The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Commenting on last nights loss to Miami, Eric Haut stated,

While I agree that solid defense is important, Coach Christian is doing very well his way (22-9 and 20-6 at this point). Since I was around for most of Coach Waters' reign, I would like to point out the number of close games his teams lost. Yes, his defensive pressure lead to big, impressive blow-out wins, but because he focused so much on D, they ran very little set offenses. As a result, in close games, after a time out with 20 seconds left on the clock and down 1 or 2, a frustrating, chickens-with-their-heads-cut-off attempt at a set play would blow up and send them home with an L.

My point; defense is very important, yes, but you have to put the ball in the hole. Miami won by 2 scoring just 59 points with 15 turnovers. All the Flashes had to do was shoot better than 39% from the field and 53% from the line. At Buffalo- 31% from 3 (8-26) and at Akron- 25.7% from 3 (9-35) and 37% overall. With the exception of the past week, Christian's teams are much more structured and disiplined on O, and the number of close wins proves this.

Finally, let's not forget this team was picked third in the East. Not many of us were sure these guys would put up this type of year anyway. As far as I'm concerned, these guys have had a great year, and it's not over yet!

i don't care where the pundits picked us (who by the way are bunch of guys ie. bill livingston, elton alexander who have never sniffed a court in their life) we were 20-3 and controlling our own destiny and now we might be lucky to win another game.

I said we'd be 17-10 so yes they beat my record prediction but it's terribly frustrating to fall off a cliff 2 years in a row. I'd rather peek at the end of the year than at the beginning.

Flashketball Wrote:Finally, let's not forget this team was picked third in the East.  Not many of us were sure these guys would put up this type of year anyway. 

Why Kent was picked to finish third in the East was a mystery to me. The departure of Antonio Gates and Anthony Wilkins from last year's 22-9 team did not exactly leave the cupboard bare. Certainly the graduation of Gates was a loss but most of the experience from last year

And if you look honestly at those seniors and compare them to players on our best teams, you will come to the conclusion that even as seniors, they should not be starters on a good D1 BB team. I have had to take a hard, reluctant look to come to that conclusion. We have won this year due to the MAC being down, and good team depth. JC is a good game coach and credit must go to him. I question his view of lasting for a long season. In reality, this team has over acheived and could continue to do so if they get on a hot streak. Oh, if only we had Shaw back to guard Tarver and Johnson. That player had HEART.

GFlash68 Wrote:And if you look honestly at those seniors and compare them to players on our best teams, you will come to the conclusion that even as seniors, they should not be starters on a good D1 BB team.

Amen, GFlash.

Experience hasn't quickened Haut's legs any. And with experience should come more consistant performances. Points by game: 11, 23, 6 , 13, 7 , 22, 5 , 5 , 11, 16, 15, 24, 5 , 8, 20, 4 , 21, 6 , 14, 10, 5 , 9, 18, 7 , 17, 10.

With Edwards playing very little in high school, even with a redshirt year, he's only at about a college sophomore level as far as overall court experience is concerned.

Jakeway is a role player. (Usually plays it well)

Bedford brings leadership (he's played with a whole lot of good ones) but he's not gonna give you Keith Triplett or Mike Williams numbers.

No one picked them higher than third because there is no John Whorton, Trevor Huffman, or Antonio Gates to take over when needed. They have over achieved and I'm happy for them.

And like I said before, the season isn't over yet!

After today's OU game, I could not agree more. Haut and Edwards play with alot of heart, which is why we did as well as we have in the first 24 games. But they have far more heart than talent.
Jakeaway and Bedford would be a good role players on any team.

I still like next year and think it will be one of the more athletic treams we've had. Gates and Haynes will be solid guards...hope one of the recruits can come on to back up Gates and get a reliable Turner to rest Dre down the stretch. Brown and Edwin should do well in the wings ( I'd like to see Edwin get some more minutes...he brought the intensity to get them back in the OU game today), and Meechie should be ready to back up either of them. Then we have Gerwig and Cutley in the middle, plus what we can get from the transfer. This discounts any of the new recuits that come on and we always have one...Haynes last year and Cutley this year. Interestingly, we don't have a "senior led team" next year ( only Edwin) and it has the potential to be the best since '02.

There is hope coming in November, 2004.

I cannot wait to see Gerwig and Cutley play together. The paint will belong to those bulldogs.

What a thought, flashketball!! :D :D :D

IT AIN'T OVER! IT AIN'T OVER!

From your lips to God's ears, Flash. I hope to tell you "you were right" next Sunday.

But I don't think so.