MAC Basketball Season Preview: Kent State Golden Flashes

An extensive if not comprehensive look at all 12 Mid-American Conference college basketball teams. The opening game is November 10, so we better get started.

Last year: 24-10 (13-3), 1st MAC East; lost to OHIO in MAC tournament quarterfinal; lost to Illinois in NIT second round

This year: Picked 2nd in MAC East (8 of 24 first place votes); Picked by 6 of 24 to win the MAC tournament

Coach: Geno Ford, ex-OHIO baller, enters his third season with Kent State. His record: 43-25.

First Game: Friday, November 12 vs. Iona in Cleveland

Can a flash dribble a basketball? I don't understand the question at all.

Departures

Chris Singletary (graduated)
Tyree Evans (graduated)
Anthony Simpson (graduated)
Mike McKee (graduated)
Frank Henry-Ala (graduated)
Brandon Parks (graduated)
Greg Avila (transferred to University of the District of Columbia, Division II)
Ian Pinckney (transferred to Davis & Elkins, Division II)
Cameron Joyce (transferred to Northwood, Division II)
Jordan Wilds (no longer with program)

Transfers (sitting out this year)

Patrick Jackson (Rutgers)

Returning Award-Winners

Justin Greene (All-MAC Second Team)

Big Nonconference Games

12/9 @ Florida

A Paragraph of Thought on Kent State Basketball

Okay, so you get the picture from the departures subsection. The last time something had this much flux, Marty McFly almost banged his own mother in the '50s. Yes, that's 10, count 'em, 10 players who have left the program since last year. The good news is that Ford loaded up his tinfoil-wrapped baked potato of a basketball team with a boatload of junior college fixins. A cursory perusal through the roster data shows a lot of tall guards and one senior. Now, Kent State doesn't really have down years, but if such a phenomenon is possible in Kent, this might be it. And by down year, I mean 10-6 in the MAC and maybe 17 wins overall.