Kent State Sports

Want to get a look at Nealy?

Here’s a link to a video report from a Michigan ABC affiliate from last season:

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/sports/college/basketball/mens&id=6678246

dave,

thanks for the info!

any updates re. tv coverage for 2009-10 schedule?

mike

ps my dad said holt looked REALLY GOOD at the point i the home exhibition game. is there a chance he may supplant rod sherman at that position? if yes, where does rod go?

Hi Mike,

The tv schedule I believe is set for this year …
At Xavier is on Fox Sports Ohio
At Pitt is on ESPNU
Akron at the M.A.C. Center is on ESPNU
Western Michigan at the M.A.C. Center is on Fox Sports Ohio
At Buffalo is on ESPNU
At Bowling Green is on Fox Sports Ohio
Regular-season finale at Akron is on ESPN2

So, lots of games … and there could be more if Kent State is in contention. There are several weekends where Fox Sports Net has a 21 day advance to choose the best available game to broadcast as part of its TV package.

On Holt … yes, I think he looks very promising.
I know the exhibition games were against DIII schools, but 11 assists and 1 turnover combined for a true freshman point guard playing his first two games is good against any competition. I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles this weekend. UAB presses, and that’ll be a tough test. Samford plays a lot of zone, so it’ll be interesting to see how he gets KSU into its offense in that one.

One of the nice things that Randal has going for him is his confidence. I was a big admirer of DeAndre Haynes, and thought he did a nice job adjusting to starting at the point as a true freshman … but he often found himself looking back over his shoulder to the bench to Jim Christian when he did something well or when he made a mistake. It took a little while for him to feel confident enough to just play his game without looking for either approval or to see if he was about to be scolded. Randal is confident almost to a point of being cocky in the way he carries himself, and I mean that in a good way.

I could see a day coming this year when they may consider starting Randal. I think I’d rather keep the perimeter starters the way they are, though, assuming Rod proves he can handle the job at the point. I have a feeling Tyree is going to have a big year, and I wouldn’t want to ask him to come off the bench as a senior. I’m sure he’d do it. He handled that well last year. I just think he should start this season. He’s too good not to start. And while I think he’d handle it well, it would be hard for him not to question why he’s not in the starting lineup and that naturally could affect his play (Don’t know if I explained that very well … I’m still on some pretty good drugs as I try to get better … not easy to write while I see pink elephants dancing in front of my computer screen).

dave,

thanks for that info!

KSU is soooooooooo lucky to have you!!

any chance someone will pick-up the game at S Florida?

mike

haha, thanks Mike,
I appreciate it.

I wish someone would pick up the South Florida game. Maybe one of the stations down there. That’s one of the rare games I’m going to miss … and obviously with Stan Heath, it’s a game I’d love to cover. If I can’t, I’d at least like to watch it.

“Good drugs”. “Pink elephants”. Are you SURE you’re not coming off an extended “lost weekend”, and that the “flu” isn’t just a ruse??? (just kidding)

“We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold … ”

- Hunter S. Thompson
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”

Dave,

Can’t make it tonight. So I need you to get the Flashes through this one and I’ll be there tomorrow to carry the flag. In case anyone is interested:

Canton McKinley vs. Glenoak at 1:00 at Fawcett
Buckeyes vs. Iowa at Rays at 3:30
2009 – 2010 Kent State GOLDEN FLASHES vs. UAB at 7:00. My dad and I will be the ones with the christmas ales!

Fallsdog, the McKinley game is at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Sounds good fallsdog!

Dave,

I follow your blog from Chicago. You’re my prime source for KSU hoops and football info. Always a good read – keep up the good work!

I have a multi-part question for you. MAC men’s hoops is terribly underrated, and it seems it will never get respect. Meanwhile, I think the MVC and Horizon leagues get more than they deserve. KSU especially deserves more national recognition for all the 20-win (and 19-win) seasons in the past 10-11 years.

Do you think it would be a good idea for KSU to try joining a league like the Horizon League in men’s hoops? Same locale, more recognition (with Butler now a mid-major power), better recruits (Senderoff and Gates could have a field day).
I know Miami, and now Akron, are doing great jobs recruiting, but does it feel like the MAC as a whole is a lost cause? Or should we stick around and attempt to make the MAC into a power?

Thanks!

Len

Dave,

Thanks for the update on the recruiting for men’s bball. It went as you thought, I assume (from reading your previous posts). It looks like a diverse (many positions, different playing styles, and 4 HS and 2 JC’s), athletic, and very skilled. Ford seems to be locking down recruits a lot sooner than Waters/Heath/Christian ever did. Do you think that is because he is developing better relationships with the HS/AAU/JC coaches, just flat out going to more AAU tournaments, HS games, JC games, the assistant coachings staff is doing a better job (than previous coaching staffs and just flat out selling Kent State better than the previous Head Coaches or do you think it is a result of the success of the last 10-12 years getting Kent State’s name out there on a more regional/national level?? I am interested in your opinion, since you are the closest to the program. Ford needs to keep the momentum going, as the team 15 minutes west on 76 just got a verbal from a Kentucky decommit and has their prized 7 ft center on campus, so if Kent wants to stay in the elite in the MAC/MAC East/Mid Major, they need to keep the momentum rolling. Last, I really hope that the MAC Center facelifts/upgrades come sooner rather than later, as that can only help bring more attention from recruits, students, fans, etc.

Really interested to see what Coach Ford does with this next class, meaning (all HS, some JC/HS, and recruits from the midwest or all over the country).

Enjoy the games this weekend and hopefully Kent can win all 3, figure out their weaknesses, get guys significant minutes, and come out healthy. I will be watching on KZONE. Take care Dave and go Flashes mens basketball and sadly I am rooting for the Zips over Temple in Football tonight, for the pure fact that it could help KSU’s chances in the MAC East.

dave,

check-out this e-mail i received from my dad this morning:

Mike,

I attended KSU game vs Samford last night….KSU behind 34-31 at half….lucky to
rally with good defense in 2nd half to win by 3, 69-65 against a bunch of slow white
guys! Singletary saved their asses by scoring 19, 7 rebs, 7 assists and 3 steals.
Only 3-21 on threes! McKee stunk up the place! Holt and Green looked good in addition to Chris…..better get their act together vs UAB tonight….I’ll be there.

Dad…..

i just turned-on kzone & watched mckee drain a long three at the buzzer to end the 1st half. ksu up by 11. wow!!

my dad is the one who is the ass. i post his comments once in awhile for entertainment value.

dave, a 3-game win streak to open the season a good way to start the season. we’re halfway there

mike

too harsh with the comment about my dad, but his opinions can be a bit boorish..

great game tonite. great team effort!

mike

On the UAB Game…IMO, Rod was great, McKee was very good, Henry-Alla and Holt were good and our big guys got eaten alive (like so many games last year). I still can’t figure out how KSU won this game.

Mike,
sorry, didn’t see your posts until this morning… I’m sure your dad will understand!
This is a good start. Those were two difficult games to start the year.

Hi Blain,
I agree. I thought Rod was great. Best I’ve ever seen him in a game. He’s been even better in practice, so as long as he keeps getting his game legs, he could be very, very good this year.
McKee played well also, although he, Tyree, Randal and a few other guys fell into a stretch where they took too many quick shots for about a six minute stretch in the second half. There was one run of six consecutive possessions where kSU combined for a total of just three passes. Could have been disastrous as UAB came back, but they righted the ship.

On the play of the big guys … I watched the game film after filing my story, and it wasn’t as bad as you might think.

Yes, UAB killed KSU on the offensive glass, but Greene, Simpson, Henry-Ala and particularly Parks actually played pretty good defense on those second-chance opportunities. They forced a lot of second misses. The disparity in second-chance points actually should have been a heck of a lot more. Even Davis said after the game they should have scored more than 30 off of their offensive boards.

The officiating also didn’t help … UAB is big and athletic at the four and five, probably bigger and more athletic than any team KSU will face in the conference. When you allow them to push in the back, too, it’s going to be hard on a team like KSU that gave up a lot of size. There was one play in particular where BP played pretty darned good defense, but gave up a bucket and got called for a foul when he got elbowed in the chest by Cooper. To make matters worse, Cooper clearly traveled after getting the ball, and before he got it he had been in the lane for seven full seconds. That’s what you get when Bo Boroski officiates a game. According to stat sheet, statistically Kent State gets called for more fouls than any other team in games officiated by Boroski. Last night, I thought Larry Scirotto was the only official who called a good game.

Dave,

Do you the Flashes posting up Parks at all in the near future? I thought last season he showed a solid touch around the hoop. IMO with the shooters Kent has, the ability to make defenses think about BP/Greene posting up will only help. I don’t throw Simpson in there because he doesn’t strike me as a post up kind of guy.

Hi Fallsdog,

I think you’ll see more of that today. There is more of an opportunity to play inside-out against Green Bay.

They posted Parks a few times in the opener, but never really made an attempt to get the ball inside against UAB. Their length made it difficult to enter the ball to the post. Also, UAB’s defense forced KSU to initiate its offense further away from the basket than they would like. Singletary being in foul trouble also hurt the offensive flow.

It’ll get better. Look for Parks and Greene to get more opportunities on the block today. And you are right, Simpson is a face-the-basket guy.

David, I believe I counted 14 players in warm-ups Friday, and three in sweats. Did I count correctly? Is that Justin Wilds also dressing?

Hi Kent 76,

I think that’s right… should have been 14 in uniform.
I can’t remember off hand which walk-on was in uniform… I think it was Frank who was in sweats with Manns and Scooter Johnson. Actually, it would have had to be considering Frank can’t play this year as a transfer.

Tough loss,
Any chance Kent appeals the outcome?

Dave,

I have talked to a few people about the last 2.3 seconds and it seems that Tyree was fouled, the ball went out of bounds, and that must have been the longest 2.3 seconds ever (meaning slow buzzer). How frustrating. Is the MAC going to write a letter of apology again, just like they did for the Akron football game last year, when Bowser’s drop was ruled a catch??

Plus, Sherman was hand checked for 15 seconds straight, right before that play, which was not called. Last, how do they not review it? I hope that spreads across the country of how they did not review the video replay, to see if it was a foul, if the ball went out of bounds, and if the buzzer went off before the shot!!

Bo Boroski strikes again!

Dave-
At the game tonight there was a kid warming up that is not on the roster. You could read the 15 through the warm up. Who is that?

Dave,
When do we get coverage of the new signings?

glfash68,

I had been waiting for everything to be official with the university.
Ford couldn’t comment until all the paperwork was in and checked out by the school.

That came out yesterday on my day off from work when I couldn’t write anything. I was out of contact all day … no phone, no computer.

great article. I would love to follow you on twitter. By the way, did anyone know that some chinese hacker had busted twitter yesterday again.
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