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

A big weekend of Mid American Conference basketball awaits. The top four teams in the league are currently separated by one game.

*Kent State (11-2) hosts Eastern Michigan.
*Toledo (11-2) is at rival Bowling Green.
*Ball State (10-3) travels to Western Michigan.
*Akron (10-3) is home against Buffalo.

On paper, Akron has the "best" chance to lose but don't be surprised if chalk holds and we enter the third week of February with the race as tight as ever.

The next three spots seem to be all but set in stone as Ohio, NIU and Buffalo are ahead of the bottom feeders.
*Ohio is at Central Michigan.
*NIU hosts Miami.
*Buffalo of course, is at Akron.

So, keep an eye on CMU and Bowling Green who appear to be the two teams with the best shot at grabbing that #8 seed. I'll give the edge to CMU but who knows.

As for the Kent State game, the mission is simple. Do to Eastern Michigan what you did to Western Michigan on Tuesday night. The Eagles are happles. They have shown the ability to lose high scoring affairs as well as low scoring affairs. Yesterday's 27 point loss to Akron was EMU's fourth straight set back. Eastern did beat Ohio University at home a few weeks ago, but are otherwise still searching for a quality conference win.

When people talk about EMU they always seem to start with 6'10 Emoni Bates. Bates was referred to as a once in a generation talent and even compared to NBA Superstar Kevin Durant. A few setbacks along the way seem to be in the rear view as he is putting together a nice season at EMU. As a former resident of Missouri, I get a kick out of recruiting stars and hype. I need to be shown. Perhaps he will show me on Friday. I doubt it.

Kent State 83
EMU 69
Malique Jacobs plays like a MAN!

Kent 313
Eastern Michigan 5 x 10^-6

EMU is having a lousy season, but like all MAC teams currently in the bottom half, have had some games when they played well. It's important to jump on them hard from the tip-off and not let them think they even have a chance for a big win. Teams with a W-L record like theirs tend to fold when they get way behind early.

GO KENT
Yay Buffalo -even though I don't like you.
Looking forward to Barrio before the game.

This is not the year to have the #4 seed. Having to face OU in the first round with how they're playing right now wouldn't be fun. Seems like the #1 seed will have a big edge as the drop off between 7 and 8 seems fairly large.

(02-15-2023 08:18 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  This is not the year to have the #4 seed. Having to face OU in the first round with how they're playing right now wouldn't be fun. Seems like the #1 seed will have a big edge as the drop off between 7 and 8 seems fairly large.

I stated as much about a week ago. Sometimes the #1 seed isn't the best to have (it wasn't in 2001), and sometimes it doesn't matter much. But this year the getting #1 is important for the reason anti-zip stated.

Selfishly, I always liked when KSU earned the 2 seed in the tournament. That would result in good Flannery's time prior to tip, a nice long night of basketball at Gund Arena and a long weekend as Friday would then become the "personnel" day.

The one seed typically meant hooky was played on Thursday OR we would just cross our fingers and hope to see the team play in the semifinals.

Ahhh the MAC Tournament!

Why did Bates transfer to Eastern Michigan ? What a waste.

Western and Eastern this week. Should win and should win big. Check and check.

(02-17-2023 07:51 PM)HenryMuto Wrote:  Why did Bates transfer to Eastern Michigan ? What a waste.

He got into some legal trouble and he’s from Ypsilanti. I’m assuming he transferred back home to regroup and get his act together.

(02-17-2023 11:04 PM)Old Man Flash Wrote:  

(02-17-2023 07:51 PM)HenryMuto Wrote:  Why did Bates transfer to Eastern Michigan ? What a waste.

He got into some legal trouble and he’s from Ypsilanti. I’m assuming he transferred back home to regroup and get his act together.

The legal trouble was after he left Memphis and the charges were dropped. He left Memphis because he was in over his head and wasn't getting the PT he desired. That said, he was also extremely high maintenance (dad is a pain in the ass) and pretty much nobody else in the country wanted him. EMU got him by default.

I’ve seen EMU play a bunch of games this year, and they just don’t have that much talent up and down the roster. Like most teams, they have some guys who can have a hot scoring game occasionally, but none are consistent. I think some people mistake talent for guys who can make splashy plays 2-3 times a game. Bates can shoot sometimes, but seems to have more games like last night than nights when he shoots a high percentage. I think their 3-11 record reflects their actual talent accurately.

(02-18-2023 01:41 PM)axeme Wrote:  I’ve seen EMU play a bunch of games this year, and they just don’t have that much talent up and down the roster. Like most teams, they have some guys who can have a hot scoring game occasionally, but none are consistent. I think some people mistake talent for guys who can make splashy plays 2-3 times a game. Bates can shoot sometimes, but seems to have more games like last night than nights when he shoots a high percentage. I think their 3-11 record reflects their actual talent accurately.

Agree, axeme. To me talent = consistency.

Western Michigan gets the W over Ball State. Nice!

I think it needs to be mentioned that Carry played some damn good defense on Bates last night particularly in the first half. We knew Jacobs would be matched up with him and the two would be battling it out, but what at least I didn't expect was as soon as Jacobs came out of the game Carry was the next guy we threw at him. He gives up about 8 inches to him but I'm not sure Bates scored a point on Carry all night. I thought the plan was genius because Bates hurt us in the first matchup on drives so put an elite guard defender on him and force him to shoot over him. From what I've seen of him he's pretty darn good when going to the basketball and pretty darn average when settling for jump shots. Plus he has a Jaylin Walker type ability to make his jump shots a higher degree if difficulty than they need to be. I don't know how much NBA scouts are sti paying attention to him, but I sincerely (pun intended) hope some were tuned in last night because they would've seen some NBA caliber defense.

Of course Jacobs played him well too. And props to him for breaking the school record for steals in a season.

(02-18-2023 05:47 PM)fallsdog Wrote:  Western Michigan gets the W over Ball State. Nice!

And BG up by two over Toledo at the half. I doubt that will hold, though.

Also wanted to mention Rollins has been looking pretty good. He provides a different skill set than Gio but his contributions are definitely helping get over the injury. It will be interesting to see what his role is next year, but he looks like at a minimum he could sort of be that three and D guy that hangs out in the corner on offense a lot. Similar to the roles VCD and Peterson have played in recent years, although I personally don't feel either were great fits for that. VCD seems better fit for a Chris Singletary role where he's working in the elbow and post a lot.

Rollins' defense already looks pretty good. If he can shoot it well enough from the corner he could be a real offensive threat in that role because of his bounce. Similar to what I remember Chris Evans doing a lot of in his first year. Hang out in the corner on offense and when you catch the defender ball watching cut down the baseline for the alley-oop.