Cardinals will face one of MACs best
By DOUG ZALESKI
dzaleski@thestarpress.com
MUNCIE ? A strong case could be made for Brandon Hunter of Ohio, Chris Kaman of Central Michigan and Antonio Gates of Kent State being the three most difficult players for teams to match up against in the Mid-American Conference.
Hunter, a 6-foot-7 power forward, had 33 points and 13 rebounds last week in a game against Ball State. Kaman, a 7-foot center who will play against the Cardinals on Feb. 19 and March 8, has averaged 24.9 points and 12.4 rebounds during a stretch of seven straight double-doubles.
As good as Hunter and Kaman have been, Ball State coach Tim Buckley thinks Gates is better. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior power forward, who is as agile as he is strong, will lead Kent State (17-3, 10-2 MAC East) against Ball State (10-11, 5-6 MAC West) at 7 p.m. today in Worthen Arena.
"In my opinion, they have the best player in the conference in Antonio Gates," Buckley said.
"He can run the point and beat you off the dribble, he can come off the pick-and-roll, or he can post you up," he said. "He might be the most difficult matchup the MAC has seen in some time. He's right there with a Bonzi Wells-type guy, and maybe a little better ballhandler at the same stage than Bonzi was."
The left-handed Gates started his career at Michigan State as a tight end in football.
He transferred to Eastern Michigan and played one season of basketball, averaging 10.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in 1999-2000. He attended College of the Sequoias in California (he didn't play basketball) for a year before transferring to Kent State for the 2001-02 season.
Gates helped Kent State reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament last year. He had 14 points and six rebounds as the Golden Flashes beat the Cardinals 81-54 last season.
"I remember him last year being very aggressive," said Cardinals forward Rob Owens, who could be one of the players assigned to guard Gates. "He scored on a lot of slashing moves. If I guard him, I have to keep him in front of me and not let him body me up."
Gates ranks sixth in the MAC in scoring (21.0), seventh in rebounding (8.1) and seventh in assists (4.2).
Kent State is 27-3 in MAC games the past two seasons. The Golden Flashes are 9-1 on the road this year, and they have won 13 consecutive road games against conference opponents.
The Cardinals also will be tested by a team that leads the nation in three-point shooting (.428) and is second field-goal percentage (.506).
A Ball State victory would be its sixth in eight games and even its overall and MAC records.
"I give our guys a lot of credit; they're the only reason we've come out of this thing," Buckley said. "They've continued to work hard and buy in and work to get better."
This article shows the most deserving respect being shown to Antonio Gates. They exactly tell you way he`s so good....with his shot, ball handling, and court smarts.
Probable starters
Ball State
Matt McCollom, So., G, 6-2
Chris Williams, Sr., G, 6-3
Rob Owens, Jr., F, 6-7
Cam Echols, Jr., F, 6-8
Kevin Cates, Fr., C, 6-9
Kent State
Anthony Wilkins, Sr., G, 6-7
DeAndre Haynes, Fr., G, 6-2
Eric Haut, Jr., G, 6-0
Antonio Gates, Sr., F, 6-5
Nate Gerwig, So., C, 6-9
Clearly you can see Kent St runs a guard set offense and has a size and speed advantage. Is that a problem for Ball St??? YES - Here`s why....
Anytime this season Ball St played a team where the offense revolves around the guard...they have TERRIBLY struggled.
Against Dayton Ramod Marshall got 23 points and was 3-5 from 3 point range....
Against Xavier David West rippppped them. They contained him in the 1st half...but in the 2nd half...different story. He had 24 points!!! And almost all of them were in the 2nd half...he was 10-11 from the field
Against Indiana...well this isnt real fair....but Bracey Wright really made a name for himself thanks to the Ball St game. Wright scored 13 points in a decisive four-minute stretch, tied a career-high with 31 points and hit five 3-pointers
Against Derrick Tarver scored 33 points, including a pair of crucial free throws in the closing seconds, as Akron beat Ball State 105-104 in overtime Saturday despite 48 points from the Cardinals' Chris Williams.
Okay.....I think you all get my point....Ball St has a weak defense. Everytime they run zone, it just seems like they get back too late...I dunno that might just be me. This Ball St team gets into foul trouble when facing adversity....Someone like Antonio Gates is gonna drive the lane and get Cameron Echols or Matt McCollom into foul trouble.
Now granted Ball St has been playing very well at home and Ball St does draw great crowds and have great fan support...but Kent St has been tested on the road last year and this year. The leadership on this team is beyond what you`d expect...they play with emotion, with heart, and with a sense of urgency. Now yes I know NIU beat them at home....but NIU just wouldnt miss really and Kent was. When I said I like Bates on Haut, I knew it was gonna come in...and thats what happened. Tonight, Ball St doesnt have a great defensive player like Bates from NIU...instead they`ll have Chris Williams on Haut. And I know for a fact Ball St will run zone because neither Williams or Matt Mccollom will be able to guard Gates....
Now the last few MAC nights....Vegas has set odd lines....Northern -1 to +2 at Buffalo....CMU -1 to +2 against WMU.....last night with EMU...and tonight with Kent. Luckly we have hit 2 out of the 3 and I say 3 out of 4 is gonna happen....
