This week marks the highly anticipated start to the basketball seasons at Kent State, and everything from large crowds to highly anticipated matchups to buzzer beaters and heartbreaking losses are to be expected.
Both teams will start their seasons Monday, with the men’s team on the road and the women’s team at the M.A.C. Center.
The men’s team will play at Louisiana University to take on the Ragin’ Cajuns at 8 p.m., while the women’s team will play at home against James Madison University at 7 p.m.
The preseason MAC polls show the Flashes in second place for the women’s team and third place for the men’s team, but here’s how it will shake down according to The Kent Stater’s expert panel.
John Hilber — Sports Editor
Men’s team: 20-10 regular season record, No. 4 in MAC, loses MAC Championship game
Best player: Forward VonCameron Davis — 16.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists per game on 46.6% field goal shooting percentage
Kent State has a pretty favorable start to the season record-wise against non-conference opponents. Games at Auburn and Alabama are almost sure losses, but things start to get a little choppy once conference games hit. Anything can happen once MACtion starts, so I expect a lot of series splits against teams like Miami, Bowling Green and Akron — with losses against teams like that, Kent State might fall a spot or two in the MAC rankings.
It is no surprise Davis will be leading the Flashes’ offensive game plan, so I expect his hands on the ball a lot more than usual, especially with key losses from last season. I anticipate more shots than passes, and he should have the will to crash the boards more as a leader by example.
Women’s team: 22-9 regular season record, No. 1 in MAC, wins MAC Tournament, loses first round of NCAA tournament
Best player: Guard Jenna Batsch — 15.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game on 42.8% field goal shooting percentage
Having James Madison as a first opponent will be a tough start for the Flashes, but the non-conference portion gets way more manageable after that. I anticipate KSU almost winning out after its third game against NC State with the exception of the game against Colorado State. When it gets to MAC competition, a lot of the teams are close together in talent, making it hard for the Flashes to sweep the season series. The home-and-home situation against Ball State could result in two losses for KSU, but I think KSU will pull out the win at home. Kent State has a good chance to sweep some of the MAC teams, which should propel the team right to the top of the MAC standings with a chance to compete for a national tournament bid.
Batsch will step up as the leader for the women’s team after the departure of star guard Katie Shumate last season — that is less of a prediction and more of an expectation at this point. While playing side-by-side with Shumate, Batsch was second on the team in most offensive categories, so she will take over the whole offense this season when she’s on the floor as the sole leader.
Emily Lowen — Sports Reporter
Men’s team: 15-15 regular season record, No. 5 in MAC, loses MAC Championship game
Best Player: Forward VonCameron Davis — 19 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist per game
The men are coming off a heartbreaking loss last season to end the 2023-24 campaign, and the fate will stay the same. The Flashes will have a rough season both in and out of conference, but the team will pull off a surprise upset all the way through the MAC tournament and into the MAC Championship game. The upset effort will ultimately fall short, and the Flashes will miss the big dance by a sliver once again.
Davis is no doubt the vocal and production leader this season for the Flashes. Experience will serve him well, and I expect him to take a huge leap in terms of production. His play will be overshadowed by the team’s .500 record, but the play is undeniable.
Women’s team: 20-10 regular season record, No. 2 in MAC, wins MAC Championship game, loses first round of NCAA Tournament
Best Player: Jenna Batsch — 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
KSU will have a fantastic regular season and will handle themselves both in the conference and outside the conference. Because of the good play throughout the season, KSU will take momentum into the MAC tournament and turn out elite performances all the way to the National Tournament. Although the team will take momentum into NCAA tournament play, the team will take the loss in the first round after a memorable season.
Batsch will finally fill into her role as ring leader of the KSU team and lead the charge. Batsch will play her way into All-MAC honors and carry the brunt of the offense through the MAC and NCAA tournaments.
John Engoglia — Sports Reporter
Men’s team: 24-6 regular season record, No. 1 in MAC, wins MAC Tournament, loses first round of NCAA tournament
Best Player: Jalen Sullinger — 19.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game on 43.8% field goal shooting percentage
Kent State has a favorable out-of-conference schedule and the benefit of having its two most productive players return in Jalen Sullinger and VonCameron Davis. Both of these situations bode well for the Flashes, as the team has the returning talent and chemistry to make a run back to the MAC Championship game. The group came so close last year, and considering the talent Akron and Toledo lost in the offseason, the Flashes look primed to retake their place as MAC Champions.
Sullinger took a huge step forward for the Flashes last season as he was thrust into a premier role. Expect that experience to carry over into his senior season, where he will be trusted with being the bucket-getter and high-volume sharpshooter he was the previous season. It’s hard to not see him improve his scoring and passing abilities.
Women’s team: 18-12 regular season record, No. 4 in MAC, loses MAC Championship game
Best player: Jenna Batsch — 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists per game on 42.9% field goal shooting percentage
The Flashes have a tough start to their opening schedule with James Madison and North Carolina State, but the team should be able to make it through very manageable games in the conference schedule. The Flashes will likely split several matches throughout the season, but I believe the team will finish strong enough regarding the out-of-conference schedule to put the group in a favorable position going into the MAC Tournament.
Batsch was one of the top guards in the MAC last year, and it looks her role will expand even more with the loss of fellow guard Katie Shumate. Batsch will likely be given full reign of the offense and might be trusted as the team’s number one scoring option given her senior standing.
Kailyn Tibolla — Sports Reporter
Men’s Team: 18-12 regular season record, No. 5 in MAC, loses MAC Championship game
Best Player: Forward VonCameron Davis — 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist per game on 44.5% field goal shooting percentage
Kent State has the opportunity for a decent run of wins during non-conference games with two of their top players, VonCameron Davis and Jalen Sullinger, returning. They’re going to focus on tough defensive play and creating takeaways in order to open things up on offense. The team also added some more depth this offseason by bringing in transfers. Once conference games begin they face more on-par competition, so I expect their record to be split for the most part.
Davis will be the focal point of the offense with his skilled scoring and ability to produce chances for the rest of the team. With some new additions and a strong leader like Davis at the helm, the team should be able to produce on both ends of the court.
Women’s Team: 24-6 regular season record, No. 1 in MAC, wins MAC Championship, loses first round of NCAA tournament
Best Player: Guard Jenna Batsch — 14.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists per game on 42.6% field goal shooting percentage
The Kent State’s women’s basketball team has a few tough games to start off their season, but it eases out after North Carolina State. They should be able to build up wins before conference games start. They’re opponents are more evenly matched during MAC play, but I anticipate they’ll be able to foster some of the momentum from last season into similar results with a good shot at the MAC title.
Jenna Batsch had a standout junior season last year, and will continue her success this season. With the graduation of fellow guard Katie Shumate, Batsch will be leading the offense and likely be the team’s highest scorer.
Demetri Manousos — Sports Reporter
Men’s Team: 23-7 regular season record, No. 2 in MAC, winning the MAC Championship game, first round loss in March Madness
Best Player: Forward VonCameron Davis — 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists per game on 50.5% field goal shooting percentage
Kent State hit the portal hard. Lots of new faces to go with some old ones who have been around for a few years. VonCameron Davis will have to bear more of the load this season and will need to be more consistent. Cli’Ron Hornbeak is going to have to fill the shoes of Chris Payton as well. As we saw last season, a bad regular season does not mean the Flashes should be taken lightly as a MAC tournament opponent. The transfers will have to step in and learn the system, and with so many transfers, it would not be shocking to see the Flashes struggle early then hit their stride come conference play. These guys have it in them, they just have to play clean and not turn the ball over as much as they did last year.
VonCameron Davis, Mr. Basketball in Ohio in 2020, has loads of potential, but at times, he played poorly offensively. It wasn’t just missed layups and open jumpers, it was the sometimes constant turnovers that had Flashes fans frustrated. Despite that, we should see a continuation of what we saw from Davis when he found himself in the MAC tournament, and he likely would have been the tournament MVP had the team won the championship.
Women’s Team: 26-4 regular season record, No. 1 in MAC, winning MAC Championship, first round loss in March Madness
Best Player: Guard Corynne Hauser — 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.3 assist per game on 44.7% field goal shooting percentage
The women’s team picked up some transfers as well, but have a large returning core. They lost guard Katie Shumate, but they will get Corynne Hauser back from injury. Without Hauser, the Flashes were able to win the conference. Kent State also lost Mikala Morris down low, but entering her sophomore year, Janae Tyler will have a chance to step into the spotlight in the post. The Flashes finished third in the conference last year, and will have to compete with Toledo and Ball State. Though they did not play Toledo in the MAC tournament, they did dominate the Cardinals on their way to taking the MAC crown.
Hauser is a very effective point guard for the Flashes. However, in each of her first two seasons, she has faced injuries. Last season, her season ended in February with a knee injury. The key for her will be staying healthy. If she is able to do so, she will be a heavy contributor on the roster in scoring and passing. She will be a key in the team’s attempt to win its second straight MAC Championship.
Gage Wellman — Sports Reporter
Men’s Team: 18-12 regular season record, 1st in MAC, Win MAC Championship
Best Player: Forward VonCameron Davis — 17 points per game, 6 rebounds 0.5 assists per game on 48.8% shooting
The schedule makers are really throwing the Flashes a bone. Outside of matchups against ranked SEC teams, Kent State plays zero ranked opponents and has plenty of easy wins in its back pocket against teams like Niagra, Heidelberg and Mercyhurst.
Forward VonCameron Davis is walking into this season with big expectations, and for good reason. Davis, alongside guard Jalen Sullinger, helped lead KSU to the MAC championship and for that he was named to the preseason All-MAC first team.
A weak schedule coupled with the play of Davis should propel the Flashes to the MAC championship. Barring any unforeseen errors like last season, the Flashes should be able to dance in March Madness after cutting down the net in the MAC championship game.
Women’s team: 19-11 Regular season record, 1st in MAC, win MAC Championship
Best player: Jenna Batsch — 16.1 points 4.9 assists 4.4 rebounds averaged per game
The Flashes, led by a fly offense, propel themselves to the MAC championship after playing an easy schedule. The Flashes cut down the net and celebrate their second straight MAC championship, including a sweep of rivals Akron and Bowling Green. Jenna Bastch plays herself into talks of being drafted into the WNBA.
Andrew Gold — Sports Reporter
Men’s team: 20-10 regular season record, No. 3 in MAC, winning the MAC Championship game, loses second round of NCAA tournament
Best player: Forward VonCameron Davis — 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists per game on 45% field goal shooting percentage
The MAC will be very competitive yet again this season, and I see the Flashes right in that mix. With their size and physicality, I see them to be a bigger force defensively and give teams like Auburn and Alabama trouble early. In non-conference play, I see some good games and tests for KSU before MAC play, and I think they will gain confidence going into those games. As for the MAC tournament, it is tough to get those three wins they need to win it, but I see a motivated team hungry to take the title back. If they do make the March Madness tournament, anything can happen. Coming in a 13 or 14 seed, why can’t they upset?
This season will be a showcase for VonCameron Davis. I will anticipate seeing a lot of shot creation for him, and I anticipate him to crash the glass and get physical. If he can get to the bucket and get the three ball to fall, we’re in for an exciting season.
Women’s team: 22-8 regular season record, No. 1 in MAC, wins MAC Tournament, loses second round of NCAA tournament
Best player: Guard Jenna Batsch — 16.3 points, 3 rebounds, 2.1 assists per game on 43% field goal shooting percentage
Coming off its MAC tournament win last year, the team has really grown a good identity and can compete with the best of the best. Being a team that will be hungry to get back to March Madness and having changes to the roster, it will be tough, but I see them on pace to get back to the top. Their grit will allow them to go on the road and steal games from some of the best in the MAC. I am excited to see this team look to repeat. If they make the March Madness tournament, once again, why not KSU?
Jenna Batsch, a senior, will look to have a big season leading the Flashes, and there is a lot to be excited about. She blossomed last season and will look to put it all together this year. If she continues to shoot the three at a near 40% clip, she could be a top player in the MAC.
John Hilber is sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].
