Kent State sees UH as major challenge
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Out to prove that it is not just Golden Flashes in the pan, the Kent State men's basketball team is promoting today's Bracket Buster game against Hawai'i as "one of the big games of the season."
The Golden Flashes will host the Rainbow Warriors in one of nine Bracket Buster games created by ESPN. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. (Hawai'i time), and will be televised live on ESPN2.
"We don't get too many opportunities to play a good team like Hawai'i, much less on national TV," Kent State head coach Jim Christian said. "We're looking at this as a great situation."
Over the past four seasons, the Golden Flashes have been one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division I. They have four consecutive 20-win seasons, and are 18-5 so far this season.
What's more, Kent State is 43-5 in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center since the start of the 1999-2000 season.
But the Golden Flashes are considered one of the "mid-major" programs from the Mid-American Conference, and until today, none of their home games had ever been televised nationally.
The MAC Center seats 6,327, and the largest crowd of the season is expected today (there have been no sellouts this season). Kent State officials are also asking the fans to wear gold.
"It's a pretty big thing around here," Christian said.
The Golden Flashes came up big last season, advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, and finishing with a 30-6 record. They lost the top four scorers from that team, and head coach Stan Heath, who is now the head coach at Arkansas.
Christian, who was an assistant coach on last season's team, has maintained the winning tradition.
"I look at them as an upper division WAC team," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "They know how to win, and they're very good at home."
Kent State may also have more at stake. The Golden Flashes are listed as a "bubble" team for the NCAA Tournament by ESPN.com.
"We're going to play a quality team on national TV," Christian said. "From that standpoint, this is one of the big games of the season for us."
However, the Golden Flashes may be without their big player, Antonio Gates. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior forward has not practiced since bruising his knee in Tuesday's victory over Buffalo. He played six minutes in that game.
"We're still awaiting word on it," Christian said. "It'll be a game-day decision."
Gates leads Kent State in scoring (20.7 points per game) and rebounding (7.8), and is second in assists (4.2).
"He's a really unique player because of his size and what he can do with the basketball," Christian said. "We use him anywhere from point guard to (power) forward."
If Gates is unable to play, junior Brian Bedford would likely fill his starting spot. Bedford, who is 6-4 and 230 pounds, averages 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
With Gates on the bench for most of the game, the Golden Flashes still routed Buffalo, 98-55, on Tuesday.
"Everybody contributed, so that was a real good win," Christian said. "We'll need that again."
For the 'Bows, today's game may also hold postseason significance. Hawai'i is 14-8, and Wallace said a bid to the National Invitation Tournament could hinge on today's result.
"For our identity and exposure, this is an important game," Wallace said. "It would be considered a quality win if we can get it."
• Campbell sick: UH point guard Mark Campbell has been battling flu-like symptoms the past few days but is still expected to start.
Wallace used 10 players in Wednesday's 73-71 home victory over Nevada, and said he will probably use a similar rotation today. In particular, sophomore forwards Vaidotas Peciukas and Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan are expected to see extended time off the bench.
• Uniforms found: Hawai'i's game jerseys, which did not arrive with the team on Thursday, were recovered yesterday.
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