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

(10-26-2019 08:06 PM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  The situation with Danny Pippen is concerning. After going through two knee surgeries, I find it difficult to believe that he will be able to stand-up to the rigor & stress of a full season. I hope he takes the necessary time to allow his surgeries to heal & not rush it, even if it means missing more time.

#GoFlashes

DITTO ... he is the difference between allowing freshmen to grow and learn with selective minutes off the bench in a winning environment vs. being needed key big minute contributors on a struggling team ahead of their time.

Unless Beck and Castillo are MAC caliber starters/contributors out of the gate, could be rough w/o Pippen ... which is not to say Pippen is a proven All-MAC player ... but he is a veteran MAC player which can be valuable in itself.

(10-26-2019 08:06 PM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  The situation with Danny Pippen is concerning. After going through two knee surgeries, I find it difficult to believe that he will be able to stand-up to the rigor & stress of a full season. I hope he takes the necessary time to allow his surgeries to heal & not rush it, even if it means missing more time.

#GoFlashes

If memory serves it was microfracture surgery that he had. Some guys never fully come back from that. One of his best assets was his leaping ability and I'm concerned that will never be the same. Fortunately for probably the first time in his basketball career, his light frame is actually an advantage for him.

(10-26-2019 11:32 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  

(10-26-2019 08:06 PM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  The situation with Danny Pippen is concerning. After going through two knee surgeries, I find it difficult to believe that he will be able to stand-up to the rigor & stress of a full season. I hope he takes the necessary time to allow his surgeries to heal & not rush it, even if it means missing more time.

#GoFlashes

If memory serves it was microfracture surgery that he had. Some guys never fully come back from that. One of his best assets was his leaping ability and I'm concerned that will never be the same. Fortunately for probably the first time in his basketball career, his light frame is actually an advantage for him.

The knee Danny had micro-fracture surgery on is fine. His issue is the other knee. I don't think anyone knows if Danny will ever play again. It's a waiting game.

(10-27-2019 02:38 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  

(10-26-2019 11:32 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  

(10-26-2019 08:06 PM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  The situation with Danny Pippen is concerning. After going through two knee surgeries, I find it difficult to believe that he will be able to stand-up to the rigor & stress of a full season. I hope he takes the necessary time to allow his surgeries to heal & not rush it, even if it means missing more time.

#GoFlashes

If memory serves it was microfracture surgery that he had. Some guys never fully come back from that. One of his best assets was his leaping ability and I'm concerned that will never be the same. Fortunately for probably the first time in his basketball career, his light frame is actually an advantage for him.

The knee Danny had micro-fracture surgery on is fine. His issue is the other knee. I don't think anyone knows if Danny will ever play again. It's a waiting game.

The good new is... Kent has some bodies for that position ... the ??? is are they 'players.' Time will tell.

(10-27-2019 02:38 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  

(10-26-2019 11:32 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  

(10-26-2019 08:06 PM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  The situation with Danny Pippen is concerning. After going through two knee surgeries, I find it difficult to believe that he will be able to stand-up to the rigor & stress of a full season. I hope he takes the necessary time to allow his surgeries to heal & not rush it, even if it means missing more time.

#GoFlashes

If memory serves it was microfracture surgery that he had. Some guys never fully come back from that. One of his best assets was his leaping ability and I'm concerned that will never be the same. Fortunately for probably the first time in his basketball career, his light frame is actually an advantage for him.

The knee Danny had micro-fracture surgery on is fine. His issue is the other knee. I don't think anyone knows if Danny will ever play again. It's a waiting game.

Thanks for the info. I guess that's good that it's not the same knee.

I started playing organized basketball in 1957 and had been around the game as a coach at the junior high level for several years and have followed the sport all my life. I have no data to back me up but it seems to me that serious (missing several games) basketball injuries have become much more common over the decades. I do know that over time the game has become much, much more physical and that the players are, on average, bigger, faster and much stronger. Heck, there was a time when basketball players were forbidden from lifting weights! There is way more physical contact in the game than long ago. I think the "injury situation" being a big factor among college teams is, unfortunately, just a fact of life and is here to stay.

(10-28-2019 05:09 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  I started playing organized basketball in 1957 and had been around the game as a coach at the junior high level for several years and have followed the sport all my life. I have no data to back me up but it seems to me that serious (missing several games) basketball injuries have become much more common over the decades. I do know that over time the game has become much, much more physical and that the players are, on average, bigger, faster and much stronger. Heck, there was a time when basketball players were forbidden from lifting weights! There is way more physical contact in the game than long ago. I think the "injury situation" being a big factor among college teams is, unfortunately, just a fact of life and is here to stay.

All that is true ... but another big factor is these kids actually play too much basketball over the course of the year. Specialization (one sport) starting at early ages puts so much constant abuse on muscles and joints that it's surprising even more players aren't lost to injuries.

Agree, Cleveland. I was going to mention that, too, but forgot.

Totally agree. I have read on more than one occasion where high school baseball pitchers are are getting Tommy John surgery. The focus on one sport on a year round basis is not good.

#GoFlashes

(10-29-2019 07:08 AM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  Totally agree. I have read on more than one occasion where high school baseball pitchers are are getting Tommy John surgery. The focus on one sport on a year round basis is not good.

#GoFlashes

It's not good. That said, as a parent of a 7th grade son who plays basketball year round you have no choice. So many other kids do it that if you don't play your chosen sport year round, you will fall behind and never catch up.

(10-29-2019 04:15 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  

(10-29-2019 07:08 AM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  Totally agree. I have read on more than one occasion where high school baseball pitchers are are getting Tommy John surgery. The focus on one sport on a year round basis is not good.

#GoFlashes

It's not good. That said, as a parent of a 7th grade son who plays basketball year round you have no choice. So many other kids do it that if you don't play your chosen sport year round, you will fall behind and never catch up.

On soap box...

I can empathize. Dedicating your kid to one sport year round is what clubs want you to do because it is a big money-maker for the clubs & the associated services that they pressure you to use. I would debate that if you do participate in the year round programs that you are at an advantage. As a matter of fact, a majority of high school & college coaches look for multi-sport athletes.

The great majority of the kids that are year round, one-sport athletes are mediocre, at best. These travel clubs need to stay in business, so they will tell you your kid is good enough to be on the team. It is also what their parents want normally because it is pounded into their brains that they have a better chance of getting into a D1, D2, or D3 program, which is a bunch of crock. A kid either has the talent or not, plain & simple. If a kid has a passion & the talent for a sport, he/she will find a way.

Again, in my opinion, this is why I also feel LeBron is doing a dis-service to his kid. LeBron played football, along with playing in the playgrounds of Akron when he was a kid. To my knowledge, his son has not been given the same opportunity. I just hope he does not become disillusioned, or worse yet, become a disappoint in his father's eyes.

As a suggestion, take your son to the high school track & see if he has any interest track & field. With T&F it is all on you, you don't need all the travel/club hoopla.

Off soap box...

#GoFlashes

(10-29-2019 06:31 PM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  

(10-29-2019 04:15 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  

(10-29-2019 07:08 AM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  Totally agree. I have read on more than one occasion where high school baseball pitchers are are getting Tommy John surgery. The focus on one sport on a year round basis is not good.

#GoFlashes

It's not good. That said, as a parent of a 7th grade son who plays basketball year round you have no choice. So many other kids do it that if you don't play your chosen sport year round, you will fall behind and never catch up.

On soap box...

I can empathize. Dedicating your kid to one sport year round is what clubs want you to do because it is a big money-maker for the clubs & the associated services that they pressure you to use. I would debate that if you do participate in the year round programs that you are at an advantage. As a matter of fact, a majority of high school & college coaches look for multi-sport athletes.

The great majority of the kids that are year round, one-sport athletes are mediocre, at best. These travel clubs need to stay in business, so they will tell you your kid is good enough to be on the team. It is also what their parents want normally because it is pounded into their brains that they have a better chance of getting into a D1, D2, or D3 program, which is a bunch of crock. A kid either has the talent or not, plain & simple. If a kid has a passion & the talent for a sport, he/she will find a way.

Again, in my opinion, this is why I also feel LeBron is doing a dis-service to his kid. LeBron played football, along with playing in the playgrounds of Akron when he was a kid. To my knowledge, his son has not been given the same opportunity. I just hope he does not become disillusioned, or worse yet, become a disappoint in his father's eyes.

As a suggestion, take your son to the high school track & see if he has any interest track & field. With T&F it is all on you, you don't need all the travel/club hoopla.

Off soap box...

#GoFlashes

FLASHER ....
I disagree and I agree. Went through the same scenario with my son. I was VERY honest with him after his freshman year in high school about where I saw his talent level, size for position and progression (all the while fighting his mother for being 'negative.') All the while emphasized the importance of being on the team and no matter if he was a starter or not (off and on).

We used the travel team experience as our own bonding opportunities, taking opportunities to check out whatever sites there were in the city we were in between games.

I also encouraged him to at least dabble in an individual sport (track, swimming, golf, tennis) even if just for fun.

Long story short, once he picked his college (a BCS school as far away from home as he could get) I explained he was good enough to walk on if he wanted because he could shoot the piss out of it, even though his size and handle was more D3 and would call one of the assistants that I happened to know.

After his freshman year he transferred to a smaller school (against my advice) and walked on the swim team, even though he could have started basketball (my opinion) at the school he transferred to.

That was 15 years ago. Today he talks a lot more about the travel team trips than the games (even when he played against Lebron). Meanwhile my wife says I chased him from what he really wanted by being negative (honest).

Go figure. Of all my kids he's the most adjusted of the bunch.

Reality is, nobody on his school team (except for him and two other kids who also play year round) has any remote chance of playing HS basketball. If my son didn't play/train year round, he wouldn't have a chance either. These days, unless you are a freaky athlete, you aren't going to play multiple sports and be able to be good enough to play at larger high schools. It's just reality. In a school of 1000 kids, you will have 15 that play year round and if you don't you can most likely kiss your chances goodbye.

I am not worried about the AAU scene or keeping travel teams in business with my money. That consideration is secondary. So is an athletic scholarship. My son wants to be good enough to play HS basketball. Whatever comes after that, if anything, is gravy. If he quits working, he will get passed by kids who spend most of the year training/playing. That said, I am letting him do what he wants to do. If he wants to quit basketball, as long as he isn't camped out in front of that damn PS4, I don't care. I will support him and give him all the opportunity I can.

Sounds like we have some Otto Porter Jr. fans on here. He's the rare NBA player (and high lottery pick, and Max contract player) who actually never played AAU ball.

He comes from a pretty talented basketball family though so it sounds like he spent his summers getting pushed around by his dad an uncle's on the court and honing his fundamentals... So he was still probably playing all year round though.

Play what you enjoy son. Don't worry about "daddy" baseball coaches picking their teams in the 7th freaking grade!!!! In the fall, strap on the helmet or running shoes, in the winter bounce the orange ball (even if its at the rec center) and hit the mats and in the spring grab your glove or take some time off. Play what you enjoy. Don't worry about keeping up with the Jones family in junior freaking high!!!!!

(10-30-2019 09:25 AM)fallsdog Wrote:  Play what you enjoy son. Don't worry about "daddy" baseball coaches picking their teams in the 7th freaking grade!!!! In the fall, strap on the helmet or running shoes, in the winter bounce the orange ball (even if its at the rec center) and hit the mats and in the spring grab your glove or take some time off. Play what you enjoy. Don't worry about keeping up with the Jones family in junior freaking high!!!!!

(10-30-2019 03:23 PM)goldenflash99 Wrote:  

(10-30-2019 09:25 AM)fallsdog Wrote:  Play what you enjoy son. Don't worry about "daddy" baseball coaches picking their teams in the 7th freaking grade!!!! In the fall, strap on the helmet or running shoes, in the winter bounce the orange ball (even if its at the rec center) and hit the mats and in the spring grab your glove or take some time off. Play what you enjoy. Don't worry about keeping up with the Jones family in junior freaking high!!!!!

BACK TO BASKETBALL ... Anybody seen any practices, or have any injury updates????

On Friday of last week, CJ said he thought he would be back in a week. Sendy thought it would be more like 2-3 wks. Danny is seriously a big guess at this point. Based on what I learned last week, it could literally go either way. He could have to have another surgery or his knee could respond and he could play. Nobody knows.

I saw Danny a week ago. I stopped on campus and parked in the back. As I got out of my car he was walking by. Of course he was looking down on his phone and he tripped over a curb. I yelled out "Danny be careful with the knee" He looked up quickly and just gave me a smile (probably thinking something else).

(10-30-2019 07:38 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(10-30-2019 03:23 PM)goldenflash99 Wrote:  

(10-30-2019 09:25 AM)fallsdog Wrote:  Play what you enjoy son. Don't worry about "daddy" baseball coaches picking their teams in the 7th freaking grade!!!! In the fall, strap on the helmet or running shoes, in the winter bounce the orange ball (even if its at the rec center) and hit the mats and in the spring grab your glove or take some time off. Play what you enjoy. Don't worry about keeping up with the Jones family in junior freaking high!!!!!

BACK TO BASKETBALL ... Anybody seen any practices, or have any injury updates????

whatever you say boss. i know the hiram game has me all excited. almost as excited the Townson game.