Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball

Infobox CBB Team
name = Kent State Golden Flashes

logo_size = 150px
university = Kent State University
conference = Mid-American Conference
conference_short = Mid-American (MAC)
division = East
city = Kent
stateabb = Ohio
state = Ohio
coach = Geno Ford
tenure = 1st
arena = Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center
capacity = 6,327
nickname = Golden Flashes
color1 = Navy Blue
color2 = Gold
hex1 = 000080
hex2 = FFD700
h_body=000080
h_pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite
h_shorts=FFFFFF
a_body=000080
a_pattern_b=_thinyellowsides
a_shorts=000080
3_pattern_b=_thinbluesides
3_body=FFD700
3_shorts=FFD700
NCAAchampion =
NCAAfinalfour =
NCAAeliteeight = 2002
NCAAsweetsixteen = 2002
NCAAsecondround = 2001, 2002
NCAAtourneys = 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008
conference_tournament = 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008
conference_season = 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.

History

Started in 1913, the men's basketball team is Kent State's oldest collegiate team [cite web |url= http://dept.kent.edu/ksuprovost_office/ugcat/2004/univorgn04.pdf| title= Kent State University Athletics |accessdate=2008-02-23 |format= PDF|pages= 61|work= Kent State University Catalog 2004-2005|publisher= Kent State University] , 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, [cite web |url= http://einside.kent.edu/?type=art&id=267|title= Extensive Improvements Made to University Auditorium|accessdate=2008-02-23 |author= Sopko, Jen|date= |work= eInside|publisher= Kent State University] 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 42-40cite web |url= http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cbask/ctour/2008/file.aspx?f=schedule,conf=mac|title= Mid-American Conference Basketball Tournament|accessdate=2008-03-08 |format= |work=www.sportsnetwork.com|publisher=The Sports Network] game. They would make the title game again in 1987 and 1989, 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.

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, where they were defeated by Temple [cite web |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/scoreboards/1999/03/12/recap.temple.kent.html|title= NCAA Tournament Recap (Kent-Temple) |accessdate=2008-02-23 |author= Ticker|date= 1999-03-13|work= cnnsi.com|publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated] 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 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 [cite web |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/recaps/2001/03/15/iai_kae/|title= Kent State 77, Indiana 73|accessdate=2008-02-23 |author= Ticker|date= 2001-03-16|work= cnnsi.com|publisher= CNN/Sports Illustrated] upset over the fourth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers, before falling to the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second round in San Diego, California. [cite web |url= http://espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney01/bracket.html|title= Men's NCAA Tournament 2001 Bracket|date= 2001-04-03|accessdate=2008-02-23 |format= |work= ESPN.com The Kent State website incorrectly lists the score of Kent State's win as 76-71] 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.

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).cite web |url= http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=47654&SPID=4464&DB_OEM_ID=11400&ATCLID=1178433|title= Postseason Success|accessdate=2008-02-23 |format= |work= The Kent State Experience|publisher= Kent State University Athletic Department] 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. [cite web |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/2002/ncaa_tourney/brackets/south.html|title= South Regional |accessdate=2008-02-23|work= cnnsi.com|publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated] After scoring a mild upset of the seventh-seeded Oklahoma State Cowboys, [cite web |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/recaps/2002/03/14/oag_kae/|title= Kent St. 69, Oklahoma St. 61|accessdate=2008-02-23 |author= Ticker|date= 2002-03-14|work= cnnsi.com|publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated] the Flashes gained national attention by defeating second-seeded SEC champion Alabama 71-58 [cite web |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/recaps/2002/03/16/aaf_kae/|title= Kent St. 71, Alabama 58|accessdate=2008-02-23 |author= |date= 2002-03-16|work= cnnsi.com|publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated] to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Flashes followed that win with a 78-73 overtime win [cite web |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/recaps/2002/03/21/pal_kae/|title= Kent St. 78, Pittsburgh 73|accessdate=2008-02-23 |author= Ticker|date= 2002-03-22|work= cnnsi.com|publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated] 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 [cite web |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/recaps/2002/03/23/iai_kae/|title= Indiana 81, Kent St. 69 |accessdate=2008-02-23 |author= Ticker|date= 2002-03-23|work= cnnsi.com|publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated] 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. [cite web |url= http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/polls/02polls/espn.html|title= 2001-02 ESPN/USA Today Men's Basketball Poll (Final)|accessdate=2008-02-26 |author= ESPN/USA Today|date= 2002|work= CSTV.com|publisher= CSTV] 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.

Jim Christian Era

The Flashes continued their success under Jim Christian, winning over twenty games every season he was 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. 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. [cite web |url= http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=264000004|title= Gray, Ramon power Pitt to easy win over Kent State
accessdate=2008-02-23 |author= Associated Press|date= 2006-03-17|work= ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN] 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. [cite web |url= http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11400&ATCLID=1388482|title= Kent State Makes it 10 Straight 20 win Seasons With 79-66 Win at Central Michigan |accessdate=2008-02-19|author= Kent State Athletics Communications|date= 2008-02-12|work= www.kentstatesports.com|publisher= Kent State University] 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. [cite web |url= http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=280502084|title= Kent St. 76, Buffalo 66|accessdate=2008-02-19 |author= Associated Press|date= 2008-02-19|work= ESPN.com|publisher= AP/ESPN] 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. [cite web |url= http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=47654&SPID=4464&DB_OEM_ID=11400&ATCLID=1396571|title= Golden Flashes Knockoff #20/23 Saint Mary's 65-57|accessdate=2008-03-14 |author= Associated Press|date= 2008-02-24|work= www.kentstatesports.com|publisher= AP/Kent State University] 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. [cite web |url= http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=47654&SPID=4464&DB_OEM_ID=11400&ATCLID=1397690|title= Kent State Ranked For First Time In School History
accessdate=2008-03-14 |author= Kent State Athletic Communications|date= 2008-02-25|work= www.kentstatesports.com|publisher=Kent State University] 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. [cite web |url= http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11400&ATCLID=1408902|title= Fisher’s Last Second Shot Gives Kent State Outright MAC Title With 61-58 Win At Akron|accessdate=2008-03-14 |author= Kent State Athletic Communications|date= 2008-03-09|work= www.kentstatesports.com|publisher= Kent State University] Following their fifth conference tournament title, Kent State earned the highest seed in school history, [cite web |url= http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11400&ATCLID=1412829|title= Flashes and Rebels set to tangle in Omaha|accessdate=2008-03-20 |author= Kent State Athletics Communications|date= 2008-03-16|work= www.kentstatesports.com|publisher=Kent State University] a ninth seed in the Midwestern region of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, where they fell to the UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the opening round. [cite web |url= http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=284000002|title= UNLV forces 20 turnovers, holds Kent St. to 10 first-half points in first round win|accessdate=2008-03-20 |author= Associated Press|date= 2008-03-20|work= www.espn.com|publisher=ESPN/AP] 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. [cite web |url= http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1423727&DB_OEM_ID=11400|title= Christian Named Head Coach at TCU |accessdate=2008-03-29 |author= Kent State Athletics Communications|date= 2008-03-29|work= www.kentstatesport.com|publisher=Kent State University] Christian was replaced by his top assistant coach Geno Ford, who officially took over the program on 2 April. [cite news |first= Elton|last= Alexander|title= Kent State names Geno Ford men's basketball coach|url= http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/04/kent_state_names_geno_ford_men.html|work= www.cleveland.com|publisher= The Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com|date= 2008-04-02|accessdate=2008-04-02 ]

MAC Season Results

NIT

In addition, Kent State has appeared in seven National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 2-7."*Beginning in 2006, the NIT began using a seeding and region system similar to what is used in the NCAA Tournament."

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.

See also

* Kent State Golden Flashes
* Kent State University
* [http://www.kentstatesports.com Official Athletics Site]

References