Kent State and Akron meet Friday night in the MAC Center for the first of their two, and usually three battles in a season. The game tips at 7pm and will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
The Flashes come in hopefully having broken their MACC misery Tuesday night with a solid 75-57 victory over Bowling Green. The up and down Flashes have battled identity issues, a jekyll and hyde defense as well as mixed performances at home and on the road.
Tuesday night reminded those around the league what the Flashes are capable of when they win the turnover margin, rebounding margin, defend with attention to detail, with shot making sprinkled in. They can be at the top of the league when it’s all said and done on March 11. The competition gets tougher Friday night.
The rival Zips used deep NIL pockets this off-season to bring in high impact transfers, combined with the strong development of returning players.
Give the Zips credit, they’ve transformed completely how they’ve played in recent years, going to a dribble drive system with four guards and they shoot threes, a lot of them. The pace they play at is much, much faster than the past. Gone is Enrique Freeman and many others. The Zips used to throw it in the post, and grind you defensively deep into the shot clock, and their pace and scores reflected it. They also usually had a Freeman, Loren Christian Jackson or Xavier Casteneda who was among top players in league. This group is balanced.
The 2024-2025 Zips lead the league in scoring at 84 points per game, scoring margin, first in three point attempts at 31.8 a game, and they make the most at 11.5. They’re also first in the league in free throw percentage, rebounding margin and assist to turnover ratio.
Kent State offers the best defense in the league giving up just 64 a game. They are first in opponent field goal percentage and opponent three point percentage.
Which helps bring me to my point. Of all the really good teams in the MAC; Akron, Toledo, Ohio and Miami. All of them want to run up and down, shoot threes and score in bunches. And in the first go around, the Zips beat them and did it better than all of them. Do the Flashes offer the proper contrast to slow down the high octane Zips?
KSU Head Coach Rob Senderoff offered up his keys to Friday’s battle.
“We need to control tempo, the less possessions the better. We need to control rebounding. They beat you with second and third shots. They get a lot of three’s that way. We need to keep them off the free throw line. They don’t shoot a lot of free throws. We can’t lose the battle of free throw points.”
Kent State is super physical, both offenseively and defensively. They’ve got length at the basket with Cli’Ron Hornbeak and Rico Gillespie to bother shots. They’ve got kids that will compete and guard on the perimeter with Medley, Bekelja, Sumlin, etc. Can the Flashes make this their kind of game, a grind?
Offensively, they will throw it in the post, and let Von Cameron Davis facilitate. They will need to drive it hard, play in the post, get on the offensive glass and get to the line often to make it their type of game. And of course, shot making is key. If not, the Zips will pack it in, and/or double Davis and dare others to make shots.
GFR BREAKDOWN
KENT STATE DEFENSE vs. AKRON OFFENSE
Kent State has to keep Akron out of transition. This starts with their offense taking care of the ball, limiting live ball turnovers and getting to the free throw line. Akron has to go against a set defense as much as possible.
It’s no secret Akron wants to shoot 3’s. So closeouts must be on point. Make them put it on the floor. Kent State must OWN THEIR MATCHUP, limiting dribble penetration which limits help situations…which lead to 3’s. They also must avoid over helping. Make Akron’s guards finish at the rim.
Akron puts you in a bind with their ball screens. Kent State likes to hard hedge and put two on the ball in ball screens which leads to rotations. It’ll be interesting to see if they switch some ball screens to limit that and make Akron make one one plays at the rim and take two’s.
Kent State must win the rebounding battle. Akron get’s a lot of three point attempts off second and third chances.
KENT STATE OFFENSE vs. AKRON DEFENSE
It’s also no secret Kent State will control tempo in this game. They are among the slower teams in the conference and country. This wasn’t by design at the beginning of the year. But its where things have headed. As I said, KSU will throw it in the post, and look for matchups on the perimeter to post up with their guards. Questions to consider will be does Akron double Davis? Or do they force him right with help titled that way? When Akron’s James Okonkwo is out the Flashes need to attack the rim even more.
Kent State needs to win the free throw battle. They need to play with force, not settle for “hero, in the moment 3’s” and drive it hard. Inside out, rhythm threes need to be shot with confidence. Because Kent State DOES HAVE CAPABLE SHOOTERS.
They have to take care of the basketball and get shots up, especially when they want to make it a slow paced game.
GFR STRIKES…KSU is 82-83 all-time vs. the Zips…Friday is a Gold Out with the first 1,000 fans receiving t-shirts…Flashes head to Eastern Michigan Tuesday…Marquis Barnett was honored Tuesday for going over 1,000 points in his career joining Sullinger and Davis and 1K scores…Nate Johnson (13.4) and Tavari Johnson (12.6) lead the Zips in scoring…Cornell transfer Isaiah Gray is next at 10.6…Cian Medley recorded his first career double double Tuesday with 12 points and 10 assists, he’s shot the ball better lately, he’s a key for KSU with his defense, distributing and shot making potential…Kent State is ranked 20th in the country in scoring defense
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