Men's Basketball Announces 2004-05 Schedule
9/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Complete Schedule
KENT, Ohio The Kent State University men's basketball team opens the 2004-05 season at Marquette's Blue and Gold Pepsi Classic Nov. 19-20, tipping off this year's schedule announced today (Sept. 17). The Golden Flashes slate includes contests against six postseason teams from last season and a third straight home game in ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday (Feb. 19).
The Golden Flashes, who won their fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference East Division title, advanced to a national postseason tournament for the sixth straight time last year and set a MAC-record with a sixth consecutive 20-win season, tipoff the season with three straight on the road, first against Binghamton Friday, Nov. 19, in the Blue and Gold Pepsi Classic in Milwaukee, Wis. Kent State will then face either host Marquette or Sam Houston State the following day.
The Flashes then play four games as part of the Corpus Christi Challenge, beginning with a game in Norfolk, Va., against Old Dominion, Monday, Nov. 22. Kent State then makes its season debut at the M.A.C. Center, Wednesday, Nov. 24, for a Thanksgiving special against Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The challenge concludes in Corpus Christi, Texas, where Kent State plays Florida State, Saturday, Nov. 27, and Shawnee State, Sunday, Nov. 28.
Sandwiched in the middle of KSU's non-conference schedule is the MAC regular season opener against Central Michigan, Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center. Following that home game, the Golden Flashes play two away, first at Creighton, Tuesday, Dec. 7, the return contest from last year's ESPN Bracket Buster game, followed by a game at regional rival Cleveland State, Saturday, Dec. 11. KSU returns home against Notre Dame (Ohio) College, Wednesday, Dec. 22, before playing its final game of 2004 at Boston College, Wednesday, Dec. 29. It is the second straight season Kent State will face the Eagles in Boston, Mass.
Kent State's final regular-season non-conference game will be Feb. 19 when it hosts a game in ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday for the third consecutive season. The opponent for that game will be announced a few weeks prior to the game. Kent State's previous two ESPN Bracket Buster games have been nationally-televised on ESPN2 in front sellout crowds of 6,327. Last year, Kent State defeated Creighton 70-55, while in 2003 Kent State lost a one-point game to Hawai'i 79-78.
The Flashes start the road conference schedule Jan. 2 at Ball State. Kent State plays the MAC East teams and West Division opponent Central Michigan twice. Local-rival Akron visits the M.A.C. Center Feb. 26, while the Golden Flashes travel to J.A.R. Arena Feb. 9. The Flashes take on defending MAC champion Western Michigan Jan. 12 in Kalamazoo, Mich. and will close the regular season March 5 at home against Ohio.
"We feel that we have put together a formidable non-conference schedule with top-quality opponents, including numerous postseason participants," third-year coach Jim Christian said. "We believe that playing a strong non-conference schedule prepares us for the rigors of a demanding MAC schedule."
For the fifth straight year, the MAC Tournament will be held at Gund Arena in Cleveland. All 13 teams are included in the tournament, with first round games March 7 at campus sites. The quarterfinals through the championship game will be March 10-12 at Gund Arena.
The Golden Flashes have two starters and five letterwinners back from last year's team that was 22-9 overall and 13-5 in conference play. KSU is looking to extend its own MAC record with a seventh straight 20-win season and a fifth straight MAC East Division crown. The Golden Flashes also are in search of a MAC-record seventh consecutive postseason berth.
