For years, the MAC Center in Kent has been considered one of the toughest places to play in the Mid-American Conference and all over mid-major basketball. In the last 25 years, the Golden Flashes are 305-77 for a .794 winning percentage.
Teams feed off the energy from the crowd, and the blue and gold supporters feed off the energy that the team gives back to them. I remember DeAndre Haynes jumping up on the media tables in the waning seconds of a 2006 win versus Ohio University that clinched a regular reason championship, and countless other moments that I know that you fans all have from all ages.
The last two seasons have brought some issues with playing at home. Last year the Flashes dropped six games at home, including four in league play.
This season, the Flashes have inexplicably dropped their first three league games in losses to Ball State, Western Michigan and Miami. Opposing coaches keep leaving the floor with big grins on their face, fist bumps for their players as jubilant players celebrate. They know how hard it is to win in Kent. Enough is enough, it’s time to draw a line in the sand and make sure this doesn’t happen again this season. The Flashes’ MAC Tournament hopes may depend on it.
Why the struggles at home? Is it mentality, mindset or some combination of both? KSU needs to take that #RoadKill mentality they seem to have on the road and bring it home. They say defense and toughness travels. Well, now it needs to come home. The Flashes seem to play with more force, more connectivity and more “dawg” on the road.
Is it because they assume the home crowd will lift them up when they need it? It doesn’t work that way. MAC Center crowds historically need something to cheer for. Is it because of the friends and family in attendance, and a lack of focus? Not sure, but 29 three point attempts against Miami last time at home, and Rob Senderoff had seen enough. 41 free throw attempts given up against Western Michigan? Unheard of. A second half collapse against Miami. The Flashes need a consistent 40 minutes of play, identity and staying true to who they are.
Kent State needs tonight’s game against Bowling Green, badly. With the frontrunning Zips in town Friday, another home giveaway can’t happen.
The Falcons offer a more than willing partner in that process. With one of the more unique players in the country in Marcus Johnson, and an up tempo squad, the Falcons would love to snap a 10 game skid to Kent State.
Who will these Flashes be in 2024-2025? Senderoff’s teams have been down this road before. The 2017 team was dead and buried after a loss at Toledo dropped them to 3-7 in the MAC. Four wins in six days, with three in a row in Cleveland re-wrote a magical story. KSU assistants Jalen Avery and Jon Fleming were on that team and can help preach. After all it is the MAC, and three days in Cleveland is where memories are made, and regular seasons largely forgotten.
Kent State needs a win tonight, and they need to play well. They need to remember what they do well. Defend, rebound, play inside out, score on top of the basket and be the most physical team in the league. Enough is enough with the MAC Center misery. Flip the season tonight.
Play in a way that the 2006 MAC Player of the Year Haynes, and current Marquette assistant coach would even love to see.
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