Kent State Basketball

The Mid-American Conference announced punishments for four Kent State men's basketball players who appeared in a video in which the phrase "f--k Akron" was repeatedly said.

Kent State is playing Akron for the conference title Saturday with an NCAA tournament bid on the line.

As noted in the statement, DJ Johnson is suspended indefinitely, and Malique Jacobs, Cli'Ron Hornbeak and Julius Rollins are suspended for the first half of the Akron game.

Only Jacobs has played in this year's conference tournament, but he is a huge loss. Jacobs is the Golden Flash's second-leading scorer this season and top scorer during the tournament.

He's averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game and is coming off a 19-point, 10-rebound, five-assist, two-steal performance  in a 67-61 win over Ohio in the conference tournament semifinals.

The title game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

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Kalin Bennet was told he'd never walk. Now he's the first player diagnosed with autism to score in a Division I basketball game.

Watch above.

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Kent State basketball recruit Kalin Bennett became "the first student-athlete with autism to sign a national letter of intent to play a team sport at the NCAA Division I level" when he signed with the Golden Flashes earlier in November, according to Elton Alexander of The Plain Dealer.

Bennett hopes to inspire others with autism or struggling with conditions of their own:

"I want to make an impact not just on the court, but with kids that are struggling with the same things I am. I want to use this platform to inspire other kids with autism and non-autism. I want to let them know, hey, if I can do this, you can do it, too. A lot of times they feel alone and by themselves, and I felt that same way growing up."

Bennett, who stands 6'10" and weighs 300 pounds, is expected to be a major contributor for Kent State. Given his size and instincts, he projects as a rebounding machine. But like all prospects, he comes with some question marks.

"Keep the weight off him and he'll be OK," his AAU coach, Kevin Howard, said, noting that his conditioning would be a big factor in ensuring he gets the most out of his potential. "He's got everything else you would want, including a lot of intangibles. Kalin strives for perfection."

But his autism does present its own unique challenges at times on the court.

"Some stuff he gets really fast, and some stuff he has to process," his teammate at Link Year Prep, Dannie Smith, told Alexander. "The big thing is, when he does have a question, he keeps asking it, instead of moving on to the next play." 

Bennett also asked those questions as a child.

"I don't know if you have ever been around an autistic child, but they are brutally honest. They want to know," his mother, Sonja Bennett, said. "They are not being defiant. They are not trying to be nasty. But they can have hard questions that they want you to answer."

Communication, however, is a huge part of success for any team, as is a desire to achieve perfection. In that regard, Bennett's inquisitive nature and desire to understand the game on a deeper level is a strength. And Bennett said he chose Kent State for the many support systems the school already has in place for students with autism. 

As for Bennett's aspirations off the court, he said that he hopes to one day open his own charity.

"I want to be able to make a place where (autistic) kids can just come by, have fun, don't feel no fear being around other people," he said. "Be able to express themselves, be able to be who they are without worrying about what people think about them, or how they process stuff."

The Mid-American Conference doesn’t have much to offer the NCAA tournament this season. This winner of the conference championship game will be the only team dancing this season.

Kent State (22-8) and Akron (22-8) have distanced themselves from the rest of the conference, currently holding a three game lead over the next closest team. Buffalo (17-10) is the next closest team, and has split the season series with both of the conference leaders.

Currently, experts see Kent State winning the MAC and getting a No. 13 seed in the East bracket. This will send the Golden Flashes to face a very talented BYU team. BYU (26-4) has been tested with wins over San Diego State twice, UNLV, and UTEP.

Kent State will face Akron in the last game of the season. The Golden Flashes have an RPI of 49, which is higher than several of the other bubble teams from larger conferences. If Kent State wins against the Zips, but loses in the MAC tournament it still may get an at large bid. This scenario is highly unlikely but not completely out of reach.

Akron doesn’t have the luxury of a decent RPI. The Zips will need to win the conference championship game in order to get an NCAA bid. They can start toward that goal with a win over Kent State on Friday.

Buffalo has shown it can compete with the conference powers this season. The Bulls have also shown that consistency can be a problem during losses to Canisuis (14-16), Miami (13-17), and Central Michigan (14-14). Even if the Bulls start off strong in the conference tournament, their consistency issues and lack of focus will derail them before they get close to an NCAA bid.

The MAC tournament will begin March 6 and continue till the championship game on March 13 at 6 p.m. It looks like that game will face the Zips against the Golden Flashes for the third time this season.

The Zips currently hold a 1-0 season series lead this season going into tomorrow’s game. The winner will become the MAC Champion for the regular season and receive the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

Late into the college basketball season has us taking a look into the Mid-American Conference’s standings. Just like the other conferences, the winner gets an automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

Kent State holds a half a game lead over rival Akron for the top spot in the conference. At this time, I really can't see more than one team getting into the tournament this year. With that being said, these teams match up one more time before the MAC Tournament begins, and that game will have a direct effect on the seeding process. The possible contenders for the MAC Championship this year are slim, once Akron and Kent State are mentioned.

Kent State (18-8) has had a very good second half of the season since losing to Bowling Green a month ago. The Golden Flashes have fired off eight straight wins and post a 9-2-conference record. They’ve shown earlier in the season, however, that they were not quite ready to face good talent as they fell to both Pittsburgh and Xavier. Kent State also suffered two close home losses to Green Bay Wisconsin and Northeastern. Neither of those losses is going to impress the selection committed next month.

Key Losses: Bowling Green (12-11), Miami Ohio (11-13)

Best Win: Akron (18-7)

Akron (18-7) trails Kent State a game after the 17-point beating they took earlier in the season. The Zips have played fairly inconsistently since January, and it’s shown on their record. Since January, they are 8-4, but have gotten to a soft spot in the schedule before finishing up with Kent State. They don’t have a marquee win over a good opponent right now, and losses to good teams won't get them in. The losses to Austin Peay and Eastern Michigan especially will keep them from getting an at-large tournament bid. Non-conference losses to Rhode Island, NC State, and Texas A&M show the committee that this team doesn’t stack up come tournament time.

Key Losses: Austin Peay (14-11), Eastern Michigan (12-12), Buffalo (14-9),

Best Win: Ohio (14-11)

Miami (11-13) was dreadful before conference play started, but now boasts an 8-3 conference record. This improved play has them challenging for a MAC Tournament trophy for the sole reason that they’ve shown that they can play with their conference foes. The Redhawks have losses to Cincinnati, Dayton, Xavier, Kentucky, and Temple this season.

The preseason schedule has to be taken into consideration especially the 72-70 loss in Rupp Arena to Kentucky. As stated before, though, losses against good teams do a team no good. In the Redhawks case, they have numerous losses and will be a dark horse candidate in the MAC Tournament, at best.

Key Losses: Towson (6-18), Colorado (11-12), Milwaukee (13-12), Ball State (12-11)

Best Win: Kent State (18-8)

Buffalo (14-9) has yet to gain much consistency this season, especially since the new year. The Bulls are 6-5 in 2010 and are limping into tournament play. Rodney Pierce has been a bright spot this season, averaging 19 points a game. Buffalo’s wins over Akron and Kent State get them mentioned here, considering this could very well be the teams they have to get over in the MAC Tournament to claim a NCAA Tournament bid.

Key Losses: Jacksonville (14-10), Canisius (12-14), Central Michigan (11-12), Western Michigan (13-11)

Best Wins: Kent State (18-8), Akron (18-7)

Miami is the canary in the coal mine for the MAC this year. The selection committee can easily see a team that has struggled out of conference against tournament caliber teams, but was successful in conference.

This shows how weak the conference is this year,  further supporting the fact that only one team gets a bid this year. Kent State and Akron are both good teams, but without the MAC Tournament Championship on the resume, it won't be enough to get in. I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one MAC team in the NIT, possible two, if Buffalo goes deep into the conference tournament.

Northern Illinois vs. Kent State

March 10, 2009, 2:00PM—Courtesy of Ted Sevransky

Visit Touthouse.com for more basketball betting picks from Teddy.

Kent State played 15 games away from home this year. They lost 10 of those games outright. Three times they earned narrow victories, winning in overtime at Saint Louis, in overtime at the same Northern Illinois team they’ll face today, and by seven at Ball State.

Only twice in those 15 non-home games did the Golden Flashes beat anyone by this type of margin, with only one of those victories coming in MAC play. Six of their last seven victories overall came by seven points or less.

Even for the superior team, this point spread looks awfully high.

Northern Illinois has gotten better as the season has progressed, and they enter MAC tournament play having won three of their last five and four out of seven.

There was nothing fraudulent about the Huskies taking the Golden Flashes to overtime in the lone previous meeting between these two teams this year.

Northern Illinois shot only 37 percent from the floor in that game, and they missed a whopping 18 free throws, yet they were still able to hang around for 45 full minutes. Kent State didn’t own the paint, they didn’t get good offensive looks all evening long, and the Huskies defensive pressure forced 23 Golden Flashes turnovers.

Expect this game to be more competitive than the betting marketplace expects.

(#575) 2* Take Northern Illinois.

In the world of college basketball the story lines that capture our attention are usually Duke-Carolina or Georgetown-Syracuse. In Northeast Ohio there are two Division I teams that do battle twice a year for bragging rights and hardwood glory.

The Akron Zips and Kent State Golden Flashes are born rivals that have grown to hate each other. It is a rivalry born out of proximity, determination and shear competitiveness. The two schools are constantly contending for the Mid-American Conference championship all the while being separated by just 14 miles.

The games sell out on both the campuses of Kent State and Akron, local media covers the games like a hawk, and with the final match up held on the final game of the regular season the MAC title is usually at stake.

In the past 10 of 11 years Kent State has finished with at least 20 wins in a season, won their conference tournament five times and have qualified for the NCAA bracket five times. In 2002, the Golden Flashes advanced to the Elite Eight round of the national tournament before losing to the eventual runner up. Meanwhile the Zips finished with a losing record.

Keith Dambrot has since brought Akron to prominence in his five years with the program. Under his direction he has earned the program a MAC East title and two NIT berths. Even with the program thriving under coach Dambrot Akron is still searching for their first MAC tournament championship. In the past two years he has lead Akron to the finals only to loss two heartbreaking times in a row.

Although Kent took an early in the first round the NCAA bracket 2008 was by far the programs greatest year. The Flashes broke through the mid-major stereotype by being ranked No. 23 in the nation and capped off their tenth straight season with at least 20 wins or more, not even Duke could say that.

However the most satisfying accomplishment of the '07-'08 season was beating Akron not once, not twice, but three times! First in a close 75-69 score that produced a brawl near the end of the game. Second being a last second three-pointer by Kent State great Al Fisher to ice Akron on their senior night after nearly staging a remarkable comeback. The Akron arena was later described as quiet enough to hear a pin drop after that shot.

The third and final game between the two came in the MAC tournament final with Kent State seeded No.  1 and Akron seeded No. 3. This game left no mystery as Kent State trounced Akron 74-55 and earned an at-large bid in the 2008 NCAA tournament. Over 3,000 students from both universities delayed their spring break trips to watch the final game of the tournament at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland where the LeBron James plays.

Whether it be double overtime or ejection for punching, this rivalry is a fierce war that unfortunately goes unnoticed. What Kent State fan could forget alumni Kevin Warzynski's white man Afro or how former Akron guard Nick Dials never smiled. What Zips fan could forget the miracle 2006 sweep of Kent or the agony of reading another story about Kent State from ESPN.

The fans hate each other but still have friends they visit at their respective schools. Akron will continue to come and party in the relatively suburban setting of Kent's houses and student neighborhoods. Kent Staters will still enjoy the nightlife and clubs on the streets of Akron. In all, the two schools maintain a begrudging respect for one another and will continue to bring the rivalry to new heights.

Mid-Major Power Rankings presented by collegesportspro.com

*In this case, mid-majors are classified as teams from a conference that traditionally sends no more than two teams to the NCAA tournament.  Gonzaga, Butler and Memphis have been excluded due to their repeated tournament success.*

#1 Xavier 12-1 (24-4) — Atlantic 10

Player to Watch G Drew Lavender, 11.3 ppg 4.5 apg

The Musketeers are separating themselves from the A 10 pack and asserting themselves on a national stage with every passing day. Keep this up for a couple more years, and they’ll be elevated to Memphis, Gonzaga and Butler status. They’re a well oiled machine that will make waves in March.

#2 Davidson 18-0 (21-6) — Southern Conference

Player to Watch G Stephen Curry 25.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.9 apg

The Wildcats had a very tough non-conference schedule that worked against them in the form of a 4-6 record. Losses against Charlotte and Western Michigan will probably be held against them on Selection Sunday. But going undefeated in any conference says volumes about a team. The experience of competing with UCLA, Duke and UNC has served them well and will help if they stay strong and make the tournament. It’s amazing that a team who could go undefeated in conference play is being discussed as a bubble team. If only they had beat the Broncos and 49ers.

#3 Drake 14-2 (24-3) — Missouri Valley

Player to Watch G Josh Young 16.5 ppg

Beating Butler in Indianapolis is just what the doctor ordered for the Bulldogs. They now have a very large win away from home to go along with an impressive resume. They also quickly stopped the bleeding caused by a home loss against Bradley earlier in the week. With two games to play, Drake has the MVC regular season locked up and an at-large bid on ice. Interesting note: the Bulldogs have not won a game by more than 10 points since January 12. It will be very interesting to see how the strangers to the national spotlight stack up come tournament time.

#4 Kent State 11-2 (23-5) — MAC

Player to Watch G Al Fisher 14.4 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.8 rpg

The Golden Flashes jump into the 4 spot after a big win at St. Mary’s on Saturday — a place no other team has won this year. Al Fisher has become a solid scorer for the Flashes as the year has progressed, raising his average from 11 ppg to 14.4 ppg in the last 12 games. They go 9 or 10 deep, which is a must for a team with less star power looking to make some national waves.

#5 (tie) BYU 10-2 (21-6) — Mountain West

Player to Watch G/F Lee Cummard 16.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.2 apg

The Cougars were riding a 9 game winning streak heading into the weekend but got knocked back to earth by San Diego State. Big man Trent Plaisted had a rough game in which he failed to get to the line for the first time in his career. The Cougars face another tough test at New Mexico on Tuesday. The continued development of BYU’s young bench will be key in the stretch run. Freshmen Jimmer Fredette, Chris Collinsworth and Mike Loyd, Jr. and Sophomore Chris Miles have all shown signs of promise. They just need to consistently produce at a high level when guys like Cummard and Plaisted are on the bench or having an off night.

#5 (tie) St. Mary’s 10-1 (23-4) — West Coast

Player to Watch G Patrick Mills 14.8 ppg, 3.5 apg

To the Gaels’ credit, C Omar Samhan was limited to 8 minutes in Saturday’s match up with Kent State. Unfortunately, a loss is still a loss and the Gaels will need to regroup quickly as they take on San Diego on Monday night. The loss of Samhan means F Diamon Simpson has to shoulder a wider load down low. Patrick Mills has to shake off a bad outing against the Flashes and reassert himself as the scorer and creator that he is. This week will be huge for the Gaels as they have a chance to knock off both San Diego and Gonzaga on their way to a WCC title. Will that happen? I give them at least 1-1. The loss of Samhan hurts, but they’ve still got a load of talent that can step up and win ball games.

Teams on Watch
UAB
South Alabama
VCU
Houston