From Nov. 28-30, the Kent State men’s basketball team participated in Western Slam, an in-season basketball tournament hosted by the city of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada.

Joining the Flashes in the tournament were the Towson University Tigers, Kennesaw State University Owls, and the University of California, Irvine Anteaters.

The tournament is special for the Western Canadian region, as it is the only NCAA Division-I event of its kind being held there.

“It was a good experience,” coach Rob Senderoff said. “We were playing really good programs that are going to be really good in their conferences that are all similar leagues to the MAC, and it should help prepare us for what we are going to see in January, February and March.”

Going into the tournament, all four teams had winning records and had its eyes set on March Madness.

The Western Slam made it a goal to capture the essence of collegiate basketball and highlight the talent of the teams. 

Each team played three games in three days, each playing each other once.

“It’s similar to the MAC tournament where you have to have a quick turn around and get yourself prepared mentally for the next game,” Senderoff said. “We had a ball room. We were able to do a walk-through like we do in the conference tournament, so a lot of mental preparation – all really good to prepare you for what you prepare for in your conference tournament.”

KSU and its opponents also got a taste of the Canadian winter during the time it was there.

“It was freezing cold,” Senderoff said. “The games are the games, but it was a lot of travel, and we might have been playing in Antarctica, that’s what it felt like.”

KSU improved their record to 6-2 by defeating the Tigers and Owls, which continued its hot start.

“We can compete at a really high level night in and night out, and we have a really deep group,” Senderoff said. “When you’re around each other for all this time, it helps the team grow and establish an identity.”

Andrew Gold is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].