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

Vegas likes the Flashes chances. Indiana is only a -4 point favorite.

(03-13-2023 10:30 AM)Flashfast4595 Wrote:  Vegas likes the Flashes chances. Indiana is only a -4 point favorite.

By setting the opening line at -4, Vegas is in effect saying that people who bet on college basketball know that Kent State is pretty darned good. Kent State is, of course, in the tournament because the MAC winner has, as far back as I can remember, always had an automatic bid. BUT, had the NCAA dropped all automatic bids this year they would have gotten in anyway. Assuming, of course, that things were done fairly.

Toledo had no prayer because the criteria used by the selection committee actually punishes mid-majors for being in a mid-major conference, even if they win most of those games. They have to win big non-conference games and they almost always have to play them at the opponents' facilities.

(03-12-2023 06:12 PM)cleveland Wrote:  SH!T!!!!

Hate this game for multiple reasons.

1) They'll spend the week regurgitating Robs exit from there on TV instead of the storyline about the kids and the school.

2) Indiana has one of the top 3 big men in the tournament. Kent's depth at the position will be tested and stretched. Even somehow ending w/an even hed-to-hed matchup (pts/reb) at that spot will be daunting.

3) Freshman Schifino may be the best NBA backcourt talent in the country. Jacobs will have his hand full, and refs won't give him no breaks.
Again, finishing with an even hed-to-hed at that spot is also daunting ... and breaking even with Schifino and the Indiana post in the same game is not a bet I'd put my last dollar on.

Just sh!tty.

This is the NCAA DI Basketball Tournament.

Who do you want to play, Mississippi Valley State?

(03-13-2023 10:35 AM)Muskrat Wrote:  

(03-13-2023 10:30 AM)Flashfast4595 Wrote:  Vegas likes the Flashes chances. Indiana is only a -4 point favorite.

By setting the opening line at -4, Vegas is in effect saying that people who bet on college basketball know that Kent State is pretty darned good. Kent State is, of course, in the tournament because the MAC winner has, as far back as I can remember, always had an automatic bid. BUT, had the NCAA dropped all automatic bids this year they would have gotten in anyway. Assuming, of course, that things were done fairly.

Toledo had no prayer because the criteria used by the selection committee actually punishes mid-majors for being in a mid-major conference, even if they win most of those games. They have to win big non-conference games and they almost always have to play them at the opponents' facilities.

Also how they did away with Bracket Busters which was our best shot at a quality win when the team is kicking on all cylinders.

(03-13-2023 01:44 PM)AlphaFlash Wrote:  

(03-13-2023 10:35 AM)Muskrat Wrote:  

(03-13-2023 10:30 AM)Flashfast4595 Wrote:  Vegas likes the Flashes chances. Indiana is only a -4 point favorite.

By setting the opening line at -4, Vegas is in effect saying that people who bet on college basketball know that Kent State is pretty darned good. Kent State is, of course, in the tournament because the MAC winner has, as far back as I can remember, always had an automatic bid. BUT, had the NCAA dropped all automatic bids this year they would have gotten in anyway. Assuming, of course, that things were done fairly.

Toledo had no prayer because the criteria used by the selection committee actually punishes mid-majors for being in a mid-major conference, even if they win most of those games. They have to win big non-conference games and they almost always have to play them at the opponents' facilities.

Also how they did away with Bracket Busters which was our best shot at a quality win when the team is kicking on all cylinders.

I loved Bracket Busters. Our home games with Creighton and SW Mo state we’re great! Have no idea why it ended. Probably all about $$ I guess…

The Kent State Golden Flashes will represent the Mid American Conference in the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The selection committee placed KSU in the Midwest Region and gave the Flashes a #13 seed. Their opponent will be the Indiana Hoosiers of the Big Ten Conference. The Big Ten, of course, includes fourteen teams and Indiana finished the regular season as the runner up before losing in the semifinals of the conference tournament in Chicago.

Simply stated, the Hoosiers are good basketball team. One of eight Big Ten teams to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, IU finished the regular season with a 22-11 overall record including a 12-8 conference mark. Wins over Xavier, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Purdue (twice) jump off the page immediately. Two players that have already gotten some run on this thread are Trayce Jackson Davis and guard Jalen Hood Schifino.

Jackson Davis is a 6'9 senior who averages 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He shoots 57% from the field and leads the team in blocks and is one off the team lead for steals. Schifino is a freshman from Pittsburgh who was the highest rated recruit in the Big Ten when he signed with the Hoosiers. Although keeping these two in check will be critical for KSU, the Hoosiers have plenty of balance to go along with their stars.

6'7 senior Miller Kopp and 6'8 senior Race Thompson both average 7.9 points per game to go along with some pretty good three point shooting from Kopp (58 made attempts) and some good rebounding from Thompson.

I could go on and on with the stats but that wouldn't change the following:

Indiana is a traditional Big Ten power who once again went toe to toe with the best in the league and in the nation. At home, they were nearly unbeatable. Thank goodness this game is not at Assembly Hall OR as someone mentioned earlier, Columbus Ohio. I'm sure there will plenty of Hoosier faithful in Albany, so let them travel.

The 2023 Golden Flashes will not be in awe of IU. Sure, Kent State didn't run the gauntlet schedule that IU played, but what mid major can say they did? But playing as well as they did on the road against Houston and Gonzaga didn't happen by accident.

I think the keys for the Golden Flashes will be the same as they've been all year. *Defend like wild men while limiting fouls.
*Value possessions and don't force shots.
*I know, I know, the analytics are getting tough to follow. I'll add get to the free throw line and call it a day.

Can't wait for Friday. These guys EARNED the right to be here. Enjoy the week fellas!

GO FLASHES!

On ESPN+ for those who gave it.
(for those who have it)
Bilas likes us to win, for what’s that worth, and it is worth something. I think Bilas does better deep analysis than many.

Yea. He is pro and is well respected.

Now if we could just get Reghi and Dakich to come out and predict a KSU win, I'd be heading to Guardino's for cut, a shave and a wager!

(03-13-2023 01:44 PM)AlphaFlash Wrote:  

(03-13-2023 10:35 AM)Muskrat Wrote:  

(03-13-2023 10:30 AM)Flashfast4595 Wrote:  Vegas likes the Flashes chances. Indiana is only a -4 point favorite.

By setting the opening line at -4, Vegas is in effect saying that people who bet on college basketball know that Kent State is pretty darned good. Kent State is, of course, in the tournament because the MAC winner has, as far back as I can remember, always had an automatic bid. BUT, had the NCAA dropped all automatic bids this year they would have gotten in anyway. Assuming, of course, that things were done fairly.

Toledo had no prayer because the criteria used by the selection committee actually punishes mid-majors for being in a mid-major conference, even if they win most of those games. They have to win big non-conference games and they almost always have to play them at the opponents' facilities.

Also how they did away with Bracket Busters which was our best shot at a quality win when the team is kicking on all cylinders.

I miss the Bracket Busters.

(03-13-2023 03:22 PM)fallsdog Wrote:  Yea. He is pro and is well respected.

Now if we could just get Reghi and Dakich to come out and predict a KSU win, I'd be heading to Guardino's for cut, a shave and a wager!

Ha! Fat chance of that.

(03-13-2023 03:01 PM)axeme Wrote:  On ESPN+ for those who gave it.
(for those who have it)
Bilas likes us to win, for what’s that worth, and it is worth something. I think Bilas does better deep analysis than many.

Billas seems to be well aware of us. During the presentation show he called this something like "upset central" when he announced the matchup then immediately rattled off some of our guy's numbers.

Wally Szczerbiak (CBS) also identified this game when he was asked for a lower seed to keep an eye on.

A pretty good (although somewhat wishy washy) analysis of the Tournament that shows some love to the Mid American Conference Tournament Champion Kent State Golden Flashes!

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basket...-to-watch/

(03-13-2023 04:29 PM)delflash Wrote:  Wally Szczerbiak (CBS) also identified this game when he was asked for a lower seed to keep an eye on.

He’s quite familiar with Coach Sendy…

(03-12-2023 07:45 PM)axeme Wrote:  Game is 9:55 Friday night on TBS.

Thank god! Kentucky plays at 7:10 PM and I didn't want them to be at the same time that would sucked for me I just hope I am still in a good mood to watch this game when it starts.

I love that we are the last game of the day from that pod.

Polish Hammer

That’s awesome. I fondly remember the 1999 MAC Tournament in….Toledo I believe. Could have been Detroit. But the title game was fantastic.

(03-13-2023 08:09 PM)fallsdog Wrote:  Polish Hammer

That’s awesome. I fondly remember the 1999 MAC Tournament in….Toledo I believe. Could have been Detroit. But the title game was fantastic.

It was in Toledo.

(03-13-2023 08:09 PM)fallsdog Wrote:  Polish Hammer

That’s awesome. I fondly remember the 1999 MAC Tournament in….Toledo I believe. Could have been Detroit. But the title game was fantastic.

It was at Seagate Centre in Toledo. It was a great game. Massey put the clamps on Wally as I remember.

The MAC made a wise decision in moving to Cleveland. That game site in Toledo was horrible. All portable bleachers brought into a Convention Center…Only about 4,000 seats if memory serves me correctly. Now we have a 1st Class Tournament

For the record, the Flashes are back in the AP poll, ranked 34th.

(03-13-2023 08:09 PM)fallsdog Wrote:  Polish Hammer

That’s awesome. I fondly remember the 1999 MAC Tournament in….Toledo I believe. Could have been Detroit. But the title game was fantastic.

I remember that game like it was yesterday. I just couldn't believe it, that they finally won a championship, after heartbreaking losses in the 1980s to Miami, CMU and Ball State.