Kent State heads to Auburn Wednesday night to play the Tigers with a tip time of 8pm Eastern. The game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus as well as ESPN+.
The Tigers are coming off an impressive 74-69 win against Houston Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, essentially a road game for Auburn.
Freshman Tahaad Pettiford had 21 points in 24 minutes. All-American and reigning SEC Player of the Week Johni Broome had 20 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks.
Auburn shot 53% from the field, just the fifth time in the last seven seasons someone has shot that well against a stingy Houston defense. Matching the Cougars on the glass, and pressing all game, the Tigers will be a stiff test for the Golden Flashes. More than anything, it’s a great chance to test themselves.
“It’s just a great opportunity for our guys,” KSU Head Coach Rob Senderoff said after Friday’s win over Miami Hamilton. “We get a chance to play one of the elite programs in the country, one of the elite coaches, one of the elite places to play. And just excited for these guys to get that chance.”
Auburn comes in ranked #4 in the Coaches Poll, #5 in the AP Top 25, and number one in the Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings.
Kent State is no stranger to playing top competition under Senderoff. Two years ago a Sincere Carry and Malique Jacobs led squad, led Houston under a minute before falling, led at Gonzaga at the final media timeout, and had a shot in the air to win against a 30 win College of Charleston team. That team used those close losses and gained confidence from them, and it ultimately helped lead to a MAC Championship.
These games are no pressure situations for a mid-major. Win, and it’s one of the greatest wins in school history, lose and gain confidence, and lessons that can help the team, while remaining humble.
“We’ve had a couple of them in the past,” Senderoff said. “We’ve had some games that have really been helpful for us throughout the course of the year. And I’m hoping, I shouldn’t say I’m hoping, no matter what happens down there it will be really helpful for us as we move forward in conference play. It’s a great opportunity for these guys to get a chance to play a top ten team with a number of NBA guys on the roster.”
This will be the 11th consecutive season the Flashes will be playing a Power Five opponent in the non-conference. Kent State’s last victory over a P5 came in 2019 when they knocked off Oregon State and Vanderbilt in the same season. Under Senderoff, the Flashes have won five true road games against Power Four opponents.
AUBURN ISSUES: As was nationally reported, Auburn’s plane to Houston had to be turned around due to an altercation on the flight between two players, freshman forward Jahki Howard and senior forward Ja’Heim Hudson.
The scuffle didn’t impact their performance as they beat Houston on national TV Saturday.
“To shoot nearly 60% in the second half against a Kelvin Sampson defense? That’s unheard of,” Auburn Coach Bruce Pearl said after the game.
SEE CIAN: Kent State point guard Cian Medley is settling into his point guard duties with the Golden Flashes. The Saint Louis transfer and former Camden High School leader, Medley is a pure point guard that distributes first and foremost, but can make open shots and make plays in the lane when needed.
With his vocal presence, calming influence and overall spirit, he reminds us of another former KSU point guard now on the coaching bench, Jalen Avery.
“Cian’s a true point guard and really a natural leader and I think these guys have really responded to the way he’s played that position,” Senderoff said.
“Cian’s getting better and better and he has a calming influence as a point guard for our team so he’s the true point guard we have with Jalen being a combo type guard and Jamal sort of like a junkyard dog type point guard. Cian’s continuing to improve and excited for him, he’s just a sophomore as well.”
HIGH IQ AND VERSATILE: In addition to the newcomer Medley, Kent State’s other newcomers have continued to acclimate themselves and impact the game on both ends of the floor.
Barnett bounced back from a shaky opener at Louisiana, most notably on the defensive end, and flashed the ability that he has, after a very good career at Presbyterian, after a storied career at nearby Brunswick High. A big reason why the Flashes got him from the transfer portal was the proximity to home for Barnett and the fact his family can see him play his final season.
“Marquis played well tonight, four assists and three steals, thought he showed his athleticism tonight which he had been doing all preseason,” Senderoff said. “I thought he really struggled the first night but this was more along the lines of what we expect from him.”
Morgan Safford has been as advertised as a big wing who can do many things on the court. And Kent State fans are going to enjoy Anthony Morales’ game as he gets going. A shooter at 6-8, Morales knocked down seven triples in the Patriot League Semi Finals last year. Both Safford and Morales are versatile and smart players.
“Morgan Safford, I think his basketball IQ is as high as anybody we have in the program,” Senderoff told Dane Richardson on Flash Talk last week.
“And Anthony’s a really versatile player. It’s interesting because the more he’s been here with us at practice, he’s got the length of a four man, he’s about 6-7 or 6-8, but he’s got the skill set of a guard because he’s a pass first player very unselfish again with a really good basketball IQ so versatility with all of those guys, multiple position guys outside of Cian. But guys that are here to compete.”