In every interview since Kent State played a week ago, coach Todd Starkey has proclaimed, “We’re going to have a really good month in February.”
The Flashes have no choice as they prepare to play last-place Central Michigan at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the M.A.C. Center on ESPN3.
The team is tied for ninth place at 2-6 in the Mid-American Conference. If the MAC Tournament started today, the Flashes would be sitting at home in Kent. They’re two games behind the Northern Illinois and Bowling Green, who are tied for the eighth and final spot in the tournament field.
Kent State (10-7 overall) is within striking distance. The Flashes lost five league games in February by fewer than six points. The Flashes had a chance to every one of those games in the last minute, either leading or being within two points. A few more shots fall, and they could be 4-4 or even 6-3.
But the shots haven’t fallen. After being one of the MAC’s best-shooting teams in non-conference play, Kent State has been one of its worst in league play. Before Christmas, the Flashes were making 45% of their shots and 42% of their 3-pointers. Since then, they’re shooting 37% from the field and 28% from behind the 3-point line.
There isn’t any clear explanation. Starkey says the team has never found its rhythm in conference play.
- KSU was hit with a COVID-19 outbreak in December and wasn’t completely healthy in its first MAC games. Senior forward Lindsey Thall, the team’s leading scorer and a key on-floor leader, missed four games recovering.
- COVID problems on other teams forced the Flashes to play four different different opponents than were originally schedued as the MAC scrambled to rearrange games to keep health teams playing.
- When teams started making up games, KSU played four games in seven days, then had nine days off, played a game, then had another week off. But other teams’ schedules have been scrambled, too. Northern Illinois has played seven games in 12 days and has won three of its last four.
Starkey has promised that if the 3-point shots start falling, Kent State will start winning.
The Flashes have started to find scoring closer to the basket. Junior forward Nila Blackford, the team’s best inside threat, had been shooting 9 percentage points below her average of last season, when she was KSU’s leading scorer. Against Northern Illinois last week, she made 10-of-14 shots, scored 25 points, and had 15 rebounds. She is averaging 11.8 rebounds in MAC play, third in the league.
Kent State has had plenty of success in February in Starkey’s six years in Kent. They’re 30-20 in regular-season games after Jan. 31. That counts a 1-7 record in the 2017-18 season, Starkey’s only losing season.
Kent State will play seven of its last 12 games at home, including against Ohio, Buffalo and Northern Illinois — teams that beat the Flashes on the road.
About Central Michigan
The Chippewas have won either the MAC regular-season or MAC Tournament for the last six years. But they lost three of their best players to graduation and have struggled all season.
CMU is currently 2-8 in the MAC and 4-15 on the season. Even after a 70-59 win at Ball State last Wednesday, the Chippewas still are scoring 11.5 points fewer than their league opponents. That’s worst in the MAC by six points.
But the Ball State game shows why CMU is always dangerous. Central won without point guard Molly Davis, a preseason all-MAC selection who is fourth in the conference in scoring at 21.6 points per game. She played and scored 16 in CMU’s 70-60 loss to Akron at home on Saturday.
Central also has 6-1 senior center Jahari Smith, who leads the MAC in rebounding in conference play at 13.1 per game.
Central is giving up 72.5 points a game in MAC play, worst in the league. Kent State is allowing 61.4, third in the conference.
CMU is the only MAC team Starkey has not beaten in his time in Kent. The Chippewas have won 10 games in a row against KSU, going back to 2012.
Following the game
Besides ESPN3, the game is also on the Golden Flashes Radio Network. Statistics during and after the game can be found on the KSU website.
Preview on KSU website, including links to statistics, roster, schedule and more.