Head Coach: Rob Senderoff (15th Season, 288-176 overall)
Last Season: 24-12, 11-7, Lost at Loyola (Chicago) in NIT Quarterfinal
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Net Ranking Last 5 years: 118-138-68-172-117
Projected Starters: Cian Medley, Jahari Williamson, Morgan Safford, Rob Whaley Jr, Rico Gillespie
Rotation Players: Quinn Woidke, Rayvon Griffith, Dezmon Briscoe, Magnus Entenmann
Fighting for Time: Brenden Moss, Omer Hamama, Landon Vandenwarker, Jaimon Townsend, DeAndre Jones
FRONTCOURT: Rico Gillespie is back to lead the front court, as he was a preseason 1st Team All-MAC Selection. The last 19 games of last season after Gillespie was inserted into the starting lineup, the Flashes went 13-6. Gillespie averaged 9.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, shooting 63.5% from the field. He had double doubles in Kent State’s three NIT games, and in six of the last ten overall. His versatility last season on the defensive end, allowed Kent State to play big at times, something they will look to do this year too. He’s expanded his game and he may look to shoot more 3’s this year but he can’t forget what makes him good, rebounding and his motor.
Gillespie will team up with his cousin, Rob Whaley Jr. After transferring from UNLV, where he was out for much of last season with a back injury, he came to campus 315 pounds. Losing about 25 pounds, getting his body ready to play will be key. His ability as a point forward to facilitate offense will be key for the Flashes. Senderoff raves about his ability to pass the ball. Late in the shot clock, KSU will look to play inside-out basketball this year with Whaley. During the 2023-2024 season Whaley appeared in all 34 games for UNLV, averaging 7.6 points a game. Rob’s father was the 51st overall pick of the Utah Jazz in the 2005 NBA draft.
Magnus Entenmann is now on scholarship for the Flashes and will provide key minutes for KSU in whatever role that may be. Mag continues to improve each season. He is seemingly in the right spot consistently on defense. He is mobile enough to get out and hard hedge ball screens the way KSU likes to do. Offensively he can step out and shoot it a little bit, but will score mostly on offensive rebounds and drop off passes. In year’s past Kent State has had guys that are selfless in their role and don’t need to score to impact winning. Mag fits that role well.
Freshmen Dezmon Briscoe comes to Kent State with several Big East offers and after de-committing from Iowa, is one of the highest rated recruits in program history. He has done good things in camp thus far. Like most young bigs, his ability to defend and rebound will be keys to his playing time. Briscoe helped Crispus Attucks in Indiana to the 3A State Title game last year.
“Dez is really, really active and athletic, and is very impactful on both ends of the floor with his motor,” Senderoff told us. “He sort of reminds me a lot of a younger version of Rico, maybe even more skilled as a freshman than Rico was as a freshman, his fluidity of movement.”
DeAndre Jones is a bouncy athlete that may help this year as a rim protecting defender. After redshirting last season, Jones put on some much needed weight, and improved his offensive skill set. In order to make an impact he will have to be consistent and be trusted by the staff to play rotational minutes.
Freshmen Landen Vanderwarker comes to Kent by way of Delaware Hayes HS where he was first team All-Ohio. At 6-7, Vandenwarker is a tweener. He may get early minutes on the wing this season, due to some of the injuries on the perimeter.
“Due to all of the injuries we moved him more to a wing spot as opposed to just a forward spot and I think it helped him,” Senderoff said of Vandenwarker. “It’s helped him maybe because he’s practiced more. He’s had more reps than he was earlier in the year, and his physicality at that position, he doesn’t look like a freshman physically when he’s out there at the wing. So he has the ability to help us also.”
With a mix of depth, size, and a blend of young and veteran talent, the KSU frontcourt has a chance to be among the best in the MAC.
BACKCOURT: Cian Medley is back to run the team from his point guard position. Medley has really worked on his game, as well as his leadership. He will be counted on heavily to play big minutes at times, especially with the loss of Sumlin. Medley had spurts in 2024-2025, with a few games scoring over 20 points. He’s a pure point guard who makes others better around him. He will have to improve his 26% shooting from the three point line.
Jahari Williamson comes to Kent via way of Niagara, where he scored 17 points against Kent State last year at the MAC Center. Senderoff calls him the best shooter on the team by far, as he’s made 95 three’s in 246 attempts for 38.6%. His shot making ability and at times play making ability will be counted on heavily at times, on a team that lost a player like Jalen Sullinger.
Morgan Safford is back from a torn labrum that required surgery a year ago, limiting him to 8 games. Safford is a big, burly wing at 6-5, 215 pounds. He is willing to do whatever it takes to win and will help lead the team. His sixth year in college, he has been through a lot. If healthy, he’s one of the best and most important players not just for Kent State, but in the entire MAC landscape.
Safford will be a leader for Kent State.
“I’m just going to lead the best way I know how,” he said. “I’m going to be a vocal leader. I’m going to lead by example. I’m gonna push my teammates. I’m not the type of leader…if my teammates are slacking I’m not always going to talk to them nicely all the time because people need to be pushed to be the best they can. I’m going to push my teammates and I want them to also hold me accountable to push myself as well so we can get back to the NCAA tournament.”
Quinn Woidke will get early minutes. The freshmen from St. Ignatius in Cleveland can score, he’s tough and fearless. I won’t be surprised to see him be the first guy off the KSU bench Monday vs. Troy.
“And Quinn can really score,” Senderoff said. “He can handle the ball. He’s got a good basketball IQ as well, and he has the ability to score baskets. He’s a fearless offensive player. Like all freshman, has a lot to learn and has to get better as the year moves on.
Rayvon Griffith is a highly touted transfer from Cincinnati. At 6-7, he’s a versatile wing that can post up, and do a lot of things to impact winning. He hasn’t played much college basketball after a highly decorated prep career. He will get opportunities to earn his name back in basketball this season. If he plays with a chip on his shoulder and is hungry, he will help a lot.
Brenden Moss is unfortunately still slowed by knee injuries that he has suffered in his career. At 6-4, Moss is a big combo guard that has a lot of potential if he can ever return to health, which will hopefully be at some point this season.
Omer Hamama came to Kent in September and is still adjusting to a new brand of basketball, the school, his teammates and a new language. He is a pest defensively, and has great vision. At 22 years old, he’s not a typical freshmen. With just Medley, Woidke and Hamama on the roster who play point guard, expect him to get an opportunity at some point.
6-6, 215 pound freshmen wing Jaymen Townsend broke the school record with a 47 inch vertical leap this summer. He’s a freak athlete that may need some more time until he makes his impact.
X-FACTOR: Rob Whaley Jr.
If Whaley is in shape, healthy and able to play extended minutes at a high level, he gives KSU a big forward that can score, facilitate and pass. With him and Gillespie, along with Entenmann and Briscoe, Kent State has a chance to have among the best frontcourts in the league.
KEYS:
- First and foremost, IF Kent State establishes and reinforces a strong defensive identity based on physicality and toughness, they will have a chance to compete once again in a tough Mid-American Conference. Even with the loss of defensive pit bull Jamal Sumlin, the Flashes have enough good defensive guards to take on challenges. With rim protectors inside with Gillespie, Entenmann and Briscoe, the Flashes have a formula to get stops. Taking care of the ball and limiting transition opportunities for their opponents aid in their defensive effort. If the Flashes are elite on D, they can play the brand of basketball they need to play.
- Offensively this Kent State will score more off cutting, off screens and hopefully in transition. As always, KSU will play through the post and need to score on top of the basket. With Whaley’s passing ability and Gillespie’s all around game, the Flashes could dominate in points in the paint. As Medley continues to improve his game, leadership and distributing, the Flashes will improve. Perimeter shooting may be an issue at times. Medley, Safford, etc. need to knock down shots to not let teams pack the paint. Williamson is said to be the best shooter and will need to deliver on that. Wing post ups have always been a big part of KSU’s arsenal and that will have to continue with the likes of Safford and Griffith most notably.
- IF Kent State has everyone come together, sacrifice for the good of the team, and play the role they are asked to play, then Kent State can and will be successful once again. They need everyone to impact winning, regardless of what that role will be. At some point, everyone on the roster will be asked to go in a game and help the team win.
SCHEDULE: Kent State has a tough start to the season, playing a Troy (November 3) program that made the NCAA tournament a year ago. Cornell (November 7) won 20 games a year ago in the Ivy League and UNC-Wilmington won 27 games last year, and is picked to win the CAA this year. On Monday, November 10, that game will have an old school Bracket Buster style feel to it, the old ESPN event matching up top mid-majors in the country.
Kent State heads to The Greenbrier in West Virginia to play Cleveland State and Wright State, and then in a scheduling oddity, will play CSU a week later in Kent.
The Flashes head to Portland December 14 for their first true road game of the season, in what is a return game from Portland coming to the MAC Center a couple years ago.
Kent State’s ‘marquee’ non-conference game will be at Top 5 ranked Purdue on December 29.
Conference play starts early this year as the Flashes’ break in MAC newcomer UMASS on December 20.
THINGS I THINK:
- In the past Kent State had players like Hornbeak and Bekelja. Guys that were selfless in their role and didn’t need to score to impact winning. Who will those players be this year to emerge and do what it takes to win? Players often times have to accept their role for the good of the team.
- With that said, scoring at times has been an issue for KSU. With the loss of Sullinger, and not having that one particular guard on the roster that can go get a basket when you need one late in the clock, how will the Flashes do offensively. Medley is certainly someone that will have the rock in his hands late in the clock and late in games, Williamson is a shot maker, and Gillespie will have to produce as well. The real key may be Whaley Jr, a playmaking post. Senderoff raves about his feel, and passing ability. If he can stay healthy, in shape and on the court, he becomes a key as someone that can facilitate offense.
- The best teams that Senderoff and Kent State have had, have had a defensive identity, built on toughness and being physical. What will this team’s identity be? If it isn’t based on defense and toughness, the Flashes tend to struggle. Who will take on challenges of guarding the other team’s best player? Can this team get stops late in games to close opponents out? Will this team own the glass like so many past teams have had? That’s the formula for success. Kent State has never been a team looking to win in shoot outs.
- Offensively this team will score a little differently than teams of the past. This team will score off cutting, screening and using screens well. They will have to play inside out, even late in the clock. As always, offensive rebounding, getting to the free throw line and being the more physical team will be very important. Senderoff has emphasized playing with pace in transition as well.
- The MAC will be as competitive as ever. The school down the road will be tough once again in the second year of their new offense. Miami returns a ton of production a year ago and will be led by POY candidate Peter Suder, having a connected team and a free flowing offense. Ohio is always good, and was ravaged by injuries a year ago. Toledo hopes to get back to playing their style of basketball, and brought in a lot of new faces. UMASS joins the league with history, resources and a Final Four coach in Frank Martin.
If you missed an article leading up to the season, check them out below.
Safford done waiting, return to lineup key for KSU
Talented freshmen class to contribute for KSU
Comments
One response to “Team 110 ready to begin 2025-2026 season | Kent State Men’s Basketball Preview”
Absolute best preview of Kent MBB out there !! It should be a great season!!