Flashes use inspired effort to defeat UNCW

The Kent State men’s basketball team used an inspired effort on the defensive end, to help spur their offense in a big 86-77 win over UNC-Wilmington Monday night at the MAC Center.

The Seahawks played in the NCAA tournament a year ago, won 28 games, was picked to finished 2nd in the CAA this year, have the 2nd largest NIL fund in the league and feature a CAA All-Star team of sorts, with transfers from Stony Brook and Monmouth to go along with their very good returning players. They were 12th in the CollegeInsider.com mid-major poll, while Kent State was 24th.

Kent State returned to form defensively, after giving up over 100 points in the first two games. They used multiple efforts, with better rotations and a better mindset guarding the ball. They built a 22 point first half lead before the Seahawks rallied.

“Scoring 100 is great, but giving up 100 isn’t great,” Rob Senderoff said. “This was much more along the lines of where we’d like to be defensively and where I think we need to be defensively.”

That defense allowed Kent State to get out and run and play free flowing basketball, which resulted in 15 made threes in 34 attempts. Freshmen Quinn Woidke was 5-10 from distance, scoring a career high 17 points in just his third game. Point guard Cian Medley played like the leader that KSU needs, with 19 points but more importantly 10 assists and just one turnover, and competed as always on defense.

Rico Gillespie tapped into his superpower, with another double double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.

It was another game where Senderoff played 11 players, and everyone who came into the game contributed to the win. Depth is certainly an early story line that is being developed.

It’s also hard to ignore the offensive outbursts of team 110. Senderoff and staff have emphasized playing faster this season. Here’s the thing about that. If you’re getting stops, playing fast is fun and the right way to play. But if you’re constantly taking the ball out of the net because you’re getting scored on, and trading baskets with the other team, playing fast isn’t always a joy to watch.

Monday night Kent State let their defense dictate their offense and that was the main difference in the first two games.

22 assists in 27 made baskets is a great thing to see with this team that has so many weapons.

“We did a lot of things well against a really good program and a really good team,” Senderoff said.

“Everybody who checked in contributed in a really positive way.”

THE ROOK:

It’s hard to say enough good things about the rookie, Quinn Woidke. With supreme confidence and fearlessness offensively, more so than any other freshmen I can remember, Woidke is smooth.

Playing at tradition rich Saint Ignatius in Cleveland against an elite schedule, you can tell he was ready to play from day one.

Hitting five threes in ten attempts, and able to get to the basket, Woidke has an extensive bag. Built like a football player, the former quarterback is able to use his strength.

Defensively he will need to continue to work and get better to help defend the dynamic guards of the MAC, but the future looks bright.

“It has been a lot different since high school,” Woidke said. “Guys are a lot faster, a lot stronger and a lot bigger. Throughout the summer I was able to get adjusted. I feel like I have adjusted pretty well since.”

Speaking of Medley, the point guard has taken Woidke under his wing of sorts, in an effort to continue to evolve as a leader.

“That’s my rook,” Medley later said. “I honestly feel like he’s way better than I was when I was a freshman. His confidence level is through the roof. He puts are tremendous amount of work in. He cares about the game. He loves the game. He’s a great person. It has been fun to be able to play with him.

“When I was a freshman I always looked up to the older guys. It has been fun to be able to take him under my wing. … I think the sky’s the limit for him.”

It’s early, but Woidke has All-Conference and MAC Player of the Year potential if he finishes his career in Kent.

Which reminds me, make sure to donate to the Excellence Fund and The Blue and Gold Collective today.

COUNTRY ROADS:

Kent State heads to The Greenbrier this weekend in West Virginia to take on a pair of Horizon League foes in Cleveland State and Wright State.

Just a heads up, the games will be streamed on a website called www.passthaballlive.com and it appears to be $24.99 for a month subscription to watch two games.

NOTES:

Freshmen Dez Briscoe came into the game and impacted it right away with two blocked shots…Magnus Entenmann made two threes in his action…Rayvon Griffith got the assignment late in the game for defensive purposes down the stretch…Williamson came in late and forced a spin that led to a turnover…Safford appeared to injure his hand and had to come out before going back in, credit to him for being tough and all about winning, he only took seven shots after scoring 34 on Friday, he’s one of my favorite players for how we plays the game…Landon Vandenwarker continues to earn minutes with really good practices per Senderoff, he will be a good MAC player someday…