The Flashes at shootaround at Butler on Friday.
I spent all day traveling from Green Bay to Indianapolis, so I’m in no shape to write a detailed preview.
Here’s what you need to know:
The game is at 7 p.m. at Hinkle Field House in Indianapolis. re directions from the Butler website. Driving time to Butler is about five-and-a-half hours. Tickets are $7. You can get curtsied tickets for $15.
The game will be streamed online on Butler’s Facebook Live Page. I have no idea whether there will even be announcers. Sometimes these things are simulcast with radio. Sometimes they just show the court from a fixed camera.
Kent State’s radio broadcast will start about 6:45 on WHLO and online at Golden Flash iHeart Radio. Jacob Pavilack is the announcer.
Butler (22-9) routed Northeastern 89-72 Thursday. The Bulldogs finished third in the Big East with an 11-7 record. Their RPI is 69 and Omni ranking 67. (RPI focuses on record and strength of schedule. Omni also takes into account wins against good competition, margin of victory and recent record.)
With the Green Bay win, Kent’s RPI increased seven spots to 76. Its Omni ranking is 114. The Flashes’ record is 20-12.
Butler led the Big East in scoring defense (57.9), field goal defense (36.8 percent), steals (328), and turnovers forced (18.6). Michelle Weaver was the Big East defensive players of the year; Tori Schickel (12.3 points and 8.9 rebounds) was second-team all-conference and coach Kurt Godlevske was Big East coach of the year.
“It’s a challenge,” Starkey said. “But at this time of year, everything’s a challenge. You’re just trying to enjoy the ride.”
Winner of the Butler-KSU game will play the winner of Sunmdauy’s game between Cincinnati, which beat Youngstown State 76-62 Thursday, and Minnesota, which beat Northern Iowa 91-75 Friday. Time and date hasn’t been determined. It will be between March 27 and March 29.
Here’s preview from Kent State’s website.
Here’s preview from Butler’s website.
Here’s preview from Record-Courier, which includes thoughts from KSU coach Todd Starkey.
Here’s an interesting story on the Green Bay WNIT game from the Green Bay Press Gazette. It quotes Kent’s Megan Carter at length. She was recruited by Green Bay coach Kevin Borseth when he was head coach at Michigan. Of the game, Borseth said, Kent State “kept coming at us.” He’s also quoted at length in the story.