Kent State Releases 2008-09 Men?s Basketball Schedule
9/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Golden Flashes to face eight post season teams including national champ Kansas
KENT, Ohio An early December trip to defending national champion Kansas and match-ups against seven other postseason teams highlight the 2008-09 Kent State men's basketball schedule. The Golden Flashes will take part in the South Padre Island Invitational and host an ESPNU BracketBuster game at the M.A.C. Center.
“We have put together a demanding schedule that will test us early in the year and help us prepare for an always competitive Mid-American Conference season,” said Geno Ford who is beginning his first season as the Golden Flashes' Head Coach, “Plus with a full slate of 15 home games at the M.A.C. Center it gives our fans plenty of opportunities to come out and support the team in our pursuit of a second straight conference title.”
One of just seven programs in the country to have won at least 20 games in each of the past 10 seasons, Kent State will be challenged from the start with a non-conference slate consisting of 14 teams that combined for a .570 winning percentage and four NCAA appearances.
The Ford era officially begins on Nov. 17 when KSU hosts North Carolina Central as part of the South Padre Island Invitational. A visit to the M.A.C. Center from UNC Wilmington (Nov. 23), which posted the nation's biggest turnaround in 2007-08 (13 games), is also part of the tournament and follows the Golden Flashes return trip to Saint Louis on Nov. 19.
The Invitational concludes on the Texas Gulf Coast after the Thanksgiving Holiday when Kent State faces Illinois on Nov. 28 and either Texas A&M or Tulsa on Nov. 29. Both A&M and Tulsa won 25 games last season as the Aggies reached the NCAA Tournament and the Golden Hurricane won the inaugural College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Tournament.
The road trip continues the following Monday on Dec. 1 when KSU enters legendary Phog Allen Fieldhouse to take on Kansas in a national televised ESPNU broadcast.
Entering the season having won 16 straight and 24 of the last 25 at home, the Golden Flashes will gladly welcome a return to the M.A.C. Center after the three game road swing. A rematch from last season's thrilling ESPN BracketBuster game against Saint Mary's (CA) begins a season long four game home stand when the Gaels come to Kent on Dec. 4. Western Carolina visits on Dec. 6 before a contest against local rival Youngstown State (Dec. 15) and a return game from UNC Greensboro (Dec. 18).
The team is on the road for the remaining non-league schedule traveling to N.I.T. participant Cleveland State (Dec. 23) before heading to the East coast after the first of the year for games at Hampton (Jan. 3) and Atlantic 10 Champ Temple (Jan. 5).
Kent State begins its quest for the 2009 MAC title when league play begins Jan. 11 at Ohio. The Golden Flashes then host Bowling Green (Jan. 14) and Miami (Jan. 17) before traveling to Buffalo (Jan. 21) and Akron (Jan. 24) during the first swing through MAC East competition.
Games against the MAC West this season consist of home games against Eastern Michigan (Jan. 27), Toledo (Feb. 3) and Central Michigan (Feb. 14). KSU will travel to Western Michigan (Jan. 31), Ball State (Feb. 7) and Northern Illinois (Feb. 10).
After welcoming Ohio on Feb. 17, the Golden Flashes play host to an ESPNU BrackBuster opponent to be named in early February. Kent State, which has participated in the event for the past seven seasons, has won its last three BracketBuster match-ups.
The final push for the MAC regular season championship continues with road games at Bowling Green (Feb. 26) and Miami (Mar. 1) before concluding at home against Buffalo (Mar. 5) and Akron (Mar. 8). This year will mark the fourth straight season the Golden Flashes and the Zips have met in the regular season finale.
The MAC Tournament (Mar. 11-14) once again takes place at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Last year the Golden Flashes went 28-7 and won the MAC regular season and tournament championships on their way to a fifth NCAA appearance in the last 10 seasons.
