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

(02-04-2020 08:03 PM)AlphaFlash Wrote:  We abandoned a decent inside game and went 1-10 from three. I've never seen us hand over 20 points like that. I really hope there's a good reason for that.

As I annually usually find myself thinking at this point in the MAC season - mediocre team in mediocre league.

(02-04-2020 09:27 PM)ilovegymnast Wrote:  I'm not one to point fingers but if Mitch would've scored the 13 points that fallsdog predicted Kent would've won by 5. Next game I think we need to send the prediction to the team so they know what they are supposed to do.

At least i took the under

We had a recipe that was winning by feeding Phil and playing inside out. And the alphas males which are our guards and Danny said ok enough of unselfish sharing I need to get mine. And then ensued a flurry of extremely bad shots, selfish play and complete lack of team play. It continues to occur and they know Rob has minimal options to address it with the bench guys.

From inside the team I have heard these alphas run the show, Rob gives them an extremely long leash. We'll continue to have up and down play as evidenced by the MAC schedule so far but until the team dynamic changes it will be more of the same.

Hasn't been mentioned but i'd suspect we really miss Eric Haut. I don't see a lot of interaction or adjustments with the assistants during the game like I did in past. Haut was Rob's guy and i'd suspect he doesn't have that now in the staff.

(02-05-2020 08:30 AM)OLNWFLSH Wrote:  

(02-04-2020 08:03 PM)AlphaFlash Wrote:  We abandoned a decent inside game and went 1-10 from three. I've never seen us hand over 20 points like that. I really hope there's a good reason for that.

As I annually usually find myself thinking at this point in the MAC season - mediocre team in mediocre league.

I've said it the past three years, Rob owes a lot to Jimmy Hall. If Hall didn't suddenly go ballistic in a random weekend in March 2017, I'd like to believe Kent would part ways with him. Of course with Joel as an AD, who knows.

At this point in the season I think that what we see is what we get. A competitive MAC team that will look good at times and not so good at other times. I think Senderoff does a good job of keeping the program from sinking too far down even though he, like most coaches, has to put together a practically new team every year. There is talent on this team, but just not enough to win the East. The obvious answer is to become more talented, but that is far easier said than down. What would really help is to get lucky They don't seem to get lucky landing players anymore like they used to, players that turn out to be far better than anticipated.

Win 3 MAC games, lose 3, win 3, now are we going to lose 3??? I’m afraid we have no margin of error. We need our A game to win and no team can bring that every single game. The comment about Sendy not having many options is very true. Obviously poor recruiting and being unable to get players to improve over 4 years (Petersen e.g.) is the root cause. I suppose you can pin poor recruiting on the coach but it’s just as likely a Kent mid major issue that no coach can improve that much.

(02-05-2020 11:14 AM)Muskrat Wrote:  At this point in the season I think that what we see is what we get. A competitive MAC team that will look good at times and not so good at other times. I think Senderoff does a good job of keeping the program from sinking too far down even though he, like most coaches, has to put together a practically new team every year. There is talent on this team, but just not enough to win the East. The obvious answer is to become more talented, but that is far easier said than down. What would really help is to get lucky They don't seem to get lucky landing players anymore like they used to, players that turn out to be far better than anticipated.

We think too much alike. We both need help.

A basketball hat trick: Pathetic coaching, pathetic shooting and a pathetic crowd.
I'm repeating what others have posted but early on the inside game WAS working. Whittington was having a great game. A nice lead vanishes and a game is lost because of selfish, greedy players who were only interested in their own stats. Terrible coaching...actually NO coaching.
It was like watching an 8th Grade rec league game.

It’s honestly like in this day and age of Division I basketball the players have the coaches over a barrel, and the players know it. They know they can basically do wrong, because the coaches are terrified they will transfer and they don’t want to piss them off. The inmates, in essence, truly run the asylum.

I agree with all of the above. I think Kent State Basketball fans should not be surprised by a 25 point win over Ohio followed by a 25 point loss to Ohio the next night.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Attendances on a Tuesday night across the MAC:

2025
1805
3877
1245
1364

I mean, what’s the point?

(02-05-2020 11:37 AM)JimJoyce Wrote:  It’s honestly like in this day and age of Division I basketball the players have the coaches over a barrel, and the players know it. They know they can basically do wrong, because the coaches are terrified they will transfer and they don’t want to piss them off. The inmates, in essence, truly run the asylum.

I don't have any inside information or anything like that... But I do know the outlook for next year will be much more bleak if a certain 6'9" grad transfer eligible player leaves. Which puts the coaches in a pretty tough spot of trying to make sure he stays happy. So yes, it's a brutal environment for coaches right now.

As for the outlook for the rest of the year... This team has shown they're capable of being the best team in the MAC and the worst. So it's pretty much going to come down to what team shows up in a month. Hopefully we'll start seeing less and less of the bad until then.

(02-05-2020 09:34 AM)ksu315 Wrote:  We had a recipe that was winning by feeding Phil and playing inside out. And the alphas males which are our guards and Danny said ok enough of unselfish sharing I need to get mine. And then ensued a flurry of extremely bad shots, selfish play and complete lack of team play. It continues to occur and they know Rob has minimal options to address it with the bench guys.

From inside the team I have heard these alphas run the show, Rob gives them an extremely long leash. We'll continue to have up and down play as evidenced by the MAC schedule so far but until the team dynamic changes it will be more of the same.

Hasn't been mentioned but i'd suspect we really miss Eric Haut. I don't see a lot of interaction or adjustments with the assistants during the game like I did in past. Haut was Rob's guy and i'd suspect he doesn't have that now in the staff.

This post is right on the money. Rob has always given his stars lots of leeway. Most times it works out. last night it did not.

Who is the star on this team?

Extremely upset. The next game after a Akron home game is always tough for me you go from sold-out (nearly) to nothing. no excitement, etc. pathetic all the way around.


Hey Joey, you can really hang your hat on two things.

A BIG bowl win. (honestly, I cannot name it right now)

However, academic success is something to be proud of and you were a no show. Well done.

(02-03-2020 09:35 AM)fallsdog Wrote:  The Flashes host James Whitford's Ball State Cardinals on Tuesday Night at the MAC Center. BSU is coming off a win over Ohio University and currently sits at 12-9, 5-3. Both teams have a slim margin for error which is magnified for KSU because it is a home game. The key to beating these guys is limiting Tajjai Teague. The 6'8 senior leads Ball State in scoring and in rebounding. In fact, he should be in the conversation for Conference MVP.

Kent State 78
Ball State 70
Mitch Peterson gets some minutes and takes advantage to the tune of 13 points.

Go Flashes!

Seems like a nice kid. "does things you do not see in a box score". Oh lord, is Mitch Peterson hard to watch. He shot a three that barely drew iron and he was wide open. then he missed a lay-up with a kid who wasnt even 6feet tall in front of him. To think that we have no better options than him or cj makes me want to vomit. Sure, cj plays good d but mitch cant guard his shadow. 2020 ends I will be grateful that he is gone and I wish Sendy would give a kid a shot over these two.

(02-04-2020 11:27 PM)JimJoyce Wrote:  Ok, I’m trying something new where I try and breathe before responding. Here goes.

I think Rob Senderoff is a terrific coach. I think he is much better than anyone will ever give him credit for. He has provided this program some great stability. But his weakness was on full display tonight. He just doesn’t hold players accountable - at least that I can see. How many times this year has Troy Simons been T’d up in the critical moments of a game? Tonight makes at least four. And yet he plays 38 minutes? I might be able to see if he was giving you 25 points a night, but he isn’t. It’s a selfish play and it’s been a problem for him all year and throughout his career. But he gets away with it. It’s embarrassing and very hard to root for.

It was a terrible performance all the way around. By the coaches, players and fans. You mean to tell me 4,000 people could make it at 6:30 on a Friday night but not at 7:00 on a Tuesday for a game equally as important? Pathetic.

No player in Kent State history has regressed worse than Mitch Peterson. His shot is hard to watch.

The better team won tonight.

Jim. I agree with every word. Only thing I would add is NCAA transfer portal is also to blame. Coaches can’t discipline or criticize players or they will threaten to leave and go elsewhere. Like the NBA ( I hate it). Players are now in charge. Some of our eligible players, ( no names) play as if they are trying out for other schools. Thus the lack of passing and assists.
How many times last night did the players who brought the ball across half court shoot with no passes. Basketball was always the ultimate team game. The winners pass the ball. Last night very little passing.

(02-05-2020 07:42 PM)Older and Older Wrote:  

(02-04-2020 11:27 PM)JimJoyce Wrote:  Ok, I’m trying something new where I try and breathe before responding. Here goes.

I think Rob Senderoff is a terrific coach. I think he is much better than anyone will ever give him credit for. He has provided this program some great stability. But his weakness was on full display tonight. He just doesn’t hold players accountable - at least that I can see. How many times this year has Troy Simons been T’d up in the critical moments of a game? Tonight makes at least four. And yet he plays 38 minutes? I might be able to see if he was giving you 25 points a night, but he isn’t. It’s a selfish play and it’s been a problem for him all year and throughout his career. But he gets away with it. It’s embarrassing and very hard to root for.

It was a terrible performance all the way around. By the coaches, players and fans. You mean to tell me 4,000 people could make it at 6:30 on a Friday night but not at 7:00 on a Tuesday for a game equally as important? Pathetic.

No player in Kent State history has regressed worse than Mitch Peterson. His shot is hard to watch.

The better team won tonight.

Jim. I agree with every word. Only thing I would add is NCAA transfer portal is also to blame. Coaches can’t discipline or criticize players or they will threaten to leave and go elsewhere. Like the NBA ( I hate it). Players are now in charge. Some of our eligible players, ( no names) play as if they are trying out for other schools. Thus the lack of passing and assists.
How many times last night did the players who brought the ball across half court shoot with no passes. Basketball was always the ultimate team game. The winners pass the ball. Last night very little passing.

I agree but one thing doesn’t make sense. If coaches want players to pass and play a team game why does selfish play get a player a transfer to a P5 team. Same in the pros. Points get you (and your agent) money. Assists and team play gets you a pat on the back. Something doesn’t compute.

So from reading all this it sounds like people believe everyone thinking they're the alpha dog is hurting our coaches ability to coach... I think the problem is obvious. A very influential man in the athletic department has created a toxic culture that allows this type of mentality to fester, and corrupt our basketball program.

Clearly I'm talking about Sean Lewis bringing this "be the alpha" Moto to the football program. Only solution is we're going to have to fire Sean Lewis...

(02-05-2020 12:15 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  

(02-05-2020 11:37 AM)JimJoyce Wrote:  It’s honestly like in this day and age of Division I basketball the players have the coaches over a barrel, and the players know it. They know they can basically do wrong, because the coaches are terrified they will transfer and they don’t want to piss them off. The inmates, in essence, truly run the asylum.

I don't have any inside information or anything like that... But I do know the outlook for next year will be much more bleak if a certain 6'9" grad transfer eligible player leaves. Which puts the coaches in a pretty tough spot of trying to make sure he stays happy. So yes, it's a brutal environment for coaches right now.

As for the outlook for the rest of the year... This team has shown they're capable of being the best team in the MAC and the worst. So it's pretty much going to come down to what team shows up in a month. Hopefully we'll start seeing less and less of the bad until then.

I've said this numerous times this season, but rarely have I seen so many MAC teams with absolutely no bench play whatsoever.
BSU was the perfect 'trap' game coming off an emotional rivalry game victory. That's when 'the bench' is supposed to step up. Only there is no bench to speak of ... not just at Kent, but for the bulk of teams around the league. Toledo is a prime example as well.

Development is part of the issue, but so is talent. Kent is not Duke. Mitch is not the 6-5 sharpshooter most envisioned, but he is a key player ... just not a big point producer. Santiago is a freshman, Bainbridge is a freshman, Bennett is a freshman. Fans scream for Kent to recruit freshmen over Jucos, but then expect the freshmen to play like jucos.

Not just a Kent problem, but a MAC/Mid-major problem. The cost of development (Pippen) is not only little production as a freshman, but now the potential loss as a senior. In reality, in many cases, a team gets two good years (so/jr) our of a freshman recruit that they get out of a juco recruit.

Tough for any mid-major coach to survive in that kind of environment.