Men's Basketball Post Season
8/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
THE KENT STATE EXPERIENCE
Post Season Success | 20-Win Seasons | Flashes in the Pros | Basketball Family
Game Day in the M.A.C. | Locker Room Facility | Academics
POST SEASON SUCCESS
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NCAA
1999 • 2001 • 2002 • 2006 • 2008 NIT 1985 • 1989 • 1990 • 2000 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2010
CIT
2009 |
2007-08
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| Mike Scott |
Record: 27-8
Coach: Jim Christian
MAC Record: 15-3 (1st, East)
MAC Regular Season Champions
MAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Tournament
With a fifth NCAA appearance in the past 10 years, a 10th straight 20-win season, the program's first ever regular season national ranking, win No. 1,000 and a third outright MAC title, the 2007-08 was a historical season was full of milestones. The preseason favorite by many to win the MAC, Kent State did not disappoint, claiming both the regular season and tournament crowns while posting 28 wins - the second most in school history. Kent State earned its first ever regular season national ranking, peaking at No. 23/24 in the Associated Press and Coaches Poll after a 65-57 win in an ESPNU BracketBuster at No. 23 Saint Mary's (CA). One game prior the Golden Flashes claimed win No. 1,000 for the program. After recording the third victory of the year over arch rival Akron to win the MAC Championship, the season accomplishments continued. With a No. 9 seed, Kent State had earned the highest NCAA Tournament seed in school history. The monumental season was sure to produce individual accolades. After not joining the team until late August, junior Al Fisher had one of the finest debut season in league history earning MAC Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American honors. Senior Haminn Quaintance was selected as the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Mike Scott capped off his brilliant career with a Second Team All-MAC nod. In addition Head Coach Jim Christian received his second Coach of the Year award.
2005-06
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| DeAndre Haynes |
Record: 25-9
Coach: Jim Christian
MAC Record: 15-3 (1st, East)
MAC Regular Season Champions
MAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Tournament
After being picked by many to finish in the middle of the pack in the MAC, the 2005-06 Golden Flashes looked like they were well on their way to making the prognosticators right with a 6-5 mark in December. But then the calendar changed to 2006 and the Golden Flashes ran off 19 victories in their final 23 games, surpassing the 20-win plateau for the eighth straight year and posting the second winningest season in school history en route to a sweep of the MAC regular season and MAC Tournament championships and an NCAA Tournament berth. The Flashes also took home three top awards in the conference, with senior guard DeAndre Haynes earning MAC Player of the Year accolades, senior Kevin Warzysnki winning the MAC Sixth Man of the Year award and Jim Christian being tabbed as the league's Coach of the Year. Haynes was joined on the All-MAC First Team by classmate Jay Youngblood.
2004-05
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| Kevin Warzynski |
Record: 20-13
Coach: Jim Christian
MAC Record: 11-7 (2nd, East)
NIT Participant
A year after establishing a MAC record with a sixth straight 20 win season, the Golden Flashes were at it again in 2004-05, turning in a 20-13 record – 20 wins for the seventh straight year – while also setting a MAC record with a seventh consecutive postseason tournament berth. After stumbling in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament, Kent State received its third nod to the National Invitation Tournament in as many years. In the last seven seasons, Kent State has appeared in three NCAA Tournaments and four NITs. Senior Jason Edwin paced the Golden Flashes and earned All-MAC honorable mention, as did junior Kevin Warzynski, just two of the six Golden Flashes to average better than six points per game.
2003-04
Record: 22-9
John Edwards
Coach: Jim Christian
MAC Record: 13-5 (1st, East)
NIT Participant
The 2003-04 Golden Flashes proved the slogan “Tradition Never Graduates” is alive at Kent State. The Golden Flashes put together a record-breaking season, winning 20 games for a MAC-record sixth straight season. One of the most team-oriented squads in the nation, KSU earned a second straight berth in the National Invitation Tournament and played in the MAC Tournament championship game for the fifth time in the last six years. John Edwards led a balanced attack, developing into an All-MAC First Team performer and the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, to pace Kent State to a 22-9 record and a 13-5 conference mark, winning a fourth consecutive MAC East Division championship, after a third-place pick in the preseason poll.
2002-03
Record: 22-9
Coach: Jim Christian
MAC Record: 12-6 (1st, East)
NIT Participant
The 2002-03 squad fell just short in a bid for a third straight NCAA Tournament, but still turned in a memorable campaign. Despite the loss of four seniors from the previous year, KSU won 20-games in a season for the fifth straight year, tying the MAC record, while also posting a 12-6 record in the conference, winning the MAC East for a third consecutive year after being picked third in the preseason poll. Kent State exploded out of the gate, led by All-MAC First Team selection Antonio Gates, runner-up for MAC Player of the Year honors and an All-American. The Golden Flashes played in the MAC Tournament championship for the third straight year.
2001-02
Record: 30-6
Coach: Stan Heath
MAC Record: 17-1 (1st, East)
MAC Regular Season Champions
MAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Tournament “Elite Eight”
The 2001-02 Kent State men's basketball team turned in the best season in MAC history, advancing to the NCAA Tournament “Elite Eight” with wins against three top-25 opponents; No. 20 Oklahoma State (69-61), No. 8 Alabama (71-58) and No. 7 Pittsburgh (78-73). Kent State earned the first MAC regular season championship in school history, posting a MAC-record 17-1 league record. The Golden Flashes also won a MAC-record 21 consecutive games, en route to another MAC record with 30 overall victories. Kent State was ranked 12th in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. The senior class of Trevor Huffman, Andrew Mitchell, Demetric Shaw and Eric Thomas graduated as the all-time winningest class in MAC history. Huffman and Mitchell were named to the All-MAC First Team, with Huffman earning his second straight MAC Tournament MVP honor and Shaw his second consecutive MAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Stan Heath also won MAC Coach of the Year honors.
2000-01
Record: 24-10
Coach: Gary Waters
MAC Record: 13-5 (1st, East)
MAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Tournament
The 2000-01 Golden Flashes turned in the best campaign to date in program history, claiming their first-ever MAC East Division championship, after being picked to finish second in the preseason poll. Kent State also won its second MAC Tournament championship in the last three years, advancing to the NCAA Tournament with a record 24 wins on the year. In the NCAAs, Kent State earned its first tournament victory with a 76-71 come-from-behind win against Indiana in San Diego. The Golden Flashes won the MAC Tournament with a 67-61 victory against Miami, led by MAC Tournament MVP and All-MAC First Team performer Trevor Huffman and MAC Defensive Player of the Year Demetric Shaw.
1999-00
Record: 23-8
Coach: Gary Waters
MAC Record: 13-5 (2nd, East)
NIT Participant
On the heels of a record-breaking season, the Golden Flashes proved not to be a one-hit wonder, posting another 23-win season, tying the previous year's record for wins in a season. Kent State advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament, posting victories against Big East opponents Rutgers and Villanova along the way. Gary Waters won a second-consecutive MAC Coach of the Year honor, after guiding Kent State and sophomore guard Andrew Mitchell to a 13-5 MAC record and a second place finish in the MAC East. John Whorton and Trevor Huffman capped their seasons by being named to the All-MAC Second Team.
1998-99
Record: 23-7
Coach: Gary Waters
MAC Record: 13-5 (2nd, East)
MAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Tournament
The 1998-99 Golden Flashes captured the school's first-ever MAC Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history with a 49-43 victory against Miami in the championship game. The team established a school-record for wins in a season, finishing second in the MAC East after being picked sixth in the preseason poll. Head coach Gary Waters was named the MAC Coach of the Year and the program had three All-MAC performers for the first time in history, led by John Whorton, a second-team selection, who also was named the MAC Tournament MVP.
