TEAM: Kent State Golden Flashes
2023-24 RECORD: 17-17, 8-10 MAC
HEAD COACH: Rob Senderoff
PRESEASON MAC COACHES POLL: 3rd of 12 teams
2023-24 RECORD: 17-17, 8-10 MAC
HEAD COACH: Rob Senderoff
PRESEASON MAC COACHES POLL: 3rd of 12 teams
OVERVIEW:
(all rankings are MAC)
>> The Flashes may have posted a very modest 17-17 record and were under .500 in MAC play last year, but they came within a basket of winning another MAC tournament championship and the NCAA berth that goes with that crown.
Less than a week after losing at regular season champion Toledo, KSU upset the No. 1-seeded Rockets in tourney play. After taking out Bowling Green the next night, the Flashes fell to rival Akron 62-61 in championship action.
Kent State won at least 20 games in four of the previous five years and totaled just 23 games in the 2020-21 campaign. Overall, the Flashes have posted eight seasons with 20-plus wins in 13 seasons under Rob Senderoff.
As a top-three pick in this year's preseason poll, fellow coaches . . .
(all rankings are MAC)
>> The Flashes may have posted a very modest 17-17 record and were under .500 in MAC play last year, but they came within a basket of winning another MAC tournament championship and the NCAA berth that goes with that crown.
Less than a week after losing at regular season champion Toledo, KSU upset the No. 1-seeded Rockets in tourney play. After taking out Bowling Green the next night, the Flashes fell to rival Akron 62-61 in championship action.
Kent State won at least 20 games in four of the previous five years and totaled just 23 games in the 2020-21 campaign. Overall, the Flashes have posted eight seasons with 20-plus wins in 13 seasons under Rob Senderoff.
As a top-three pick in this year's preseason poll, fellow coaches . . .
. . . voiced their opinion that KSU will again be a top contender. The coaches also voted two KSU players to preseason MAC honors. forward VonCameron Davis (1st Team) and Jalen Sullenger (2nd Team).
>> Sullinger led Kent State scoring last year with a 15.4 ppg average. He is currently averaging 10.8 ppg through 12 games.
>> Davis contributed 13.8 ppg last year and is leading this year's squad with a 14.5 ppg average.
>> Chris Payton Jr. is gone, but former Wofford and Miami RedHawk guard Morgan Safford is averaging 10.4 ppg in his senior season. He is also second in rebounds (6.1 rpg). Cli'ron Hornbeak, a 6-9 center, leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per outing.
>> Kent State finished non-conference play with a 9-3 record. The losses wee to No. 5 Auburn (79-56), UC Irvine (51-39) and No. 6 Alabama (81-54).
>> KSU is last among MAC teams in scoing offense (69.6 ppg) but first in scoing defense (63.6 ppg). They are third in scoring margin (6.0 ppg).
>> The Flashes are 12th/last in both field goal percentage (40.2%) and 3-point goal percentage (29.4%).
>> KSU is fourth in rebounds (36.7) and second in turnover margin (+3.50).
>> Hornbeak is second among all MAC players in rebounding (7.2 rpg).
>> Kent State opens MAC play Saturday when the Flashes host Ball State.
>> Sullinger led Kent State scoring last year with a 15.4 ppg average. He is currently averaging 10.8 ppg through 12 games.
>> Davis contributed 13.8 ppg last year and is leading this year's squad with a 14.5 ppg average.
>> Chris Payton Jr. is gone, but former Wofford and Miami RedHawk guard Morgan Safford is averaging 10.4 ppg in his senior season. He is also second in rebounds (6.1 rpg). Cli'ron Hornbeak, a 6-9 center, leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per outing.
>> Kent State finished non-conference play with a 9-3 record. The losses wee to No. 5 Auburn (79-56), UC Irvine (51-39) and No. 6 Alabama (81-54).
>> KSU is last among MAC teams in scoing offense (69.6 ppg) but first in scoing defense (63.6 ppg). They are third in scoring margin (6.0 ppg).
>> The Flashes are 12th/last in both field goal percentage (40.2%) and 3-point goal percentage (29.4%).
>> KSU is fourth in rebounds (36.7) and second in turnover margin (+3.50).
>> Hornbeak is second among all MAC players in rebounding (7.2 rpg).
>> Kent State opens MAC play Saturday when the Flashes host Ball State.
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