Flashes Picked Second in MAC Preseason Poll
11/1/2023 1:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Kent State Men's Basketball team was picked second in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced earlier today.
Kent State grad student Chris Payton was nominated to the preseason All-MAC First Team. The Golden Flashes forward appeared in 34 games, starting in 4 during the 2022-23 season. Payton averaged 6.7 points per game and recorded an impressive 73 percent from the field.
The MAC's reigning Sixth Man of the Year, junior Jalen Sullinger, was nominated to the preseason All-MAC Second team. Sullinger appeared in 35 games, the Golden Flashes junior ended last year's season ranking fourth in scoring, averaging 8.6 points shooting 47 percent, and ranking third in threes made while shooting 43 percent from behind the arc.
Head Coach Rob Senderoff completed his 12th season as Kent State's head coach and ranks as the all-time winningest coach in program history with 247 wins. Senderoff ended this past season with a total of eight seasons with 20+ wins, including a 22-game win streak at home, the second-longest in MAC history, and led the Golden Flashes to victory at the MAC Championship Tournament. The team made their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament
Mike Bekelja a redshirt junior transfer from Duquesne, and brother of former MAC Player of the Year Sincere Carry is gearing up to contribute to the Golden Flashes this season. Giovanni Santiago is another piece of the Golden Flashes that is expected to help the squad make another MAC Championship appearance. The senior guard appeared in 23 games and started in all 23 during the 2022-23 season, averaging 7.8 points in games.
The Golden Flashes continue to look to strengthen their team with a new group of freshmen that includes LA Hayes, Donovan Hunter. The Flashes will also add two transfers, Tyem Freeman and Reggie Bass. Bass, a transfer from Central Michigan, who is the reigning MAC's Freshmen of the Year, competed in 30 games and made 28 starts while averaging 12.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Freeman, the Indian Hills to Kent State pipeline hopes to be fruitful again after the successes of Chris Payton, Malique Jacobs, Kevin Zabo, and Antonio Williams. Freeman was named to the National Junior College Association of America first-team All-American as a freshman at Indian Hills CC after he averaged 18.1 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 52.2 percent from the field. He also led Indian Hills to a 21-3 record, a Region XI Championship, and a no. 6 overall ranking.
Kent State will open its 2023-24 with the first games being at the M.A.C. Center starting Monday, Nov. 6, at the against Malone. Followed by James Madison on Nov. 9 and Fresno State on Nov. 11.
2023-24 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason
Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)
1 Akron (11) - 121
2 Kent State - 104
3 Ohio (1) - 102
4 Toledo - 93
5 Northern Illinois - 82
T6. Bowling Green - 64
T6. Miami - 64
7 Ball State - 55
8 Buffalo - 38
9 Western Michigan - 33
10 Eastern Michigan - 22
11 Central Michigan – 14
2023-24 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Ali Ali, Guard, Akron, Sr.
Enrique Freeman, Forward, Akron, Sr.
Chris Payton, Forward, Kent State, Grad.
David Coit, Guard, Northern Illinois, Jr.
Jaylin Hunter, Guard, Ohio, Sr.
Second Team
Tyson Acuff, Guard, Eastern Michigan, Jr.
Jalen Sullinger, Guard, Kent State, Jr.
Anderson Mirambeaux, Center, Miami, Sr.
AJ Brown, Guard, Ohio, So.
Dante Maddox Jr., Guard, Toledo, Jr.
Follow the Flashes
Tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale now. Season tickets are also available and start at $85. Ticket renewals before Monday, Nov. 6, are valid for the incentive program this year. For any questions regarding ticket information, email athletictickets@kent.edu or call 330-672-4455.
For more information on the men's basketball team, follow Kent State Men's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram, and visit kentstatesports.com for additional updates.
