Two games separate six MAC teams with three games left

Marcus Crenshaw shoots past a Southern Illinois player during last Saturday’s game. Kent State faces Akron tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Credit: Andrew popik

Grab that Ouija board.

It might be as good a method as any in gauging the final three games of the Mid-American Conference regular season. The top six teams are separated by two games going into Kent State’s game tomorrow against Akron (17-7, 10-5 MAC). One game separates the two, which are sandwiched among a pack that resembles a group of lemmings.

Last year’s Kent State squad showed how little the last stretch of games can mean before entering the MAC tournament. It lost its last four games before advancing to the title game. But an East Division title and first-round bye was already wrapped up before that late skid happened. This year, Miami holds the East lead but without as much room to breathe.

The RedHawks (17-7, 11-4 MAC) are up two games on the Flashes but are at Bowling Green Sunday before playing Kent State in Oxford Wednesday. That deficit was cut from three games when Akron beat Miami in overtime Wednesday night. Four teams could be tied for second in the East should Kent State beat Akron for the second time this season.

“We got to get these games,” junior point guard DeAndre Haynes said. “We all got to get our confidence back and start depending on each other once again.”

Haynes showed his teammates he can still be depended on after leading them to a 23-point victory Wednesday night at Central Michigan. Haynes created for himself, knocking down jump shots — even after they did not fall.

He admitted that was different from previous games.

“I was down on myself too much. I wasn’t confident in myself,” he said. “If I’d shoot a shot and miss, I wouldn’t shoot another one. By me being down on myself, I needed to play like I used to play — going to the hole, trying to finish and come out aggressive.”

Sophomore forward Scott Cutley said the win at Central Michigan is a key point to build from. A three-game losing streak was looming over the group before the win.

“This is a great deal to get us going onto taking on Akron and then going into Miami,” Cutley said.

He added they are more rested going into the final stretch of games compared to last season.

Earlier this season, stretches of games came with few off days. Coach Jim Christian needed as much time as he could get to instruct and teach his team that included eight players new to his system. Cutley said he’s noticed Christian’s switch to becoming more conscious of the need to rest. Christian said the time to teach is over.

If Kent State wins its final three games, it would reach 20 wins for the seventh consecutive year. A 12-6 MAC record would do the Flashes no worse than second in the East and likely a first-round bye in the tournament. The difference from last year is considerable.

Not just more rested, more to play for.

“We got to fight through that adversity and fatigue,” Haynes said. “It’s February, going into March, and you got to give it your all. It’s time for everybody to start picking it up and playing harder.”

Contact men’s basketball reporter Matt Goul at [email protected].