MAC Tuesday 2/17

[hellah10]

MAC YTD 104-71-5 60%
MLs 16-23

After being stranded at home Ive had all day to look long adn hard at the 2 games for tomorrow. Looking to go 2-0 after going 8-2 Saturday...lets beat the man

Toledo +9.5

Still looking at the Kent St game. Ive taken Kent the last 3 games and have lost....will look further into this

 

[hellah10]

So why am I picking Toledo if they suck on the road if you ask?

Toledo beating Western Michigan by 13 points at a 5 point favorite at home was no fluke. These 2 teams matchup very well. Western coming off that squeaker in BG and Toledo barely losing to CMU on Saturday....yet there was something missing for both teams and at the same time...there was something clicking....

For Toledo - they didnt contain Kaman...nobody has, nobody will. But what Toledo DID manage to do is get the likes of Mike Manciel and JR Wallace into foul trouble...especially Manciel. I think he had 4 fouls 5 minutes into the 2nd half...he had to sit forever!! Kaman kept getting his points and his boards but one thing i was proud of by the Rockets is that the players didnt get into foul trouble EARLY like they are known to be. Toledo also played GREAT defense making Central Michigan turn the ball over and forcing errors. Keith Triplett did a good job drawing fouls and getting to the line...

Western Michigan on the other hand is gonna be without Kaan. Which is GREAT news for AJ Shallaberger and everybody else at that position...It`ll allow more room for error...and will allow Joplin to take more of a risk down low. Plus, last game Anthony Kann had 18 points with 12 rebounds for the Broncos. I have all the confidence in the world Keith Trip will contain Mike Williams. The way Western runs their defense is just setting things perfect for the Rockets...man to man...ALOT of it....

Western wins this...but doesnt cover...but playing Toledo ML for the hell of it

 

[hellah10]

Adding...

Kent St -16: Iam sure the Golden Flashes are pissed...and whats better then bringing in BUFFALO of all teams who is out without their star. Pound them in the ass - will elaborate more on this later...kinda getting tired

 

[Nickelback]

Sorry hellah. . . I never even saw this post about Toledo. . . I agree completely. . . apologize for asking you a question that you had already answered!

 

[hellah10]

Good Luck Nickel!!!

and as always....fawk the man :bigun:

 

[hellah10]

Re-up...

Toledo +11

Adding...

Toledo +425

 

[hellah10]

Men Toledo at Western Michigan


Time: 7 p.m.

Radio: 1370 AM.

Records: UT is 10-12, 4-8 MAC; Western Michigan 14-7, 6-6.

Last game: UT lost to Central Michigan 66-64 on Saturday; Western Michigan beat Bowling Green 67-65.

Outlook: Toledo, which remains tied for last in the MAC?s West Division with Eastern Michigan, will play four of its last six games on the road. That?s not good news for the Rockets, who are winless in five MAC road games and are just 3-11 away from home the last two years in conference play. UT defeated Western Michigan 75-62 at home on Jan. 28 as the post quartet of A.J. Shellabarger, Kareem Milson, Milo Kirsh and Ricardo Thomas combined for 25 points. The Rockets have beaten the Broncos six straight times and nine of the last 10 overall. Keith Triplett is averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 4.3 steals in his last three games. Point guard Sammy Villegas needs one more 3-point field goal to break Clayton Burch?s freshman record of 55, set in 1996-97. WMU guard Robby Collum came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points in Saturday?s win over BG. Broncos center Anthony Kann (concussion) and point guard Rickey Willis (ankle) are questionable for tonight?s game.

 

[hellah10]

Broncos hope to steal win tonight

Tuesday, February 18, 2003

BY PAUL D. BOWKER
KALAMAZOO GAZETTE




On a night when senior guard Robby Collum can become the No. 1 steals king in Western Michigan University men's basketball history, the Broncos will be satisfied with just stealing a win from Toledo.


Finally.

Over the last three seasons, the Broncos have not defeated the Rockets. It is a streak that is beginning to wear on the Broncos' brown-and-gold nerves. And all that stands in the way of Western tying Ball State for third place in the Mid-American Conference West is a win over the lowly Rockets (tied for last place in the West, losers in three of their last four games) tonight.

Toledo has beaten Western with explosive offense (Nick Moore scored 31 points vs. Western last year) and it has beat the Broncos with defense. The Rockets have won here and they've won at home. They've won on snowy nights and on clear nights.

Is there something in the air?

"I'm not one that buys into all that mystique or that someone has your number," WMU head coach Robert McCullum said.

He has a better word for it: Athleticism.

"They have good overall athleticism," McCullum said. "Their inside guys, they put the ball on the floor real well. They have the ability to drive by us."

But after three years of watching the Rockets drive by them, the Broncos may have had enough. Junior center Anthony Kann, who missed Saturday's win at Bowling Green with a concussion, practiced Monday and will be back in the lineup. Junior forward Mike Williams, who scored 20 points coming off the bench in last month's loss at Toledo, will add some muscle in the paint.

And then, there's Collum. The defending and current MAC steals leader, Collum needs just four steals to become the No. 1 steals leader in the WMU record books. He has 182 steals; Booker James had 185 in 1984-87.

"I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about it,"" said Collum, who is 17 points away from scoring his 1,000th career point. "But it's not a top five priority thing."

Beating Toledo is. Remember that Collum is averaging four steals in each of his last four games, but didn't have any in the 75-62 loss to Toledo.

While the Broncos rose to No. 2 nationally in scoring defense earlier this season, and still sit at No. 13, a big part of that has been Collum.

He credits his teammates for "allowing me to gamble on defense, be out of position at times. Give them credit, too."

That is always the risk with chasing after a steal. You don't always get the ball.

"He goes for steals a lot," McCullum said. "He's fortunate. And when he misses, the team pays for it."

But not often.

"I just always try to anticipate where the ball is going to be," said Collum, a preseason All-MAC selection who has been mentioned by several MAC coaches as the league's best guard this year.

The interesting thing is, tonight's game could turn into a steal-fest. Toledo freshman guard Sammy Villegas had five steals in the first half of Saturday's loss to Central Michigan. Teammate Keith Triplett had four steals.

"Everybody's got to buckle down, do what we need to do to win," Collum said.

 

[hellah10]

College basketball/Kent State
Golden Flashes down on their luck
After a three-game losing streak, Kent State must get back to business tonight at home against Buffalo
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal staff writer

KENT - Crunching all the numbers contributing to Kent State's three-game losing streak can be more confusing than the Dow Jones average.

So simplify the skid as a mere market correction.

Once the hottest-shooting team in the nation, the Golden Flashes (17-5, 10-4 Mid-American Conference) have fallen on hard times, shooting just 42 percent during the streak.

Then there's the fatigue. Since starting MAC play on Jan. 4 with a win over Eastern Michigan, Kent State has squeezed in 14 games. No team in the nation has played more games in that stretch, not to mention the nine games the Flashes played in a course of 21 days that ends by hosting Buffalo (4-14, 1-11) at 7 tonight in the M.A.C. Center.

In their 17-2 start, the Flashes were 12-1 in games decided by less than 10 points. The last three have all been losses by less than 10 points.

The summary: The charmed life of good shooting and clutch play at the end of games has vanished in a mass of tired legs and the predictable turning of fortune.

The result: A fall back to the pack in the MAC, which is maybe where the Flashes have always belonged anyway.

``We've never had any margin for error; that's the way it is,'' Kent State coach Jim Christian said Monday. ``We don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves; there has got to be a sense of urgency.''

The sense is the Flashes still have a firm grip on their future. By percentage, Kent State is third in the overall MAC standings and the two teams in front of it, Northern Illinois and Central Michigan, still must play each other twice.

All the conjecture and prognostication about an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, is meaningless unless the Flashes take care of business.

Left on the schedule are Marshall, Ohio, Akron and the Bulls, the last four teams in the MAC East, plus Saturday's nationally televised Bracket Buster game with Hawaii.

``We've tried to stay optimistic; it's a long season and you have to put things in perspective,'' Christian said. ``We've got to get our confidence back, our swagger.''

There might be some changes coming to do it, including more playing time for 6-foot-7 freshman forward Clif Brown.

 

[i'm not the one]

HELLAH!!!!

I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING PLAYING ML RRRRRRRRROCKET!!!!

THEY HAVE WON 5 STRAIGHT VS W.MICH


HAMMER TIME

 

[hellah10]

Men's Basketball: Rockets Travel to Western Michigan on Tuesday
Feb. 17: Toledo aims to extend six-game winning streak over Broncos


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Feb. 17, 2003

TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (10-12, 4-8 MAC) travels to Kalamazoo, MI on Tuesday, Feb. 18 for a MAC West Division battle with Western Michigan (14-7, 6-6 MAC). Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

The Rockets trail the Broncos by two game in the division standings and will be looking to rebound from Saturday's heartbreaking 66-64 home loss to Central Michigan. The defeat was UT's seventh conference defeat in which it had a chance to win in the game's final five minutes.

Junior center Chris Kaman dominated the contest for the Chippewas with 30 points and 16 rebounds, while junior guard Keith Triplett led the way for the Rockets with 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

UT has won six straight contests over the Broncos and will be looking to sweep the regular-season series for the third straight season. In addition, the Rockets will also be looking for their 10th win in the last 11 meetings with WMU.

In Toledo's 75-62 win over Western on Jan. 28, senior guard Nick Moore paced the Rockets' attack with 17 points. UT shot 50 percent from the floor and held the Broncos to a season-low 31.9 shooting percentage. The Rockets' 50 percent shooting was just the second time a team had shot 50 percent or better vs. the Broncos this season.

Toledo will be looking to win their first conference road game of the season and is beginning a stretch that will see it play four of its last six regular-season contests on the road.

Toledo (10-12, 4-8 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (14-7, 6-6 MAC)

WHEN: Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 p.m. EST.

WHERE: University Arena (5,649), Kalamazoo, MI.

2002-03 RECORDS:

* Toledo (10-12, 4-8 MAC)

* Western Michigan (14-7, 6-6 MAC)

SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads, 70-43. The Rockets have won six in a row and nine of their last 10 meetings with the Broncos, including five straight wins at Savage Hall.

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Broncos rank first in the MAC in field-goal percentage defense (42.5 percent), steals per game (8.9 spg) and scoring margin (+7.7). Junior center Anthony Kann leads WMU with 8.4 rebounds per game but sat out Saturday's win over Bowling Green due to a concussion.

COACHES:

* Stan Joplin, 113-85 at Toledo (7th year), same overall. vs. Western Michigan: 10-4

* Robert McCullum, 38-41 at WMU (3rd year), same overall vs. Toledo: 0-5

ROCKET INJURY UPDATE: None.

RADIO: WSPD (1370 AM) in Toledo. Mark Beier will handle the play-by-play and former Rocket guard Jay Lehman will provide color commentary.

 

[hellah10]

http://www.fansonly.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/tol/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/wmu032

 

[hellah10]

HELLAH!!!!

I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING PLAYING ML RRRRRRRRROCKET!!!!

THEY HAVE WON 5 STRAIGHT VS W.MICH


HAMMER TIME

ohhh so you do have a degree from Toledo :lol:

 

[redking]

Why is the line going in favor of Toledo if everyone (it seems) is on Toledo? Do the UT players have the flu??

 

[pistol229]

Kaan

Kaan

Hellah,

Your opinion has to change with the addition of Kaan, no?

I am thinking WM wins the game for sure; the big #, I am not so sure.

Also is there anything psychologically to Toledo blowing the big home lead on Sat night. I have to think so.

Thanks,
Pistol

 

[worm44]

Careful Hellah--UB will cover that number-if you remember me I am from Buffalo and go to many "big FOUR" games (Niagara, St. Bon,Canisius, UB)-they will work hard with Battle out and cover

 

[hellah10]

redking - :lol: the flu....Western is in dire straits now. They could possibly miss the MAC Tounry and not have a shot at going to the big dance. Line prolly keeps going for a few reasons...

1) revenge - Toledo beating them earlier this season
2) home court - MAC home court is precious
3) the need to get into the tourny
4) Toledo will be without Milo Kirsch - takes away from the much needed depth...

Pistol - Yes now that I have read that Kaan is GOING TO play...Iam a bit shaky on Toledo ML. They did a good job containing him last time(somewhat).

As far as the psychologically of Toledo blowing the lead on Sat night...yea that`ll always factor how you view a game, but Toledo has blown so many leads this season within 1 minute of a ball game....that its almost as if they are use it

Good Luck gentlemen

 

[hellah10]

worm - thanks...i was wondering where you were when i was asking about Battle. Iam acutally looking to middle this back...damn line is moving for shit though

thanks for the heads up

 

[hellah10]

Kent State Looks to Snap Three-Game Skid Against Buffalo


February 17, 2003

Click here for complete release in PDF format

CAPSULE PREVIEW
The Kent State University men?s basketball team (17-5, 10-4 MAC) is in unusual territory heading into its game with the University at Buffalo (4-17, 1-11 MAC) Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (6,327). The Golden Flashes are in the midst of a three-game losing skid, the first since 1997-98 when that team lost five straight. Kent State has also lost three consecutive games in MAC play, which has not happened since the 1994-95.
The Golden Flashes have also lost their hold on first place in the MAC, now tied with Miami University (8-4 MAC) with four losses in the MAC East Division, while Northern Illinois University (10-3 MAC) and Central Michigan University (9-3 MAC) have the overall MAC lead.
Buffalo comes into Tuesday?s game having lost 13 of its last 14 games, but will be looking to avenge a 69-68 defeat earlier this year on Bryan Bedford?s buzzer-beating three-pointer. The Bulls have never won at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes recorded the best season in Mid-American Conference history last year, posted a 30-6, 17-1 MAC record, with a second consecutive MAC Tournament crown, and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament with wins over three ranked opponents.

SERIES HISTORY VS. BUFFALO
Kent State and Buffalo have met a total of nine times since the Bulls joined the MAC in 1998, with the Golden Flashes holding a 8-1 advantage in the all-time series. Kent State has won two straight games over Buffalo, including the most recent 69-68 victory on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Bryan Bedford, Jan. 15, in Buffalo. The Golden Flashes are a perfect 4-0 in games played in Kent. Buffalo?s last win over Kent State was a 66-65 decision Jan. 9, 2002 at Buffalo.

SCOUTING BUFFALO
The Bulls come into Tuesday?s game having dropped a 80-68 decision to Ball State University (Feb. 15), and Buffalo has lost 13 of its last 14 games. The Bulls? lone win in that stretch was a 90-66 victory over Eastern Michigan University (Feb. 11), Buffalo?s first MAC win of the season.
Sophomore guard Turner Battle is the lone Bull averaging double figures in scoring, at 12.7 points per game. Battle had 18 points in this season?s earlier meeting with Kent State. Freshman forward B.J. Walker had 11 points against Ball State, and is averaging 7.9 points on the year. He had 21 points and 10 rebounds in Buffalo?s first game against KSU. Junior forward Mark Bortz 8.1 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds a game.
Reggie Witherspoon (Empire State ?95) is in his fourth season as head coach at Buffalo with a record of 23-79 with the Bulls. Witherspoon is 1-6 all-time against the Golden Flashes.
For more information on the Bulls, log onto www.buffalobulls.com.

KENT STATE VS. THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
The Golden Flashes have a 316-442 (.417) Mid-American Conference record in 51 seasons since joining the MAC in 1952, with one MAC Championship and three MAC Tournament titles. Kent State holds a 397-551 (.419) all-time record against teams currently competing in the MAC, with over .500 records against the University of Akron, the University at Buffalo and Central Michigan University. Since the 1998-99 season, Kent State is 66-21 (.759) in MAC regular season games. Including conference tournament games, the Golden Flashes have won 46 of the last 56 games against MAC opponents.

HEAD COACH JIM CHRISTIAN
Jim Christian (Rhode Island ?88) is 17-5 in his first season as head coach at Kent State following one season as the top assistant under former head coach Stan Heath. Christian also spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh, one season at Miami University, a year at Western Kentucky University and two seasons at St. Francis (Pa.) University. As the lead assistant during the 2001-02 season, Christian played a key role in directing Kent State to the most successful campaign in MAC history.
Christian is assisted by Geno Ford (Ohio ?97), Rob Senderoff (Albany ?95), Rob Murphy (Central State ?96) and Ryan Pedon (Wooster ?00).

2002-03 CO-CAPTAINS
Kent State?s 2002-03 co-captains are senior forward Antonio Gates (Detroit, Mich./College of the Sequoias [Calif.]) and senior guard Anthony Wilkins (Cleveland, Ohio/Gulf Coast [Fla.] C.C.).

ESPN BRACKET BUSTER SATURDAY
The Golden Flashes will compete in the inaugural ?Bracket Buster Saturday,? a made-for-television event set up by ESPN, on Feb. 22 at M.A.C. Center. Kent State will host the University of Hawaii, in one of nine games put together in an effort to bolster ?mid-major? programs? chances for an NCAA Tournament at-large selection. The event will feature five on ESPN and ESPN2 with the other four on ESPN Plus regional coverage. The Golden Flashes and Rainbow Warriors will play a nationally televised game on ESPN2, starting at 9:30 p.m. The other matchups in the Bracket Buster are: Fresno State at Creighton (ESPN2), Noon; Northern Iowa at Louisiana Tech (ESPN Plus), 1 p.m.; Illinois State at Marshall (EPSN Plus), 2 p.m.; Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Southern Illinois (ESPN2), 3 p.m.; Ball State at Western Kentucky (ESPN Plus), 4 p.m.; Bowling Green at Illinois-Chicago (ESPN2), 5 p.m.; Detroit at UC-Santa Barbara (ESPN Plus), 11 p.m.; Tulsa at Gonzaga (ESPN), 11:59 p.m.

TIME FOR SOME HOME COOKING
After 22 games this season, the Golden Flashes have played just nine times in the friendly confines of the M.A.C. Center. In the 13 games away from home, Kent State has posted a 10-3 record. That will change, however, as the Golden Flashes head into the final weeks of the season. Kent State will play four of its final five games at home, including the last two games of the season against crosstown rival the University of Akron (March 1) and Ohio University (Mar. 8).

A CHARITY STRIPE?
During Kent State?s current losing streak, the Golden Flashes have lost the three games by a combined 17 points. Kent State has missed 25 free throws in that stretch, shooting 30-for-55 (.545) from the free throw line.

LOSING STREAKS A RARE OCCURRENCE
Kent State has made losing streaks a rare occurrence in recent years. The Golden Flashes have not had a three-game losing streak since the 1997-98 squad lost three straight from Dec. 30-Jan. 5, losing at the University of Hawaii-Hilo (87-67), at Northern Illinois University (64-52) and at Ball State University (81-60). Since then, over a span of 167 games, the Golden Flashes have lost back-to-back games just four times. Kent State?s three-game slide in the MAC is even more rare, having not happened since the 1994-95 season when KSU lost to Bowling Green State University (79-76), Ohio University (75-64) and the University of Toledo (73-63) from Feb. 4-11.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE BENCH
On the year, the Kent State bench is chipping in with 23.3% of the Golden Flashes? scoring. But as the bench goes does not necessarily predict a win or loss for the team. In Kent State?s 17 wins, the bench has provided 23.6% of the scoring, while in the five losses the bench has accounted for 22.4% of the team?s scoring output.

THANKS FOR THE HOSPITALITY
Kent State has had tremendous shooting success in opposition arenas this season. On the year, the Golden Flashes are shooting .511 in road games, while limiting their opponents to .423 shooting. Kent State has outshot its opponent in 11-of-13 road games. Conversely, the Golden Flashes are allowing teams to shoot .472 at the M.A.C. Center, while hitting .479. And when the win over Urbana University is removed, the opposition is shooting .495 at the M.A.C. Center against .476 for Kent State.

GOLDEN FLASHES ONE OF TOP SHOOTING TEAMS IN NATION
Kent State leads the nation in three-point shooting and is fifth in field goal percentage according to the latest statistical release. The Golden Flashes are shooting .498 (603-of-1,211) from the floor and .411 (159-of-387) from three-point range, the only team to rank in the nation?s top-five in each category. Just eight Division I teams rank in the top-30 in both category (see list below).
The Golden Flashes trailed Creighton University in field goal shooting, behind by 1.2 percent through the games of Feb. 10. Kent State leads in three-point percentage by 0.2 percent over Illinois State University.
Kent State has shot .500 or better from the field in 13-of-22 games this season, but has not in the most recent stretch of five games.

 

[hellah10]

KENT STATE IN FEBRUARY
Since the start of the 1998-99 season, the Golden Flashes have posted a 28-8 (.778) mark during the month of February. Last season, Kent State was in the middle of its MAC-record 21-game winning streak, posting a perfect 8-0 mark in February 2002. Kent State is 3-3 in February 2003.

CHRISTIAN FARING WELL AMONG ROOKIE COACHES
Jim Christian is off to the second best start of any rookie coach in Division I in their first year as a head coach this season. Christian has compiled a 17-5 record for a winning percentage of .773, behind Ray Lopes from Fresno State University who is 18-5 (.783). The list includes all coaches making their head-coaching debut at the start of the 2002-03 season. The all-time best start by a rookie coach was established by Norman Shephard, who led the University of North Carolina to a 23-0 record in 1923-24. Bill Guthridge, also of North Carolina, set the first-year wins total record with 34 in 1997-98.

BIG M.A.C.C. ATTACK
Kent State has made M.A.C. Center a tough place to play since the start of the 1997-98 season. The Golden Flashes have posted a 68-9 (.883) record, including a 55-6 (.901) mark since the start of the 1998-99 season. Kent State, which has gone undefeated at home three times in the modern era (since World War II), is averaging 4,526 fans at home this season, second in the MAC.

KENT STATE RECORDS WATCH
Junior center John Edwards (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) is fourth all-time in career blocks with 88, four behind third place and Kyrem Massey (1997-2001) and 19 behind all-time leader John Whorton (1996-00) who totaled 107 blocks. Edwards is also five blocks shy of the single-season record set by Whorton in 1997-98. He has 32 blocks this season.
Senior forward Antonio Gates (Detroit, Mich./College of the Sequoias [Calif.]) became the 21st player in Kent State history to surpass 1,000 career points.

KSU AMONG NATION?S ELITE LAST FIVE SEASONS
Since the start of the 1998-99 season, Kent State ranks 11th nationally with a .765 winning percentage (117-36) and is 13th in total victories for the highest marks among MAC schools. Duke University tops both lists with 149 wins and a .887 winning percentage.
The following rankings are through games of Feb. 16, 2003.

FLASHES BEST IN MAC LAST FIVE YEARS
Since the start of the 1998-99 season, Kent State has posted the most overall victories (117) and best overall winning percentage (.765) in the MAC, as well as the most MAC wins (66) and highest MAC winning percentage (.759). Bowling Green has the next-best totals with 89 overall wins and 54 MAC victories.
The Golden Flashes? 100 wins over four years (1998-2002) tied the MAC record set by Ball State University from 1988-92.

20 WINS AGAIN? ... GOING FOR FIVE
Kent State currently has a streak of four consecutive 20-win seasons, which marks the sixth time a MAC team has won 20 games in four or more straight years. Most recently, Eastern Michigan University accomplished the feat with 20-plus win seasons from 1994-98. The Golden Flashes are four wins shy of equaling the record, set by the University of Toledo (1976-81) and tied by Ball State University (1988-93), with five consecutive 20-win seasons Kent State?s 30 wins last season broke the MAC record of 29 set by Ball State in 1988-89.

GOLDEN FLASHES WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
The Golden Flashes are 12-4 this season in games decided by 10 points or less and 7-2 in games decided by five points or less. Kent State is also 13-2 this year when leading with five minutes left, but is also 4-3 when trailing with 5:00 remaining. Since the start of the 2001-02 season, the Golden Flashes are 21-7 in 10-point games and 14-5 in five-point contests.

KENT STATE RETIRES FOUR JERSEYS
At halftime of the Miami game Feb. 3, the Kent State athletics department honored the four members of last year?s men?s basketball senior class by retiring their jerseys. Honored were Trevor Huffman (24), Andrew Mitchell (12), Demetric Shaw (10) and Eric Thomas (40). During their careers, the quartet led the Golden Flashes to three NCAA Tournament appearances, one NIT bid and a four-year record of 100-31, the most wins in any four-year period in MAC history.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The Golden Flashes have made Gund Arena in Cleveland a home away from home, having won their last eight consecutive games at Gund Arena. The current streak includes the 2002 Rock-N-Roll Shootout against Boston College, three games at the 2002 MAC Tournament, the 2001 Rock-N-Roll Shootout against Cleveland State University and another three games at the 2001 MAC Tournament. Kent State?s only other game at The Gund was a 69-68 setback against Ohio University Mar. 5, 2000.

RECORD MAC REGULAR SEASON STREAK SNAPPED
With its 60-52 win at Miami University Jan. 8, the Golden Flashes set a Mid-American Conference record with their 17th consecutive regular-season MAC victory. But the streak came to an end Jan. 11 when Kent State lost 78-74 to Bowling Green. The previous mark of 16 games was owned by Miami University, set from the 1956-57 to 1958-59 seasons.

GOLDEN FLASHES TAKE FIFTH STRAIGHT IN OT
Kent State has been tough to beat in recent years, and even tougher when extra time is needed. With its wins over Southwest Missouri State University Nov. 30 and Boston College Dec. 28, the Golden Flashes have now won five in a row in overtime. KSU was a perfect 2-0 in overtime games last season, including a 78-73 OT victory in the Sweet 16 over the University of Pittsburgh and a 93-82 OT win over St. Bonaventure University at M.A.C. Center. The Golden Flashes last loss in overtime was a 89-85 setback to Cal-State Northridge in the Blue & Gold Coca-Cola Classic, Dec. 1, 2000.

GATES NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second week this season, senior forward Antonio Gates (Detroit, Mich./College of the Sequoias [Calif.]) was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week (Dec. 30). Gates was also named ?Player of the Week? by ESPN.com?s Andy Katz, in his ?The Weekly Watch? column. Gates scored a career-best 32 points to go along with nine rebounds and three assists in the Flashes? lone game during the week. He also played 43 minutes in KSU?s OT win and was 11-of-18 (.611) from the field and 9-of-10 (.900) from the line.
Gates was also named the MAC East Player of the Week Dec. 16 after he narrowly missed posting the first triple-double in school history with 20 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a win over Cleveland State University.

HAUT TABBED MAC EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior guard Eric Haut (Lansing, Mich./Walter French Academy) was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week for the third week of the 2002-03 season. He averaged 21.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals in the Golden Flashes wins over the University of Rhode Island and Illinois State University. He shot a combined .708 (17-of-24) from the floor during the week and had back-to-back career-scoring highs with 21 points at URI and 22 points against ISU.

RECORD-BREAKING 2001-02 SEASON
The Golden Flashes are coming off the best season in school and Mid-American Conference history, in which they posted a 30-6, 17-1 MAC record during the 2001-02 campaign. Following is a recap of Kent State?s accomplishments from the record-breaking season:
? Captured KSU?s second consecutive Mid-American Conference East Division championship
? Claimed third MAC Tournament title in the last four years
? Earned second straight berth in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament with wins over three ranked opponents
? Won a MAC-record 30 games
? Posted a MAC-record 21-game winning streak
? Won a MAC-record 17 conference games and claimed the league title by a record five games
? Finished the season ranked 12th in the ESPN/USA Today Top-25 poll

GATES NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-MAC TEAM
Senior forward Antonio Gates (Detroit, Mich./College of the Sequoias [Calif.]) has been named to the 2002-03 Preseason All-MAC East Division Team as voted upon by the MAC News Media Association. He enters the season as an All-America candidate after averaging 16.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, earning All-MAC second-team honors a year ago. Gates was named to the NCAA All-South Regional Team after averaging 18.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in four games, including back-to-back 22-point, eight-rebound outings against the University of Pittsburgh and Indiana University.
Also on the Preseason All-MAC Team are Ohio University senior forward Brandon Hunter, University of Akron junior guard Andy Hipsher, Marshall University junior guard Ronald Blackshear and Miami University junior guard Juby Johnson from the East Division with Ball State senior forward Theron Smith, Central Michigan University junior center Chris Kaman, Eastern Michigan University junior guard Ricky Cottrill, University of Toledo senior guard Nick Moore and Western Michigan University senior guard Robby Collum from the West Division.