[BillBradley]

Stanford takes on the Golden Flashes from Kent State tonight at Maples - at 6:00 on ESPN2.  Stanford favored by 6.5, O/U is 141.5, implied score is 74-67.5.  Kent has a record of 23-11, 9-5 on the road.  They finished 3rd in the Mid-American Conference and lost in the semi-finals of the MAC tourney.  In league play, Kent went 0-2 vs. Akron (a 13 seed in the NCAA tourney), and 0-3 (the 3rd loss coming in the MAC tourney) vs. Miami (of Ohio).  In their non-leagues games, losses included Alabama, Auburn, & UC Irvine.  Kent's best win was the 1st round NIT victory at St. Bonaventure.  Net rankings are 81 for Stanford and 128 for the Flashes.

In the other San Francisco region game, Loyola Chicago is at USF at 4:00 - also on ESPN2.  the winners of these 2 games will play in the regional final on Tuesday or Wednesday night.

A look at the MAC team stats would indicate that Kent's success depends on defense.  They led the league in scoring defense (68.0ppg).  This might be partially due to pace of play, but they also led the league in opponent's FG% (41.8) and were 2nd in opponent's 3pt FG% (31.5).  They were also 3rd in rebounds (37.1), 1st in rebounding margin (+5.1), and 3rd in steals (7.6).

Probable starters for the Golden Flashes are:
#13 Jalen Sullinger (5'10/167 Sr G) a 2-year starter, he was the MAC 6th man of the Year as a soph and 3rd-team All-MAC as a jr.  Leads Kent with 15.3ppg and 79 3s (37.4%);
#1 Von Cameron Davis (6'5/229 RSr F) another 2-year starter, scoring 14.6ppg;
#23 Delrecco Gillespie (6'8/216 Jr F) Leading rebounder (7.8), scores 8.0ppg on 58.8%FG shooting;
#11 Cian Medley (5'11/165 So G) transfer from St. Louis, assist leader (4.1), 7.4ppg;
#15 Mike Bakelja (6'0/184 Gr G) transfer from Duquesne, 2-year starter.

Rounding out Kent's 8-man rotation are:
#2 Marquis Bennett (6'4/195 Sr G) transfer from Presbyterian, where he was All-big South as a jr., 8.6ppg;
#42 Cli'Ron Hornbeak (6'9/238 Sr C) 7.7ppg (on 64.1%FG shooting), 6.1 rpg, picks up almost 3 fouls/game in an average of about 20 minutes of action;
#4 Jamal Sumlin (6'3/180 RSo G) transfer from NW Florida St. College, where he was Panhandle Conference Co-PoY, 5.7ppg.

Against St. Bonaventure, Kent scored 21 points on fast breaks.  Both Gillespie & Hornbeak had double-doubles.  Hornbeak also had 4 fouls and 4 turnovers in just 17 minutes.   As with the CSUN game, this seems like a game Stanford should win - especially if they can limit the Flashes fast break opportunities and if they can use their size advantage to limit Gillespie & Hornbeak (and maybe get Hornbeak into foul trouble).  And like the CSUN game, I expect that I, SkiBum, & many other seasoned Stanford fans will be excited, but nervous.

This is likely to be a very difficult game for the Card. Kent St. is really physical and hits the glass hard. We won't win the rebounding battle, but we need to keep it close. VonCameron Davis plays bullyball and we have to make him move. Sullinger is a scorer - hits all sorts of shots from deep 3's to runners to leaners and he gets to the line a lot. He's capable of dropping 30 on our guards. Should be a fun one!

[BillBradley]

Stanford takes on the Golden Flashes from Kent State tonight at Maples - at 6:00 on ESPN2.  Stanford favored by 6.5, O/U is 141.5, implied score is 74-67.5.  Kent has a record of 23-11, 9-5 on the road.  They finished 3rd in the Mid-American Conference and lost in the semi-finals of the MAC tourney.  In league play, Kent went 0-2 vs. Akron (a 13 seed in the NCAA tourney), and 0-3 (the 3rd loss coming in the MAC tourney) vs. Miami (of Ohio).  In their non-leagues games, losses included Alabama, Auburn, & UC Irvine.  Kent's best win was the 1st round NIT victory at St. Bonaventure.  Net rankings are 81 for Stanford and 128 for the Flashes.

In the other San Francisco region game, Loyola Chicago is at USF at 4:00 - also on ESPN2.  the winners of these 2 games will play in the regional final on Tuesday or Wednesday night.

A look at the MAC team stats would indicate that Kent's success depends on defense.  They led the league in scoring defense (68.0ppg).  This might be partially due to pace of play, but they also led the league in opponent's FG% (41.8) and were 2nd in opponent's 3pt FG% (31.5).  They were also 3rd in rebounds (37.1), 1st in rebounding margin (+5.1), and 3rd in steals (7.6).

Probable starters for the Golden Flashes are:
#13 Jalen Sullinger (5'10/167 Sr G) a 2-year starter, he was the MAC 6th man of the Year as a soph and 3rd-team All-MAC as a jr.  Leads Kent with 15.3ppg and 79 3s (37.4%);
#1 Von Cameron Davis (6'5/229 RSr F) another 2-year starter, scoring 14.6ppg;
#23 Delrecco Gillespie (6'8/216 Jr F) Leading rebounder (7.8), scores 8.0ppg on 58.8%FG shooting;
#11 Cian Medley (5'11/165 So G) transfer from St. Louis, assist leader (4.1), 7.4ppg;
#15 Mike Bakelja (6'0/184 Gr G) transfer from Duquesne, 2-year starter.

Rounding out Kent's 8-man rotation are:
#2 Marquis Bennett (6'4/195 Sr G) transfer from Presbyterian, where he was All-big South as a jr., 8.6ppg;
#42 Cli'Ron Hornbeak (6'9/238 Sr C) 7.7ppg (on 64.1%FG shooting), 6.1 rpg, picks up almost 3 fouls/game in an average of about 20 minutes of action;
#4 Jamal Sumlin (6'3/180 RSo G) transfer from NW Florida St. College, where he was Panhandle Conference Co-PoY, 5.7ppg.

Against St. Bonaventure, Kent scored 21 points on fast breaks.  Both Gillespie & Hornbeak had double-doubles.  Hornbeak also had 4 fouls and 4 turnovers in just 17 minutes.   As with the CSUN game, this seems like a game Stanford should win - especially if they can limit the Flashes fast break opportunities and if they can use their size advantage to limit Gillespie & Hornbeak (and maybe get Hornbeak into foul trouble).  And like the CSUN game, I expect that I, SkiBum, & many other seasoned Stanford fans will be excited, but nervous.

This is likely to be a very difficult game for the Card. Kent St. is really physical and hits the glass hard. We won't win the rebounding battle, but we need to keep it close. VonCameron Davis plays bullyball and we have to make him move. Sullinger is a scorer - hits all sorts of shots from deep 3's to runners to leaners and he gets to the line a lot. He's capable of dropping 30 on our guards. Should be a fun one!