Trips to Texas, Oregon State Highlight 2016-17 Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Slate
7/26/2016 2:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
2016-17 Kent State Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
KENT, Ohio – Kent State will log more than 11,000 travel miles over the first two months of the season with marquee matchups against Texas and Oregon State highlighting trips that span from coast to coast, as head coach Rob Senderoff announced the non-conference schedule for the 2016-17 men's basketball season on Tuesday (July 26).
For the second straight year, the 13-game slate features six home games at the Memorial Athletic Convocation Center. The Golden Flashes will play three true road contests in addition to four neutral site games, which includes three matchups as part of the 2016 Gulf Coast Showcase.
Kent State could potentially face five teams that played in 2016 postseason tournaments, as well as four teams that finished the season inside the RPI's top 100 as part of the non-conference schedule.
"This year's schedule features a good mix of opponents that will have our team prepared for what is always a grueling Mid-American Conference season," Senderoff said. "Games against teams from major conferences in Texas and Oregon State, as well as a possible matchup against Houston, are great opportunities to showcase Kent State on the national stage. There are several very good mid-major programs on this schedule that expect to play in the postseason, and we will need to be prepared to compete at a high level every time we step on the floor."
The 101st season of Kent State men's basketball will get underway against Cleveland State on Saturday, November 12 at Youngstown State as part of the second annual Northeast Ohio Doubleheader Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer®. The Flashes, which play just twice at the M.A.C. Center over the first month of the season, begin the home schedule on Wednesday, November 16 against Mississippi Valley State and then host Hiram two days later, which will serve as an opening round game of the Gulf Coast Classic.
"We are really excited about the partnership that we, along with the other Division I programs in the area, have with the American Cancer Society," said Senderoff. "This is a great way to celebrate the start of the college basketball season while supporting the fight against cancer. We've had some great games against Cleveland State during my time as head coach and they provide a challenging opponent for our first game. Since there are just a few opportunities for fans to watch us in person in November, we hope to see plenty of blue and gold in the stands that night."
Kent State will leave Ohio for the first time and head to Estero, Florida to compete in the Gulf Coast Showcase right before Thanksgiving. The Flashes will meet South Dakota in a first round matchup on Monday, November 21. Either Houston or George Mason will await the Flashes the following day before concluding the tournament on Wednesday. Defending Colonial Athletic Association regular season champion Hofstra, College Basketball Invitational (CBI) semifinalist Vermont, Bradley and Wofford complete the tournament field.
"The Gulf Coast Showcase features a very good field of possible opponents," Senderoff said. "South Dakota had wins against Florida Gulf Coast, which won a NCAA First Four game last year, and Minnesota in addition to going on the road and giving Illinois a scare. Hofstra and Houston are both coming off NIT appearances and will be picked among the favorites to win their leagues. Additionally, Vermont has won 20 games in eight straight seasons, Wofford has been to the NCAA Tournament in two of the past three years and both Bradley and George Mason are looking to return to their tradition of excellence."
A trip to Northeastern on Sunday, November 27 concludes the opening month of the season.
December begins with a four-game homestand that provides fans with several opportunities to see the Flashes heading into the holidays. Grambling State starts it on Friday, December 2 and Niagara visits on Wednesday, December 7. The Purple Eagles' last visit to the M.A.C. Center in 2013 was an exciting 102-97 victory for Kent State. CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) semifinalist NJIT comes to town that Saturday for a return game after Kent State's thrilling 80-75 win on the road last season. Kent State hosts Wright State to conclude the homestand on Sunday, December 18.
A pair of road games against teams that combined for a 28-6 home record and finished among the Top 50 in the RPI last season will serve as a final tune-up for conference play. The Flashes will play a regular season contest on the West Coast for the first time since the 2009-10 season when they take on Oregon State on Wednesday, December 21. Kent State concludes its non-conference slate at Texas on Tuesday, December 27.
"We are really excited to end our non-conference schedule against Oregon State and Texas," Senderoff added. "These will be hostile road environments against Power Seven opponents and provide a great barometer for where our team stands heading into the MAC season."
After a terrific start to the 2015-16 season that saw the Flashes sitting in first place in the MAC standings at 6-1 heading into the final game of January, a multitude of injuries hampered the team en route to a 19-13 final record. Forward Jimmy Hall (16.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg), a two-time All-MAC First Team member and guards Jaylin Walker (7.7 ppg) and Deon Edwin (6.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg) are among five returning letterwinners.
Kent State's MAC schedule and ticket information will be released at a later date. Check KentStateSports.com and follow @KentStMBB on Twitter for updates throughout the next few months.
Date              Opponent                                       Location
11/12Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â vs. Cleveland State^Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Youngstown, Ohio
11/16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kent, Ohio
11/18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â HIRAM%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kent, Ohio
11/21 Â Â Â Â Â Â vs. South Dakota%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Estero, Fla.
11/22 Â Â Â Â Â Â TBD%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Estero, Fla.
11/23 Â Â Â Â Â Â TBD%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Estero, Fla.
11/27       at Northeastern                  Boston, Mass.
12/2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â GRAMBLING STATE Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kent, Ohio
12/7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NIAGARAÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kent, Ohio
12/10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NJITÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kent, Ohio
12/18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â WRIGHT STATE Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kent, Ohio
12/21        at Oregon State                              Corvallis, Ore.
12/27        at Texas                                           Austin, Texas
Home games in BOLD caps
^ Northeast Ohio Doubleheader Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer
% Gulf Coast Showcase
