The 2023-2024 season is in the past for the Kent State Golden Flashes. But looking back on it, a lot of guys played a lot of different roles for Rob Senderoff’s team. Many of those guys have either graduated or transferred. Several of them return.
Due to injuries, inconsistent play, and at times a lack of role acceptance, Kent State started all 13 scholarship players at least once, and at one point, 14 different players were considered part of the rotation.
Through the ups and down of the season, many players got a chance to play meaningful minutes. That, combined with several instant impact newcomers, gives the Flashes a chance to have a very deep team in 2024-2025.
“We’re gonna play a lot of guys this year for sure,” Senderoff said on our Kent State Basketball Preview Show on Wednesday. “A lot of guys have earned the right to play in games and as long as that continues, we’ll play a lot of guys. Some of the who plays, when they play, how much they play, will be performance based, how you’re playing during the game, how our team is playing when you’re in the game.”
Kent State’s game notes were released Saturday and an expected starting lineup of Cian Medley at point guard, Marquis Barnett and Morgan Safford on the wings, with forward Von Cameron Davis and post Cli’Ron Hornbeak is expected.
From there, Mike Bekelja, Jamal “Wopp” Sumlin, Anthony Morales and Rico Gillespie are expected to enter the game. Magnus Entemann, Donovan Hunter and freshmen Jonas Nichols and DeAndre Jones could also see time.
“But certainly going into the season I feel really good about it, everybody on the roster is ready to play in a college game, at least that’s what they’ve shown in practice and through our two scrimmages so it’s going to be competitive,” Senderoff said. “I’d rather have guys at the end of the day, I can’t make everyone happy with playing time it’s just not possible but I’m hoping everyone can be happy with the results of games and everyone can lean into being a great teammate and doing whatever’s needed in that day to help us try to win.”
It remains to be seen if Jalen Sullinger will play in 2024-2025. The plan back in August was for him to redshirt the season, after returning from an offseason spent after enrolling at Furman.
Improved depth means players can play as hard as they can for as long as they can, and then know that a quality player is coming into the game.
As hard as KSU competes defensively and as much as they want to push the ball, the strength in numbers philosophy is a good one. Especially in the non-conference, coaches use it to see who they can count on in different situations, so by the time conference play rolls around in January, teams have settled on a rotation. That was something that didn’t happen last year, again due to injuries and inconsistent play.
One thing that has remained to be true through the years of a long college basketball season, is that every player at some point will be called upon to help the team win.
“I’m just excited to see these guys and how we develop as a group,” Senderoff said. “I feel really good about the team and at the same point every team is going to have ups and downs throughout the year and I’m just looking forward to seeing how hard these guys compete for each other and with each other so I’m really looking forward to that.”