Does anyone have an opinion on this game... Kentucky should be the play but would love to hear some insight.. Thanks
AM2kidz...
AM2kidz...
Kentucky -8 over Kent ??
- Thread starter AM2kidz
- Start date
This is one reason why Kentucky is favored by only eight:
Men's Basketball Picked to Win MAC Title
October 25, 2001
KENT, Ohio -- The Kent State University men?s basketball team has been picked to win the 2002 Mid-American Conference East Division and tournament titles in voting by the MAC News Media Association, the conference office announced today (Oct. 25) at the league?s annual media day in Cleveland.
The Golden Flashes, under the direction of first-year head coach Stan Heath, received 31 of 49 first-place votes and 313 total points to repeat as East Division champions. They easily outdistanced second-place Marshall University (7 first-place votes, 261 points), which was followed closely by Ohio University (5, 231) and Bowling Green State University (6, 218). Rounding out the East Division were Miami University (192), the University of Akron (107) and the University at Buffalo (52).
In the West Division, defending MAC regular-season champion Central Michigan University was picked to repeat as division champ with 30 first-place votes and 270 points. Ball State University (17, 248) finished second in the poll, followed by the University of Toledo (2, 210), Western Michigan University (126), Northern Illinois University (103) and Eastern Michigan University (74).
Kent State also was picked to win its third MAC Tournament title in the last four years as the Flashes garnered 19 votes to earn the league?s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Central Michigan received 10 votes to be the tournament champion. All told, seven of the conference?s 13 teams earned at least two votes to win the tourney.
?I have to give a lot of credit to (former KSU head coach) Gary Waters and his teams for what they accomplished over the last three years,? said Heath. ?A lot of the recognition we?re getting now is due to past Kent State teams? success. We?re excited and certainly honored to get the attention but we know we have a lot of work to do and that there is a small margin of difference among the teams in our league.?
Given the performance of the MAC in general (ex: Ball St.) and that Kent looked to be the favorite a month ago, 8 points sounds pretty good.
While we're talking MAC, C. Michigan getting 10.5 from a struggling Oklahoma looks like a stronger play than Kent without doing some more research.
Look forward to hearing more.
Men's Basketball Picked to Win MAC Title
October 25, 2001
KENT, Ohio -- The Kent State University men?s basketball team has been picked to win the 2002 Mid-American Conference East Division and tournament titles in voting by the MAC News Media Association, the conference office announced today (Oct. 25) at the league?s annual media day in Cleveland.
The Golden Flashes, under the direction of first-year head coach Stan Heath, received 31 of 49 first-place votes and 313 total points to repeat as East Division champions. They easily outdistanced second-place Marshall University (7 first-place votes, 261 points), which was followed closely by Ohio University (5, 231) and Bowling Green State University (6, 218). Rounding out the East Division were Miami University (192), the University of Akron (107) and the University at Buffalo (52).
In the West Division, defending MAC regular-season champion Central Michigan University was picked to repeat as division champ with 30 first-place votes and 270 points. Ball State University (17, 248) finished second in the poll, followed by the University of Toledo (2, 210), Western Michigan University (126), Northern Illinois University (103) and Eastern Michigan University (74).
Kent State also was picked to win its third MAC Tournament title in the last four years as the Flashes garnered 19 votes to earn the league?s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Central Michigan received 10 votes to be the tournament champion. All told, seven of the conference?s 13 teams earned at least two votes to win the tourney.
?I have to give a lot of credit to (former KSU head coach) Gary Waters and his teams for what they accomplished over the last three years,? said Heath. ?A lot of the recognition we?re getting now is due to past Kent State teams? success. We?re excited and certainly honored to get the attention but we know we have a lot of work to do and that there is a small margin of difference among the teams in our league.?
Given the performance of the MAC in general (ex: Ball St.) and that Kent looked to be the favorite a month ago, 8 points sounds pretty good.
While we're talking MAC, C. Michigan getting 10.5 from a struggling Oklahoma looks like a stronger play than Kent without doing some more research.
Look forward to hearing more.
I'd lean to the Cats tonight. Gone from last years team is Massy and Perry who possesed big bodies and could bang in the paint. Without them Ky should own the paint, and get quite a few O boards resulting in layups. Guard play is the key for the flashes,but problems also arise in that area as Huffman is not happy with the changes that have taken place with the coaching change.
The transition from the easy going coach Waters to the more regimented coach Heath has not resulted in a big group hug. Please read the following from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This article certainly captured my attention:
Huffman gets ruffled by winds of change at KSU
11/18/01
Susan Vinella
Plain Dealer Reporter
The Kent State men's basketball team sat in a circle in the locker room last April 5 and listened to their beloved coach, Gary Waters, say goodbye.
Their heads hung down and their eyes filled with tears. One by one, they took turns thanking Waters for all he had done for them.
When it was Trevor Huffman's turn, he stood up and gushed with gratitude.
"I couldn't thank him enough for believing in me and giving me a chance when no one else would," said Huffman, a point guard from little-known Petoskey, Mich., whose only Division I scholarship offer was from Kent. "I was crying. I'm not afraid to admit that."
Huffman's tears have dried since that April day but his heart has not fully healed. Part of him is still with Waters and his staff, who left for more prestige and money at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The other part is trying to adjust to a new system and style under Stan Heath, a former assistant at Michigan State.
How far Kent State, last season's Mid-American Conference champion and ranked 15th in Sports Illustrated's preseason poll this year, goes will rely greatly on whether Huffman adjusts his game - and mind - to the change. The Golden Flashes open their season tomorrow at home against Mercyhurst.
"Without question, the point guard and the coach have to be on the same page," said Heath. "If there isn't chemistry, then it does affect the team."
Huffman isn't thrilled about having to create a new chemistry. He liked the mixture before. The Golden Flashes' offense was loose and simple under Waters. For Huffman, such freedom bred success.
He averaged a team-high 16.8 points per game and earned All-MAC First Team honors last season. He averaged 22 points per game in the MAC Tournament and scored 24 in Kent's upset over Indiana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
"I knew [Waters] believed in me," Huffman said. "He knew I could get the job done. We had a lot of trust in one another."
That's why Waters' move to Rutgers hurt so much. Intellectually, Huffman knew it was a good career decision for Waters. But emotionally, he felt somewhat betrayed.
"He kept telling us how much he loved us and cared for us," Huffman said. "You kept asking yourself, 'Why not just stay here if you love us so much?'
"This was going to be the year that we were gonna show the world."
Huffman admits he thought about transferring, although he never pursued the idea.
Instead, he quietly rebelled against the changes as did a few of this teammates.
Though reluctant to single anyone out, players said several team members showed up late to team meetings or training sessions in the off-season. A few even skipped them altogether.
Senior forward Eric Thomas thinks it was the team's way of testing Heath, seeing how far he could be pushed. They soon learned Heath didn't budge.
Those who showed up late or missed meetings had to meet the coach for a 6 a.m. run. And if the problems continued, Heath made clear he would find someone to replace them in the lineup. It was a switch from the laid-back Waters, who didn't mind if a player showed up a few minutes late.
When practice began, Huffman cooperated - to a point. His body was there but his spirit was not.
"I was messin' up," he said. "I was fighting everything so much, it was affecting the other players. Everybody knew I was unhappy."
It didn't help that his best friend, senior center Mike Perry, decided to leave school last month.
"I felt a void with just a lot of things," Huffman said. "I felt like a lost sheep."
It wasn't that he disliked Heath or his coaching staff. It was just that everything was different.
On the court, the loose, predictable offense under Waters was gone. Heath wanted more structure. He also wanted more control over his point guard. And he wanted Huffman to be more vocal with his teammates and more open to sharing the ball.
"To me, it's just like constant adversity," Huffman said of the changes. "I'm not the rah-rah, get-in-your-face kind of player like Mateen Cleaves. I was thinking that's who he wanted me to be."
Cleaves, now with the NBA's Sacramento Kings, was the vocal, energetic point guard on Michigan State's 2000 national championship team.
Heath began to meet with Huffman regularly to try to figure out what was wrong. He told him he didn't expect him to be another Cleaves but he wanted him to communicate more with his teammates.
"I know he wants to win so bad and I know I want to win so bad," Huffman said. "But we were on separate sides saying, 'I want to do it my way.' "
Frustrated, Heath called Huffman's father, Damon, in Michigan for help. "I wanted him to help me understand his son better," Heath said.
Huffman chuckles when he recalls his father's call to him after his father and Heath spoke.
"Basically, he told me to suck it up," Huffman said.
Former assistant Larry DeSempelare, a friend and confidante to Huffman, offered advice, too. Huffman called him a couple of weeks ago during a particularly tough time. DeSempelare told him to stop looking at everything as a problem and instead embrace it as a challenge.
At home, new assistant Jim Christian encouraged Huffman to watch videotape of the new offense to become more comfortable with what Heath wanted.
"Personally, I feel like I'm behind because I haven't given all of myself to this [new] system," Huffman said. "The best way we can make up that ground is effort and cohesiveness."
Slowly, Heath is beginning to see that effort and unity. He said the toughest part has been "fighting ghosts" from the past. "But coach," Huffman and his teammates would say, "we've always done it this way." Not anymore, was Heath's response.
"The past is the past," Heath said. "It's a new team. It's a new season. We're gonna be a different team from the past."
Huffman, a preseason All-MAC selection, understands that. He's even starting to accept it. But he admits he's wading in cautiously. He expects a "learning curve" early in the season as the team adjusts. As for his own play, he's reluctant to make any predictions on whether he'll pick up where he left off last season.
"I would say the verdict is definitely out," he said and smiled.
As a big MAC fan, I'd love nothing more to see the Flashes whoop the Cats tonight, but I just don't see it happening. I think my satisfaction will derive from Bowlig Green instead.
The transition from the easy going coach Waters to the more regimented coach Heath has not resulted in a big group hug. Please read the following from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This article certainly captured my attention:
Huffman gets ruffled by winds of change at KSU
11/18/01
Susan Vinella
Plain Dealer Reporter
The Kent State men's basketball team sat in a circle in the locker room last April 5 and listened to their beloved coach, Gary Waters, say goodbye.
Their heads hung down and their eyes filled with tears. One by one, they took turns thanking Waters for all he had done for them.
When it was Trevor Huffman's turn, he stood up and gushed with gratitude.
"I couldn't thank him enough for believing in me and giving me a chance when no one else would," said Huffman, a point guard from little-known Petoskey, Mich., whose only Division I scholarship offer was from Kent. "I was crying. I'm not afraid to admit that."
Huffman's tears have dried since that April day but his heart has not fully healed. Part of him is still with Waters and his staff, who left for more prestige and money at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The other part is trying to adjust to a new system and style under Stan Heath, a former assistant at Michigan State.
How far Kent State, last season's Mid-American Conference champion and ranked 15th in Sports Illustrated's preseason poll this year, goes will rely greatly on whether Huffman adjusts his game - and mind - to the change. The Golden Flashes open their season tomorrow at home against Mercyhurst.
"Without question, the point guard and the coach have to be on the same page," said Heath. "If there isn't chemistry, then it does affect the team."
Huffman isn't thrilled about having to create a new chemistry. He liked the mixture before. The Golden Flashes' offense was loose and simple under Waters. For Huffman, such freedom bred success.
He averaged a team-high 16.8 points per game and earned All-MAC First Team honors last season. He averaged 22 points per game in the MAC Tournament and scored 24 in Kent's upset over Indiana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
"I knew [Waters] believed in me," Huffman said. "He knew I could get the job done. We had a lot of trust in one another."
That's why Waters' move to Rutgers hurt so much. Intellectually, Huffman knew it was a good career decision for Waters. But emotionally, he felt somewhat betrayed.
"He kept telling us how much he loved us and cared for us," Huffman said. "You kept asking yourself, 'Why not just stay here if you love us so much?'
"This was going to be the year that we were gonna show the world."
Huffman admits he thought about transferring, although he never pursued the idea.
Instead, he quietly rebelled against the changes as did a few of this teammates.
Though reluctant to single anyone out, players said several team members showed up late to team meetings or training sessions in the off-season. A few even skipped them altogether.
Senior forward Eric Thomas thinks it was the team's way of testing Heath, seeing how far he could be pushed. They soon learned Heath didn't budge.
Those who showed up late or missed meetings had to meet the coach for a 6 a.m. run. And if the problems continued, Heath made clear he would find someone to replace them in the lineup. It was a switch from the laid-back Waters, who didn't mind if a player showed up a few minutes late.
When practice began, Huffman cooperated - to a point. His body was there but his spirit was not.
"I was messin' up," he said. "I was fighting everything so much, it was affecting the other players. Everybody knew I was unhappy."
It didn't help that his best friend, senior center Mike Perry, decided to leave school last month.
"I felt a void with just a lot of things," Huffman said. "I felt like a lost sheep."
It wasn't that he disliked Heath or his coaching staff. It was just that everything was different.
On the court, the loose, predictable offense under Waters was gone. Heath wanted more structure. He also wanted more control over his point guard. And he wanted Huffman to be more vocal with his teammates and more open to sharing the ball.
"To me, it's just like constant adversity," Huffman said of the changes. "I'm not the rah-rah, get-in-your-face kind of player like Mateen Cleaves. I was thinking that's who he wanted me to be."
Cleaves, now with the NBA's Sacramento Kings, was the vocal, energetic point guard on Michigan State's 2000 national championship team.
Heath began to meet with Huffman regularly to try to figure out what was wrong. He told him he didn't expect him to be another Cleaves but he wanted him to communicate more with his teammates.
"I know he wants to win so bad and I know I want to win so bad," Huffman said. "But we were on separate sides saying, 'I want to do it my way.' "
Frustrated, Heath called Huffman's father, Damon, in Michigan for help. "I wanted him to help me understand his son better," Heath said.
Huffman chuckles when he recalls his father's call to him after his father and Heath spoke.
"Basically, he told me to suck it up," Huffman said.
Former assistant Larry DeSempelare, a friend and confidante to Huffman, offered advice, too. Huffman called him a couple of weeks ago during a particularly tough time. DeSempelare told him to stop looking at everything as a problem and instead embrace it as a challenge.
At home, new assistant Jim Christian encouraged Huffman to watch videotape of the new offense to become more comfortable with what Heath wanted.
"Personally, I feel like I'm behind because I haven't given all of myself to this [new] system," Huffman said. "The best way we can make up that ground is effort and cohesiveness."
Slowly, Heath is beginning to see that effort and unity. He said the toughest part has been "fighting ghosts" from the past. "But coach," Huffman and his teammates would say, "we've always done it this way." Not anymore, was Heath's response.
"The past is the past," Heath said. "It's a new team. It's a new season. We're gonna be a different team from the past."
Huffman, a preseason All-MAC selection, understands that. He's even starting to accept it. But he admits he's wading in cautiously. He expects a "learning curve" early in the season as the team adjusts. As for his own play, he's reluctant to make any predictions on whether he'll pick up where he left off last season.
"I would say the verdict is definitely out," he said and smiled.
As a big MAC fan, I'd love nothing more to see the Flashes whoop the Cats tonight, but I just don't see it happening. I think my satisfaction will derive from Bowlig Green instead.
- Feb 12, 2000
- 10,652
- 39
- 48
- 50
Kentucky (since Tubby's arrival) has been a slow starting team each season. His philosophy on coaching is one to do things early on, even though it may hurt his record, to test every aspect of his team. I feel that he only cares about one thing, and that is his team's ability to play in the big dance. I have always seen it as tough to play the Cats early on since Tubby took over.
For UK fans, this is in no way a knock against Tubby. I think he is one of the best in game coaches around. (Note to everyone else: I did not say THE best).
If I were to play this game, it would be on UK. But my babble above is to attempt at explaining the low line.
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Sic 'em
dawgball
For UK fans, this is in no way a knock against Tubby. I think he is one of the best in game coaches around. (Note to everyone else: I did not say THE best).
If I were to play this game, it would be on UK. But my babble above is to attempt at explaining the low line.
------------------
Sic 'em
dawgball
THis line is not low!!---Kent was in the sweet 16 last year--They have a go to guy in Trevor Haufman---this guy finds ways to score--he can shoot free-throws,shoot the 3--but the key to this game is how Kent handles the Athleticism of Kentucky!!! Can Kent point-guard handle the press--if he can Kent will get open-look threes that they will knock down!! BUt if they turn the ball over it could be a long night!! I personally think Kent is a solid team but there will be no upset here tonight!!! Kentucky's althletes will be the difference in this one!!! as far as the 8--this game will end up in the 6-12 area!!!
One other item to ponder: Lexington is only a easy hour`s drive from Cincy. Driving from the Kent area will probably take close to 3hr.Not afun trip either( have to go through Columbus & Dayton. Look for much more KY-Jelly fan support. GL Think I`ll look & the other MAC teams too.
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"Quick Watson,the Game`s afoot!" bohawk
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"Quick Watson,the Game`s afoot!" bohawk
- Feb 12, 2000
- 10,652
- 39
- 48
- 50
Innavation
It seems you may have a bead on this Kent State team. Do they have new impact players? It seems they only return two quality scorers from last year--Huffman (16.8) and Andrew Mitchell (12.4).
It looks like Antonio Gates (13.2) has stepped up this year.
Have you seen this team play?
------------------
Sic 'em
dawgball
It seems you may have a bead on this Kent State team. Do they have new impact players? It seems they only return two quality scorers from last year--Huffman (16.8) and Andrew Mitchell (12.4).
It looks like Antonio Gates (13.2) has stepped up this year.
Have you seen this team play?
------------------
Sic 'em
dawgball
great info, guys....i need all the advice I can get. I'm backin off. Still rooting for Kent. Still haven't been scared off of C. Michigan. It's now at 11. Go Mac!!!!!
I have a lady friend that is in the Kent Area---I have played with a few of these guys and attended a few games last year!!! Kent point-guard is ultra-quick but I do not feel he is physically strong enough compared to Kentucky's guard!! I might be attending tonight's game--it will be a packed house!! --Kentucky will be a play for me tonight!!--they have too much athleticism for Kent. and rebounding will be a major problem for the Flashers tonight!! The only way Kentucky does not cover--Kent has to shoot 45% from 3--I do not believe they can do that!!
Great info guys.. I really appreciate all of the insight... gonna give it a go but will only put a small play in... 1/2 unit and let it roll.... Good luck to everyone... AM2kidz
ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER GAMES THEY REALLY FEEL CONFIDENT WITH?? LETS WORK TOGETHER TO BEAT THE MAN...
ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER GAMES THEY REALLY FEEL CONFIDENT WITH?? LETS WORK TOGETHER TO BEAT THE MAN...
