:  This is completely a guess on my part, but maybe Sendy doesn't view Givens as a typical walk-on but rather a project with some upside. We know Sendy develops bigs well. Therefore he's hoping to redshirt him but is keeping him dressing because our lack of depth could force us to use him at some point. It would explain why he's not getting in the game during garbage time when Norton goes in. His JUCO numbers are certainly not impressive but he is 6'8" 260 and we're not spending a scholarship on him. So if we think we can develop him into even a back end of the rotation guy why not redshirt him.

Strictly a guess .. but if it's true Pippen is redshirting, then having Givens on the end of the bench is probably a fail-safe. Have no clue what he brings to the table, other than size. But there is a distinct drop from No. 1 to No. 2, and again from No. 2 to No. 3 (Whittington, Frederick, Duling) but losing any one of them for more than a game looks like a potential problem .... enter Givens.

If ADLR's performance with Illinois is any indication whether DP should redshirt or not, he should. Watched him the other night playing in Maui & he just did not look good, compared when he was with the Flashes. Even Bill Walton said he came back too soon & should not be on the court. I just hope it does not cause any lasting damage.

I mean, it was a torn ACL right? Of course he came back way too soon.

I follow Illinois pretty closely, and ADLR is playing before anyone there expected. I was hearing, though, that they thought his recovery was ahead of schedule. From what I've seen, he is moving a little better with each game. By the way, lots of compliments from the coaching staff there about ADLR's knowledge, work habits, and leadership.

(11-24-2018 04:10 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  I mean, it was a torn ACL right? Of course he came back way too soon.

Basketball is relies heavily on the legs - jumping, quick cuts and bursts of speed - most players never fully regain these pre-injury abilities after ACL. Hopefully with time DP gets back most of his mobility abd doesn't get reinjured.

(11-25-2018 08:08 AM)OLNWFLSH Wrote:  

(11-24-2018 04:10 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  I mean, it was a torn ACL right? Of course he came back way too soon.

Basketball is relies heavily on the legs - jumping, quick cuts and bursts of speed - most players never fully regain these pre-injury abilities after ACL. Hopefully with time DP gets back most of his mobility abd doesn't get reinjured.

Ok so Pippen's was a torn ACL? I still hadn't heard what the actual injury was.