Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas – Wildcard Edition
Kent State will try to extend its seven-game winning streak when it travels to Ohio for a MAC game on Friday night. The Golden Flashes have only lost three games this season, with two of those losses coming against national powerhouses Gonzaga and Houston. Ohio bounced back from a two-game losing streak with a 76-71 win against Ball State on Tuesday.
Kent State got off to a strong start this season, winning each of its first five games. The Golden Flashes proceeded to lose three of their next four games, but two of those losses came against then-No. 2 Houston and then-No. 18 Gonzaga, both of which have improved in the polls since then. Their other loss came in a 74-72 final against Charleston in November, which was also on the road. They have won all seven of their games since their loss to Gonzaga on Dec. 5, including a trio of conference wins against Western Michigan, Miami (Ohio) and Toledo. Kent State has been favored in every game during its winning streak, including a 4-point favorite in its 75-63 win against Toledo.
#RankKentState
The Golden Flashes just beat Toledo by 12, moving their win streak to seven.
Their only losses are to ranked teams… Charleston by 2, Houston by 5, Gonzaga by 7.
Flashes have double digit wins against NKU, Portland, S Dakota St, NMSU, and now Toledo. 13-3.
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) January 11, 2023
The Golden Flashes are still hoping to improve on their shooting numbers, as they are No. 239 in the country in KenPom’s effective field goal percentage (48.8) rankings. They are also struggling on the offensive glass, but they are shooting 76.3% from the charity stripe and have a low turnover rate. Kent State is facing an Ohio defense that is No. 214 in adjusted efficiency. Senior guard Sincere Carry leads Kent State with 17.7 points, 4.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. Senior guard Malique Jacobs is averaging 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists, while senior forward Miryne Thomas is chipping in 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. They are one of the most experienced teams in the country (No. 51 of 363), but they are No. 346 in average height.