The Kent Crusader

Written by Cody Erbacher Sunday, 07 March 2010 23:28

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He is Chris Singletary, a senior guard for the Kent State men’s basketball team.

He is Chris Singletary, a senior guard for the Kent State men’s basketball team. Singletary is the favorite for the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Award, and he is a major factor behind Kent State’s success, averaging 11.7 points a game. With the MAC Tournament right around the corner, sports reporter Cody Erbacher sat down with Singletary to talk about his thoughts on his last season.

Q: It seems that whenever the game is on the line, the players and coaches look to you for answers. Do you ever feel too much pressure?

A: Nah, being that the program has done so much for me on and off the court, I feel that’s a responsibility that’s granted of me. I don’t have a problem doing that being that the program and my teammates have done so much for me.

Q: How is it that you are able to score and get other players involved without missing a step?

A: In high school I played point guard, and you know the point guard is mainly getting teammates involved, so that’s where I picked that trait up. I always want to be able to pass and get my teammates involved because I’m able to score also, so if I’m getting my teammates involved and their scoring and feeling good about themselves, that can only help us. I can always break down a play and get a basket for myself.

Q: Next year when you’re gone how is the team going to replace you?

A: You’re never going to be able to replace what it was that specific player brought, but you can find ways to get multiple guys to bring in those things that that player has. So next year they can bring in a guy that’s a great passer and a guy that’s tough, then you put those two together and you got me.

Q: You’re an intimidating player; do you think opponents are afraid of you?

A: No, not really. I think that’s something that growing up in west side Chicago, playing in the alley, playing with older guys, playing street ball. I think that’s something that has made my game the way it is as far as being strong and aggressive with my moves. I know that I’m a big guy and guys are going to be physical with me, so that means I got to be even more physical. I never play tough to intimidate my opponent, but at the same time if that helps, so be it.

Q: How did you become the leader that you are now?

A: Having great leaders in front of me, taking things that I’ve seen them do and taking it and adding it to my game and my personality. I took what the past seniors had, put it into one bowl and made it into my own and led that way. Coach told me this program is always about the senior leadership. Me being a senior I thought it was only right that I step up and be that leader that coach knew I could be.

Q: With everyone tabbing you as the MAC Player of the Year, do you think you should be?

A: To be honest, I swear this is not a lie, until maybe a week or two ago I hadn’t even thought about it. To me, I haven’t even been playing that good. After my sprained ankle and after my knee surgery, I kind of felt that I wasn’t going to be able to be that player of the year player. That’s something I’m not real big on because that’s an individual award, and I’m more concerned on winning a MAC Championship.

Batman, the Caped Crusader and the Dark Knight are one in the same, but now a fourth name can be added to the list — Chris Singletary.

By day, the senior guard is just a student. But when he steps onto the hardwood court in the M.A.C. Center, he’s the leader of the Kent State men’s basketball team. By day, Batman is Bruce Wayne, a billionaire mogul. But when the bat signal shines high in the sky, he’s the protector of Gotham city.

Similar to the way Batman watches over Gotham City in secret, Singletary protects his teammates from their opponents on the court.

“Chris to me is similar to Batman in the sense that he’s a ringleader. He’s not afraid to stand alone,” Kent State coach Geno Ford said. “He does a great job making everybody else better.”

Without each of these superheroes, the things they look after would struggle in the path of harm’s way.

Villains would overrun Gotham City in the short term, but it would eventually regain composure and function properly.

Since this is the last season for the 6-foot, 4-inch player, the Flashes are going to struggle replacing him. Singletary has the tools that have quietly pushed Kent State to the top of the Mid-American Conference.

He uses his top-notch passing ability to get other players involved. He uses his exceptional leadership ability to lead the team in the toughest situations. He uses his brilliant basketball knowledge to break down any defense and get an easy bucket. “Chris’ greatest ability on the court is to make everyone else better,” Ford said. Singletary is the Dark Knight of the team, but it would be tough to tell since he doesn’t post team-leading numbers.

“With the Batman character, it was about him, but to him it wasn’t about him,” Singletary said. “In high school, I was like one of the top three players in the state, but you could never tell because I was real humble.”

Although he doesn’t have billions of dollars and Morgan Freeman to help him through everyday adversity, Singletary does have the ability to protect the basketball team and possibly lead them to a MAC Championship.

His Archrival

The Joker hates Batman and Batman hates the Joker. Chris Singletary hates the Miami basketball team.

Every superhero has an archrival. The Joker is just one of many on Batman’s mind. Miami is the only one on Singletary’s mind.

An outsider would think Akron or Zips’ fans would be the easy answer for Singletary, but that statement couldn’t be more false.

In the past couple of years, Miami has been known to keep the senior guard out of the equation.

“Their coach is so smart with the scheme he comes up with,” Singletary said. “I would say with my four years being here, I hate Miami the most. They play so slow, and they do everything right.”

Singletary has not scored in double digits in three of the last four games against the RedHawks. He recorded 11 points in the senior-day game this season.

“His numbers against Miami in the last two years are not great,” Kent State coach Geno Ford said. “They double team him all the time, and they’re a great help defensive team.”

But after the win against Miami in the final game of the season, Singletary can leave this season knowing he beat the RedHawks on his senior day.

His Weakness

Batman has one rule — never to kill. But he is aggressive in his line of work. The game of basketball has many rules, one of which is five fouls and you’re out. Singletary has trouble following this rule, limiting his playing time in some games. “Fouls,” Singletary simply stated about his biggest weakness. “Not being able to let stuff go. I feel like nobody should be able to score on me.”

Game after game, the Flashes have to worry if their star athlete will be on the court or watching from the sideline.

“Chris’ biggest weakness is he spends too much time next to the head coach,” Ford said. “He spends too much time on the sideline.”