Meet Kent State University — Men’s College Basketball’s Most Dangerous Team No One’s Talking About

Oxford, Ohio — Remember when the walls of Kent suddenly collapsed last March? First, four players received at least half a suspension for their Blue Language social media posts about title game opponent Akron. Then his 20-point bombardment by Zips.

Goodbye winning streak. Goodbye NCAA Tournament. Just… thump.

“I don’t think I can get over it,” said coach Rob Sendelof. Same, there are disappointments and we have to move on. I think our team did a really good job this year to prove a lot.”

This is how Kent State plays to prove something these days: a 12-3 record and 69-versus Miami (OH) record on Saturday with the help of 31 points and 10 steals by Cynthia Carey. 66 wins. But to understand why Golden He is one of the most dangerous teams the Flash is, you should start with 3 losses instead of 12 wins.

In late November, Kent State traveled to the College of Charleston and led nearly the entire game until being passed at the last minute 74-72. Charleston is currently in the top 25 in AP polls.

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Three days later, the Flash hit the last minute again before losing 49-44 in Houston. The Cougars may have him number one in the next poll. “It’s the first time this year that someone has punched us in the mouth,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said that night. increase.”

Nine days later a trip to Gonzaga, where all guests suffer. Zags are on a 74-game winning streak at home. It was number 69 that particular night, but it didn’t come easily. He was up four points with 3:38 remaining before Kent State gave way at 73-66. The Flashes defended the nation’s top shooting team with his 45.5 field goal percentage. Gonzaga coach Mark Few said, “They were great, as advertised.

The three ranked teams, now with a combined record of 45-5, played on their home courts and were lucky enough to survive.

What does that mean?

“We’re serious,” Carey said after scorching Miami, Ohio, on Saturday. “If you get into the A-game, you have the potential to be real competitors. I want to win.”

Motion in Senderoff seconds.

“When you’re doing your best, you can play with anyone. You have to get back to playing your best.”

At the moment it seems to be a bit of an issue. Kent State had to scrap to get past his two opponents in the MAC’s first, Western Michigan and Miami, Ohio. These days, this isn’t the callous bunch that caused a lot of trouble in Houston and Gonzaga. Still 5 straight wins.

“We hope we learn from winning. Many teams lose before the lights are switched on,” Senderoff said. “We haven’t had the edge in the last few games. We need it. That’s what makes us good. It’s not the talent that makes us better, it’s the competitiveness. And I I’m not worried about it, but I also know that it will take a little readjustment to get where we want it.

And there’s not even the slightest doubt where Kent State wants to be. That fire was stoked last March by a 75-55 Akron score.

“As soon as we lost, everyone was saying ‘I’ll be back’ in the locker room,” Carey said. I saw it there and I want to go back there.

“Every night we are competing and trying to prove our claim.”

Carey was named MAC Player of the Year, scoring only 6 points that night, missing 9 of 11 shots and recording 9 turnovers. yeah he wants to go back

With nearly all the key Kent players back and senior transfer Miline Thomas arriving from Ball County, they all do. This gives Senderoff an experienced line-up who understand where they want to go and how bad it can be to not get there. And he knows how to win. In his 12th season, he has not lost a single season. There aren’t many people on that list. “I think it means we had a lot of good players,” Senderof said. “Thank you to all of them. It’s them, not me.”

Defense does a lot of the heavy lifting for this team. Kent State ranks 16th nationally in field goal percentage defense and he ranks 11th in turnover forces. Guard Malik Jacobs leads the nation in averaging 3.21 steals per game. Carey averaged 17 points per side, leading the team in assists and second in steals.

“Having (Carrie) on the team helps a lot,” Senderof said. “I think he’s the best midfield point guard in the country. If it’s all about winning, he’s definitely the best midfield point guard in the country. He’s better on defense than offense.” Needless to say, he’s excellent, and I just saw him score 31 tonight.”

In fact, his performances are often as memorable as his name. sincerity? His parents were big fans of a crime drama movie called Berry, and Cynthia was the main character in the movie.

MORE: The Stories Behind Men’s Basketball’s Best Names This Season

His hope is to lead Kent State to its first NCAA tournament spot in six years. He probably has only one way to get to Kent State and that is to make amends by going back to the MAC title game. MAC does not exist in the world of multiple bids.

Sendaroff was once an assistant to renowned coach Charlie Coles in Miami, Ohio. “He said there’s only one cookie at the end. All you have to do when you coach these leagues and play in these leagues is realize how difficult the regular season is. We had a great season last year, a season of borderline legends, we just needed one more win, it’s very fleeting, but the pressure is part of it when you play in these leagues.

“I have a lot to prove and I feel like I have a lot in front of me to play.”

And they are dangerous enough to make it happen. Just ask Houston and Gonzaga.