Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kent State Golden Flashes
Kent State Golden Flashes athletic logo
University Kent State University
Conference Mid-American (MAC)
East Division
Location Kent, Ohio
Head Coach Geno Ford (1st year)
Arena Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center
(Capacity: 6,327)
Nickname Golden Flashes
Colors Navy Blue and Gold

             
Uniforms
 
Home jersey
Home jersey
  
Home shorts
Home
 
Away jersey
Away jersey
  
Away shorts
Away
 
Alternate jersey
Alternate jersey
  
Alternate shorts
Alternate
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
2002
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
2002
NCAA Tournament Second Round
2001, 2002
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1999, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008
Conference Tournament Champions
1999, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008
Conference Regular Season Champions
2002, 2006, 2008

The Kent State Golden Flashes Men's Basketball team represents Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. The Golden Flashes currently compete in the Mid-American Conference East Division and last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2008. Founded in 1913, the team gained national attention during the 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament by advancing to the Elite Eight as a tenth seed and have posted ten consecutive twenty-win seasons, dating back to the 1998-1999 season. Kent State has five total appearances in the NCAA Division I basketball tournament along with five Mid-American Conference tournament championships, three MAC overall titles, and six MAC East division titles.

Contents

[edit] History

Started in 1913, the men's basketball team is Kent State's oldest collegiate team [1], started just three years after the school was established in 1910 as the Kent State Normal School and just one year after the first classes were held in 1912. They played their first game against Kent High School. The team played in what is now Cartwright Hall,[2] which opened in 1914, until Wills Gymnasium opened in 1923. In 1950, the team moved to their current home, known originally as the Men's Physical Education Building, later to be known as Memorial Gym (1956-1992) and currently as the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. The next year, 1951, saw Kent State join the Mid-American Conference.

The team existed in relative anonymity for most of its existence. They made their first appearance in the MAC Tournament Championship game (which began in 1980) in 1984, losing a close 42-40[3] game. They would make the title game again in 1987[3] and 1989,[3] losing both 64-63 and 67-65 respectively. The Flashes made their first post-season appearance in the 1985 National Invitation Tournament, losing in the first round. They returned to the NIT in 1989 and 1990, losing in the first round both times.

[edit] Beginnings of Success

In 1996, Gary Waters was hired as head coach and began to build what would become the longest run of success in Mid-American Conference history. In 1999 the Flashes won over 20 games and defeated the Miami RedHawks in the MAC Tournament Championship game in Toledo to win their first MAC Tournament title and make their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance,[4] where they were defeated by Temple[5] in the opening round at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The following season, the Flashes again won over 20 games and finished second in the MAC East, but failed to win the conference tournament and received their first NIT invitation since 1990. The Flashes hosted the first round game against Rutgers and recorded their first-ever post-season win, a 73-62 victory. Kent State would win their second-round match-up at Villanova before falling in the quarterfinals at Penn State. The 2000-2001 season saw the Flashes win their first-ever MAC East title[4] and their second tournament title to return to the NCAA Tournament. The experience in the NIT proved to be valuable as Kent State scored their first win, a 77-73 [6] upset over the fourth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers, before falling to the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second round in San Diego, California.[7] At the end of the 2000-2001 season, Waters accepted the head coaching job at Rutgers University. While at KSU, Waters overall record was 92-60. He was succeeded at Kent State by Stan Heath, setting the stage for the most memorable season in Kent State basketball history.

[edit] 2001-2002 Season

Kent State enjoyed its best season in 2001-2002, led by seniors Trevor Huffman, Andrew Mitchell, Demetric Shaw, and Eric Thomas and junior transfer Antonio Gates. The season saw MAC records set in overall wins (30), conference wins (17), and longest winning streak (21).[4] After beginning the season a mediocre 4-4, Kent State dramatically turned their season around by winning 20 of their next 21 games. Following their only MAC loss of the season (a 66-65 loss at Buffalo), they proceeded to win 15-straight games to close the regular season at 24-5 with a 17-1 record in the MAC and winning their first-ever MAC regular season title. After winning the MAC Tournament, the Flashes found themselves seeded tenth in the South regional bracket.[8] After scoring a mild upset of the seventh-seeded Oklahoma State Cowboys,[9] the Flashes gained national attention by defeating second-seeded SEC champion Alabama 71-58[10] to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Flashes followed that win with a 78-73 overtime win[11] over third-seeded Pitt to become the first MAC team to advance to the Elite Eight since Ohio in 1964, when the tournament contained only 22 teams. The Flashes 21-game winning streak and dream season came to an end in the Elite Eight with an 81-69 loss[12] to Indiana. The Flashes finished the season at 30-6 and were ranked twelfth in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll released after the tournament.[13] Following the season, Stan Heath accepted the head coaching job at the University of Arkansas, leaving after just one season and a record of 30-6. Assistant coach Jim Christian was hired later that year as the next head coach.

[edit] Jim Christian Era

KSU versus the Akron Zips on January 23, 2008 at the MAC Center in Kent, Ohio.
KSU versus the Akron Zips on January 23, 2008 at the MAC Center in Kent, Ohio.

The Flashes have continued to be successful under Jim Christian, winning over twenty games in every season he has been coach, along with MAC East titles in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008, MAC overall titles in 2006 and 2008, and winning the MAC Tournament again in 2006 and 2008. In both 2003 and 2004, Kent State lost in the MAC Tournament championship game and received bids to the NIT.[4] Following their 2006 MAC Tournament title, they advanced to the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament as a twelfth seed where they lost in the opening round.[14] In 2004, Kent State broke the MAC record for consecutive seasons with twenty or more wins by posting their sixth consecutive season. The streak is currently at ten as the 2007-2008 team won their twentieth game on February 12, 2008 at Central Michigan University.[15] In addition, Kent State broke the record for consecutive seasons with ten or more conference wins in a season by posting their ninth consecutive season of ten or more conference wins in 2006-2007, breaking the previous record of eight. The 2007-2008 season has seen several firsts and milestones for the program. On February 19, 2008, the Flashes recorded their 1,000th win in program history, a 76-66 win over the Buffalo Bulls at Buffalo's Alumni Arena.[16] On February 24, the Flashes scored their first-ever win against a ranked team in the regular season, defeating the Gaels of St. Mary's College of California 65-57 in Moraga, California.[17] This was followed by Kent State's first-ever regular season ranking, rising to twenty-third in the Associated Press poll and twenty-fourth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.[18] With their 61-58 win at Akron on March 9 to close out the regular season, Kent State set a program record for wins in the regular season with twenty-five, breaking the previous record of twenty-four set in the 2001-2002 season.[19] Following their fifth conference tournament title, Kent State earned the highest seed in school history,[20] a ninth seed in the Midwestern region of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, where they fell to the UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the opening round.[21] On March 29 Jim Christian resigned to take the head coaching job at Texas Christian University. He finished with a career record of 138-58 at Kent State.[22] Christian was replaced by his top assistant coach Geno Ford, who officially took over the program on 2 April.[23]

[edit] MAC Season Results

As Mid-American Conference member[24]
Season Overall record* MAC tournament record** Postseason record Head coach
1951-52 14-10 (3-7)
1952-53 7-15 (3-9)
1953-54 8-13 (3-9)
1954-55 8-14 (5-9)
1955-56 10-11 (5-7)
1956-57 5-18 (2-10)
1957-58 9-14 (3-9)
1958-59 11-13 (6-6)
1959-60 7-16 (2-10)
1960-61 9-14 (4-8)
1961-62 2-19 (1-11)
1962-63 3-18 (1-11)
1963-64 11-13 (5-7)
1964-65 9-11 (4-8)
1965-66 8-16 (3-9)
1966-67 5-18 (1-11)
1967-68 9-15 (3-9)
1968-69 14-10 (6-6)
1969-70 7-17 (2-8)
1970-71 13-11 (4-6)
1971-72 7-17 (6-4)
1972-73 10-16 (5-7)
1973-74 9-17 (1-11)
1974-75 6-20 (3-11)
1975-76 12-14 (7-9)
1976-77 8-19 (4-12)
1977-78 6-21 (4-12)
1978-79 13-14 (7-9)
1979-80 10-17 (7-9) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal
1980-81 7-19 (5-11) Did not qualify
1981-82 10-16 (6-10) Did not qualify
1982-83 15-13 (9-9) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal
1983-84 15-14 (8-10) 2-1; Lost in final
1984-85 17-13 (11-7) 1-1; Lost in semifinal 0-1 in NIT
1985-86 11-16 (7-11) Did not qualify
1986-87 19-10 (11-5) 2-1; Lost in final
1987-88 10-18 (6-10) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal
1988-89 21-10 (12-4) 2-1; Lost in final 0-1 in NIT
1989-90 21-8 (12-4) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal 0-1 in NIT
1990-91 10-18 (4-12) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal
1991-92 9-19 (6-10) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal
1992-93 10-17 (7-11) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal
1993-94 13-14 (8-10) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal
1994-95 8-19 (5-13) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal
1995-96 8-10 (14-13) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal
1996-97 9-18 (7-11) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal Gary Waters
1997-98 13-17 (9-9) 1-1; Lost in semifinal Gary Waters
1998-99 23-7 (13-5) 3-0; Won tournament 0-1 in NCAA Tournament Gary Waters
1999-2000 23-8 (13-5) 0-1; Lost in quarterfinal 2-1 in NIT Gary Waters
2000-01 24-10 (13-5) 3-0; Won tournament 1-1 in NCAA Tournament Gary Waters
2001-02 30-6 (17-1) 3-0; Won tournament 3-1 in NCAA Tournament Stan Heath
2002-03 22-9 (12-6) 2-1; Lost in final 0-1 in NIT Jim Christian
2003-04 22-8 (13-5) 2-1; Lost in final 0-1 in NIT Jim Christian
2004-05 20-13 (11-7) 1-1; Lost in quarterfinal Jim Christian
2005-06 25-9 (15-3) 3-0; Won tournament 0-1 in NCAA Tournament Jim Christian
2006-07 21-11 (12-4) 1-1; Lost in semifinal Jim Christian
2007-08 28-7 (13-3) 3-0; Won tournament 0-1 in NCAA Tournament Jim Christian

Overall conference titles shaded in ██ gold. East division titles shaded in ██ light yellow.
* - Overall record includes tournament and postseason results; Regular-season conference record contained in parentheses.
** - The MAC Tournament was first held in 1980. Beginning in 2000, it included all conference members.[24]

[edit] Post-season Tournament Results

[edit] MAC Tournament

Kent State has appeared in twenty-six (all but three) Mid-American Conference tournaments since the tournament began in 1980[24] and has an overall record of 29-21 in tournament play. The Flashes have appeared in ten MAC title games, winning five. Both are the second-most in conference history behind Ball State's seven titles and Miami's eleven appearances in the title game.[3] They are also undefeated (9-0) as the number one seed.

Year Seed Location Round Result
1980 4th Kent, OH Quarterfinal L 73-71 to (5) Ball State
1983 6th Toledo, OH Quarterfinal L 79-64 to (3) Toledo
1984 7th Rockford, IL Quarterfinal W 57-53 over (2) Ohio
Semifinal W 67-58 over (6) Eastern Michigan
Final L 42-40 to (1) Miami
1985 4th Toledo, OH Quarterfinal W 85-74 over (2) Eastern Michigan
Semifinal L 57-55 to (1) Ohio
1987 2nd Toledo, OH Quarterfinal W 84-75 over (2) Western Michigan
Semifinal W 66-59 over (3) Bowling Green
Final L 64-63 to (1) Central Michigan
1988 7th Mt. Pleasant, MI Quarterfinal L 66-56 to (2) Central Michigan
1989 2nd Toledo, OH Quarterfinal W 65-56 over (7) Bowling Green
Semifinal W 88-43 over (3) Toledo
Final L 67-65 to (1) Ball State
1990 2nd Detroit, MI Quarterfinal L 82-65 to (7) Central Michigan
1991 8th Detroit, MI Quarterfinal L 66-47 to (1) Eastern Michigan
1992 6th Detroit, MI Quarterfinal L 61-57 to (3) Western Michigan
1993 8th Columbus, OH Quarterfinal L 77-57 to (1) Ball State
1994 7th Bowling Green, OH Quarterfinal L 68-58 to (2) Bowling Green
1995 8th Oxford, OH Quarterfinal L 77-49 to (1) Miami
1996 8th Ypsilanti, MI Quarterfinal L 84-72 to (1) Eastern Michigan
1997 7th Oxford, OH Quarterfinal L 75-65 to (2) Miami
1998 6th Akron, OH Quarterfinal W 95-88 over (3) Akron
Toledo, OH Semifinal L 64-59 to (7) Miami
1999 2nd Kent, OH Quarterfinal W 79-76 over (7) Marshall
Toledo, OH Semifinal W 68-57 over (3) Ohio
Final W 49-43 over (1) Miami
2000 3rd Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal L 69-68 to (6) Ohio
2001 2nd Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal W 71-64 over (7) Bowling Green
Semifinal W 67-55 over (6) Ball State
Final W 67-61 over (8) Miami
2002 1st Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal W 82-70 over (8) Marshall
Semifinal W 86-61 over (4) Toledo
Final W 70-59 over (3) Bowling Green
2003 2nd Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal W 79-57 over (7) Marshall
Semifinal W 73-70 over (11) Ohio
Final L 77-72 to (1) Central Michigan
2004 2nd Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal W 79-66 over (7) Bowling Green
Semifinal W 66-56 over (3) Miami
Final L 77-66 to (1) Western Michigan
2005 5th Kent, OH Opening W 91-60 over (12) Central Michigan
Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal L 62-55 to (4) Ohio
2006 1st Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal W 76-67 over (8) Buffalo
Semifinal W 72-59 over (5) Ohio
Final W 71-66 over (7) Toledo
2007 3rd Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal W 75-66 over (6) Western Michigan
Semifinal L 61-54 to (2) Akron
2008 1st Cleveland, OH Quarterfinal W 77-57 over (8) Toledo
Semifinal W 49-47 over (5) Miami
Final W 74-55 over (3) Akron

[edit] NCAA Tournament

The Golden Flashes have appeared in five NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 4-5.

Year Seed Location Region Round Result
1999 11th Boston, MA East First L 61-54 to (6) Temple
2001 13th San Diego, CA West First W 77-73 over (4) Indiana
Second L 66-43 to (5) Cincinnati
2002 10th Greenville, SC South First W 69-61 over (7) Oklahoma State
Second W 71-58 over (2) Alabama
Lexington, KY Sweet Sixteen W 78-73 (OT) over (3) Pitt
Elite Eight L 81-69 to (5) Indiana
2006 12th Auburn Hills, MI Oakland First L 79-64 to (5) Pitt
2008 9th Omaha, NE Midwest First L 71-58 to (8) UNLV

[edit] NIT

In addition, Kent State has appeared in seven National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 2-7.

Year Seed Location Region Round Result
1985 NA Cincinnati, OH NA First L 77-61 to Cincinnati
1989 NA Detroit, MI NA First L 83-69 to Michigan State
1990 NA St. Louis, MO NA First L 85-74 to St. Louis
2000 NA Kent, OH NA First W 73-62 over Rutgers
Villanova, PA Second W 81-67 over Villanova
State College, PA Quarterfinal L 81-74 to Penn State
2003 NA Kent, OH NA Opening L 72-66 to College of Charleston
2004 NA Kent, OH NA Opening L 65-54 to West Virginia
2005 NA Bowling Green, KY NA Opening L 88-80 (OT) to Western Kentucky

*Beginning in 2006, the NIT began using a seeding and region system similar to what is used in the NCAA Tournament.

[edit] Rivalries

Kent State's main rivalry is with the Akron Zips, who are located just fourteen miles from Kent's campus. The rivalry includes other sports within the MAC, prominently in football as well, but has been the fiercest between the schools' men's basketball squads in recent years. Games at campus sites usually sell out due to the schools' close proximity with each other and the stakes attached to each game. In the past two years the two teams have faced each other six times (three times each season), including back to back conference tournaments. In the most recent match up, the Golden Flashes routed the Zips 74-55 in the MAC Tournament championship in Cleveland to gain an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament bracket after narrowly taking both meetings in the regular season.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kent State University Athletics (PDF). Kent State University Catalog 2004-2005 61. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  2. ^ Sopko, Jen. Extensive Improvements Made to University Auditorium. eInside. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  3. ^ a b c d Mid-American Conference Basketball Tournament. www.sportsnetwork.com. The Sports Network. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
  4. ^ a b c d Postseason Success. The Kent State Experience. Kent State University Athletic Department. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  5. ^ Ticker (1999-03-13). NCAA Tournament Recap (Kent-Temple). cnnsi.com. CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  6. ^ Ticker (2001-03-16). Kent State 77, Indiana 73. cnnsi.com. CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  7. ^ Men's NCAA Tournament 2001 Bracket. ESPN.com (2001-04-03). Retrieved on 2008-02-23. The Kent State website incorrectly lists the score of Kent State's win as 76-71
  8. ^ South Regional. cnnsi.com. CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  9. ^ Ticker (2002-03-14). Kent St. 69, Oklahoma St. 61. cnnsi.com. CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  10. ^ Kent St. 71, Alabama 58. cnnsi.com. CNN/Sports Illustrated (2002-03-16). Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  11. ^ Ticker (2002-03-22). Kent St. 78, Pittsburgh 73. cnnsi.com. CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  12. ^ Ticker (2002-03-23). Indiana 81, Kent St. 69. cnnsi.com. CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  13. ^ ESPN/USA Today (2002). 2001-02 ESPN/USA Today Men's Basketball Poll (Final). CSTV.com. CSTV. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
  14. ^ Associated Press (2006-03-17). Gray, Ramon power Pitt to easy win over Kent State. ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  15. ^ Kent State Athletics Communications (2008-02-12). Kent State Makes it 10 Straight 20 win Seasons With 79-66 Win at Central Michigan. www.kentstatesports.com. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  16. ^ Associated Press (2008-02-19). Kent St. 76, Buffalo 66. ESPN.com. AP/ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  17. ^ Associated Press (2008-02-24). Golden Flashes Knockoff #20/23 Saint Mary's 65-57. www.kentstatesports.com. AP/Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  18. ^ Kent State Athletic Communications (2008-02-25). Kent State Ranked For First Time In School History. www.kentstatesports.com. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  19. ^ Kent State Athletic Communications (2008-03-09). Fisher’s Last Second Shot Gives Kent State Outright MAC Title With 61-58 Win At Akron. www.kentstatesports.com. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  20. ^ Kent State Athletics Communications (2008-03-16). Flashes and Rebels set to tangle in Omaha. www.kentstatesports.com. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  21. ^ Associated Press (2008-03-20). UNLV forces 20 turnovers, holds Kent St. to 10 first-half points in first round win. www.espn.com. ESPN/AP. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  22. ^ Kent State Athletics Communications (2008-03-29). Christian Named Head Coach at TCU. www.kentstatesport.com. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  23. ^ Alexander, Elton. "Kent State names Geno Ford men's basketball coach", www.cleveland.com, The Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com, 2008-04-02. Retrieved on 2008-04-02. 
  24. ^ a b c Mid-American Conference (2007). Tournament History (PDF). 2006-07 MAC Men’s Basketball Media Guide 83-87. Mid-American Conference. Retrieved on 2008-03-22. The MAC Tournament did not include all conference teams until the 2000 tournament
v • d • e
Kent State University
v • d • e
Mid-American Conference basketball