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

The Golden Flashes host the Bulls on Friday in a game that will be aired on ESPN2. Kent State is looking to bounce back from a subpar performance against the vaunted 2-3 zone deployed by Eastern Michigan, typically a lower tier MAC basketball program.

The Bulls and Flashes are lumped in a group of teams looking for the 3rd or 4th seed in the MAC Tournament. Oddly enough both teams are also lumped in a group that is trying to avoid a road game in the first round of that same tournament.

Seeing as this game will be broadcasted nationally I hope that Kent State refrains from harmful (and often meaningless) technical fouls and is able to adjust if they are having a poor shooting night. Although some would say that no accountability is required in these areas, there are many Kent fans that disagree with such sentiments.

Here's to man to man defense!
Kent State 73
Buffalo 70
Phillip Whittington stuffs the stat sheet with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 3 assists.

love the optimism but Phil scoring 19 would require i'd guess 10-15 offensive opportunities in his scoring zone. The Kent guards I've watched this year aren't going to be passing him the ball that much in one game.

Remember everyone's gotta get theres

Yeah... I hope the two guards in the backcourt had a good time passing the ball to each other for 20 seconds each time they came down the court.

I, of course, hope they win, but I'm not going to watch it. I'm burned-out this year on college basketball in general and Kent State in particular.' I think I need a break.

(02-20-2020 06:29 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  I, of course, hope they win, but I'm not going to watch it. I'm burned-out this year on college basketball in general and Kent State in particular.' I think I need a break.

Ditto. I don't feel like ruining my weekend on a Friday.
I just hope everyone on the team gets 17 points. No more, no less. That way everything is fair an no one gets upset.

I also hope Rob watched Buffalo game tape from the past couple games. Maybe even invite a few players to join him.

Or just reinvent the wheel for 20 minutes of the game.

(02-20-2020 04:37 PM)ksu315 Wrote:  love the optimism but Phil scoring 19 would require i'd guess 10-15 offensive opportunities in his scoring zone. The Kent guards I've watched this year aren't going to be passing him the ball that much in one game.

Remember everyone's gotta get theres

I was going to post the same thing. in addition Phil would have to get 4,5,6 O rebs for him to touch the ball that much.

In general, I throw a bunch of shtuff on the wall and see what sticks. If PW had a 19 point game with double digit rebounds and multiple blocks I would be dancing on the ceiling.

No Pippen tonight. Appears to have a limp.

That was a hell of a screen. I hope Buffalo has dental coverage.

Ding. Sharing the ball?? Digging in on defense? Is this allowed in “college basketball” ding

(02-21-2020 06:49 PM)fallsdog Wrote:  No Pippen tonight. Appears to have a limp.

Some kind of back injury ... could tell he was uncomfortable sitting down. Too bad. Could have used a couple of DP box-outs/rebounds down the stretch.

UB hitting 15 3s ... ouch!

I just look at all these games and see a serious lack of development in many ways. Our plays have not developed. There is no uniqueness or ideas in plays we actually do run. Players are not developing; both veterans and new-bees. I like the size of the freshmen, but I just don't see Senderhoff bringing them up well. The whole program is not moving forward. Apparently we are happy with being mediocre.

Didn’t like the end result but it was a great game and one of the better non-Akron game crowds in a long time.

So I was really confused by the flagrant foul. Just went home and rewatched it. So they actually were reviewing a earlier play where Beck got tangled up and pushed the UB player off him. I think it was announced as "the previous play was switched to a flagrant" which is probably why after Beck's 5th foul there was a lengthy conversation at the scorers table during the timeout.

To start, I don't think the refs did anything wrong here. However, I have a problem with he scenario itself. If the refs wouldn't have missed the call when it happened Beck would've picked up his 3rd foul and been pulled. Instead because the game continued he picked up his 3rd then they went back and reviewed that and gave him his 4th. I'm not sure what the solution should be, but that really seems like it can't happen. I mean what if be already had 4 fouls? Then he ends up fouling out with 6? Seems like something that needs addressed.

As for the game, it was very entertaining. Maybe my expectations are just massively lowered but it was an enjoyable game to watch. Disappointing outcome, but good basketball. Really could've used Pippen our inability to clear the glass cost us the game. Not sure what's wrong with Pippen. Odd that the trainers would let someone with a back injury sit on those chairs. Can't feel good on a bad back...

One other comment. I thought the play we ran with 3.2 left in regulation was horrible. We came out and showed Williams was inbounding and UB called a timeout. Then we came out and still had him inbounding it and their defense stood back behind the nearest Kent players to let him inbound it without trouble. Honestly, I have no idea why we would run that play. Williams is 100% the person who should have the ball because he's the fastest guy. But by having him inbound it he didn't get it until the clock had already started so he barely made it to half court. With them not pressing the ball if anyone but Williams was inbounding it we could've got it to him on the run and he could've got to he arc or closer.

I thought that was a really unimaginative play call and the result was exactly what you'd expect a half court heave after the buzzer.

(02-21-2020 10:18 PM)AlphaFlash Wrote:  I just look at all these games and see a serious lack of development in many ways. Our plays have not developed. There is no uniqueness or ideas in plays we actually do run. Players are not developing; both veterans and new-bees. I like the size of the freshmen, but I just don't see Senderhoff bringing them up well. The whole program is not moving forward. Apparently we are happy with being mediocre.

Folks, this is getting old, and not just here but all around the MAC fan boards. UB wasn't running a lot of different plays Friday either. Chuck and Duck (15-31 3s) with a strong offensive rebounder was their keys. Nothing fancy.

Credit KSU for even being in a game like that. Don't think Kent made more than 6-7 3s.

In any sport, the best teams most often run the fewest plays. They beat you with talent for 35 minutes, defense/rebounding and a gimmick late if needed.

Looking specifically at Kent, when their guards are hot, they are pretty good. When Pippen is not over-doing it with 3-pointers, they are better, offensively and defensively.

When Whittington plays with a little fire in the tank, Pippen is working the boards and the guards are hot, Kent is at its best.

As for plays, Kent got to the rim, twice, at the end of regulation (what more do you want) for the win and missed. Shot 50 percent for the game overall. Kent had nearly just as many dunks as UB had 3s. I mean, really. What other plays do you want???

That was a good MAC basketball game. One team won, one lost. Don't overthink it.

(02-21-2020 10:56 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(02-21-2020 10:18 PM)AlphaFlash Wrote:  I just look at all these games and see a serious lack of development in many ways. Our plays have not developed. There is no uniqueness or ideas in plays we actually do run. Players are not developing; both veterans and new-bees. I like the size of the freshmen, but I just don't see Senderhoff bringing them up well. The whole program is not moving forward. Apparently we are happy with being mediocre.

Folks, this is getting old, and not just here but all around the MAC fan boards. UB wasn't running a lot of different plays Friday either. Chuck and Duck (15-31 3s) with a strong offensive rebounder was their keys. Nothing fancy.

Credit KSU for even being in a game like that. Don't think Kent made more than 6-7 3s.

In any sport, the best teams most often run the fewest plays. They beat you with talent for 35 minutes, defense/rebounding and a gimmick late if needed.

Looking specifically at Kent, when their guards are hot, they are pretty good. When Pippen is not over-doing it with 3-pointers, they are better, offensively and defensively.

When Whittington plays with a little fire in the tank, Pippen is working the boards and the guards are hot, Kent is at its best.

As for plays, Kent got to the rim, twice, at the end of regulation (what more do you want) for the win and missed. Shot 50 percent for the game overall. Kent had nearly just as many dunks as UB had 3s. I mean, really. What other plays do you want???

That was a good MAC basketball game. One team won, one lost. Don't overthink it.

As for player development ... I feel your pain. But at the same time, I see glimpses with Bennett of being at least a serviceable reserve going forward. Before Santiago's concussion, he was showing signs.

As for Bainbridge ... he hasn't made a shot since the first game of the season, even in garbage time and maybe not more than 1-2 rebounds. On the one hand players need to develop, but coaches also need to (and are paid to) win. And quite often those two things just don't blend.

I'd think a Kent fan would be more troubled about a player like AC not being able to get minutes than a freshman.

Cleveland. Do you think that your messages of “don’t overthink it” or “this is getting old” or worst of all your constant allusion to this is the way it is so accept it is going to stick on a FAN MESSAGE BOARD??
Let’s assume that you are right and Kent State Basketball and it’s fans are doomed to the pit of despair forever. Then can the man at the top and find another schlep.

(02-21-2020 10:18 PM)AlphaFlash Wrote:  I just look at all these games and see a serious lack of development in many ways. Our plays have not developed. There is no uniqueness or ideas in plays we actually do run. Players are not developing; both veterans and new-bees. I like the size of the freshmen, but I just don't see Senderhoff bringing them up well. The whole program is not moving forward. Apparently we are happy with being mediocre.

By the way Alpha, this is 100% correct. Although last night I thought numbers 1,4 and 5 played well together. At times even cutting to the basket.