An unexpected coaching change rocked the Kent State program a year ago.
While there won't be a change at the top this time around, the Golden Flashes will have a much different look next season.
Kent State will lose the core of the team that finished 21-12 in its first season under coach Rob Senderoff, who moved up from an assistant when Geno Ford left the Golden Flashes to take the top job at Bradley days after the 2010-11 season ended. Kent State advanced to the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament and earned an appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
The players had to adjust a new coach this season, and now it will be Senderoff who must adjust to several roster changes. Seniors Justin Greene, Carlton Guyton and Michael Porrini will be moving on, and their production will have to be replaced. Greene was the team's leading scorer and rebounder while being named first team all-conference. Guyton was Kent State's third-leading scorer, while Porrini led the team in assists and was second in rebounding and fifth in scoring.
Kent State will have its most inexperienced team in several years next season. Guard Randal Holt and reserve forward Chris Evans are the only returning players who saw significant playing time. When 2012-13 begins, Senderoff will rely on players who sat on the end of the bench, two transfers who sat out the season and four incoming recruits.
On paper, it appears Kent State will take a step backward next season, but that might not be a bad thing. Senderoff, a long-time assistant in the program, was the players' choice to take over when Ford left. In fact, some of the players talked about transferring if Senderoff wasn't promoted. Everything appeared to be fine when the school administration made the decision to move Senderoff into the top job.
Kent State began the season with an impressive victory at West Virginia and won eight of its first nine games. However, the Golden Flashes split their last four games going into league play and lost three of their first five in the conference, including blowout losses at Ohio and Akron.
Senderoff publicly questioned his team's effort on several occasions and met with the veterans following the Akron game to clear the air. It appeared the season turned around when Kent State won seven in a row, but six of those wins came against the weak West Division, and the momentum from the hot stretch didn't last.
The Golden Flashes lost three in a row, causing Senderoff to bench Greene, Porrini and Holt to start a crucial late-season game against Ohio. Kent State won that game but dropped the season finale to Akron when the three players were put back into the starting lineup.
The Golden Flashes managed to defeat Western Michigan in the second round of the MAC tournament but lost to Akron for the third straight time in the semifinals. The Golden Flashes landed in the CIT but didn't meet the bid with much enthusiasm. Kent State was never in the game in a 73-58 loss at South Carolina Upstate.
When it comes to numbers and experience, Kent State will have a lot of holes to fill next season. Given the disconnect between Senderoff and the departing players, it will be interesting to see what the 2012-13 season brings for the Golden Flashes.
NOTES, QUOTES
20-win season leaves Golden Flashes in good company
--Kent State has won at least 20 games in 13 of the last 14 seasons, which puts the Golden Flashes in some elite company. Kansas, Duke, Syracuse, Gonzaga, Kentucky, Creighton and Florida are the only other programs to accomplish the feat. Kent State has also recorded at least 10 conference wins in 14 consecutive seasons. Kansas, Gonzaga and Creighton are the only other programs that have reached the same level.
--Kent State usually plays well in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference, but that changed this season. The Golden Flashes were 4-6 against East teams and lost all five road games in the division. Not only did the Golden Flashes struggle in the division, but they weren't even competitive against some of their main rivals. Kent State lost by 21 points at Ohio, 14 points at Bowling Green and nine points at Akron. This was a season in which the Golden Flashes truly lost control of the division they have ruled in the past.
--While the Golden Flashes struggled against the East, they once again dominated the West Division. Kent State swept the West for the fourth consecutive season, and it has won 30 consecutive games in cross-divisional play. The Golden Flashes haven't lost to a West Division team since a 79-57 defeat at Western Michigan on Feb. 11, 2007.
FINAL RECORD: 21-12, 10-6, fourth in Mid-American Conference East.
2011-12 SEASON RECAP: High expectations surrounded the Golden Flashes when practice began in October. A senior-dominated roster, anchored by Justin Greene, Michael Porrini and Carlton Guyton, was expected to lead the Golden Flashes to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in four years. It would be unfair to call a season that ended with a 21-12 record a washout, but the Golden Flashes fell short of their goals. Kent State didn't win its third straight regular-season conference title. The Golden Flashes fell in the semifinals of the MAC tournament, something they haven't won since the 2007-08 season. Kent State lost six of its last eight games to close the season, including a defeat to USC Upstate in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The loss to Akron still hurts, and it probably will until next season." -- Guard Randal Holt, in the Akron Beacon-Journal, regarding the Golden Flashes' defeat in the Mid-American Conference tournament. Kent State lost all three games to its archrival this season.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THE GOOD NEWS: Kent State will bring in four recruits, including one junior college transfer. Khaliq Spicer, a 6-foot-9 center from Dearborn Heights, Mich., and Chris Ortiz, a 6-7 power forward from Brooklyn. N.Y., are two-star recruits (ESPN.com). Kellon Thomas is a 5-11 point guard from Indianapolis. Darren Goodson, a 6-5 forward, is a Cincinnati native who played at Pensacola State College this season. Transfers Bryson Pope, a 6-6 guard, and Justin Brunswick, a 6-10 forward, will be eligible after sitting out this season. There will be ample opportunity for all six to get playing time in 2012-13.
THE BAD NEWS: Kent State will lose plenty of production. The numbers from F Justin Greene (14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 49.8 shooting percentage from the field), PG Michael Porrini (9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists) and SG Carlton Guyton (10.1 points, 3.6 assists, 39.6 percent shooting on 3-pointers) must be replaced. C Justin Manns, who averaged 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds, is another senior who is moving on.
KEY RETURNEES: G Randal Holt and F Chris Evans will be the top scoring threats. G Eric Gaines, who missed six games because of a knee injury, will see a lot of time in the backcourt. G Kris Brewer, F Patrick Jackson and F Mark Henniger will also be in line for more playing time.
PLAYER NOTES:
--Junior G Randal Holt will be the leading returning scorer. He averaged 12.7 points, good for second on the team. Holt led the team with 73 3-pointers and shot 43.5 percent from behind the arc. He was third on the team with 45 steals.
--Junior F Chris Evans, a junior-college transfer, was a big hit in his first season with the program. He averaged 9.5 points and shot 54.3 percent from the field. Evans runs the floor well, and many of his baskets were the result of fast breaks and dunks. He also averaged 4.1 rebounds.
--Sophomore G Eric Gaines, who was limited to 26 games because of a knee injury, is the team's best defender in the backcourt. He averaged 4.3 points and hit 36.7 percent of his 3-pointers.
--Junior F Patrick Jackson, a transfer from Rutgers, was unable to crack coach Rob Senderoff's rotation on a consistent basis. He appeared in all 33 games but averaged only 13 minutes. Jackson averaged 2.8 points. 2.5 rebounds and shot 44.4 percent.
--Freshman G Kris Brewer appeared in 28 games and averaged 2.5 points while hitting 47.4 percent of his 3-point tries.
--Sophomore F Mark Henniger made seven starts and appeared in 23 games. He averaged 2.4 points and shot 50 percent from the field.
