Kent State has been making a big run in the MAC tournament. They defeated Akron on Friday, and now they face Toledo in the finals on Saturday.
They have won their last 17 games, and now they are looking to win their first MAC tournament title since 1980. They will have to overcome the Rockets, who have a 43-year drought of not making the NCAA tournament.
Toledo is ranked 197th in college basketball
Toledo is a venerable program with a storied history. It is currently ranked 197th in college basketball and has a record of 27-6. The Rockets have a top 25 offense and have one of the best winning percentages in the country, sporting a 22-6 record at home. The Rockets are led by senior guard Rayj Dennis, who leads the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game. The rest of the rotation includes Dwayne Evans, who leads the MAC in assists at 6.8 per game.
The Rockets are also a stud on the glassed floor, averaging 8.6 more points per game at home than they do away from John E. Worthen Arena.
On the other hand, the Rockets are a dud on the road, allowing opponents to score a paltry 81.9 points per game. Their best win of the year was an 87-81 victory over Ball State in December.
When the two teams square off on Friday, the Rockets are favored by 4 points and have a moneyline of -177. The game is set to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at 6:00 PM ET. The over/under is 160.5.
The Rockets may be a little old to claim the title of best overall college basketball team in the conference, but they are definitely still in the running for most wins this season. The Rockets are a top 25 team in the MAC and have a 23-6 record at home, which is the most wins the team has had at the Big House since 2008. They are led by Rayj Dennis, who averages 14.4 points per game.
The Rockets are averaging 71.0 points per game
The Houston Rockets are averaging 71.0 points per game, which is the lowest scoring average in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This is the second time this season that the Rockets have scored more than seven points per game, and it’s also their lowest scoring average in their last 10 games.
This number is down from last year when they had an average of 78.2 points per game. This is due to a decline in three-point shooting, which the team is now only making 33.2% of their shots from beyond the arc.
However, their shooting from the field is still good, averaging 110.2 points per game at home and 110.4 on the road. Their defense is also good, allowing only 114.8 points per game at home and 121.7 on the road.
On Monday, the Houston Rockets were able to snap their 10-game losing streak with a win over the Boston Celtics. They were able to do this by using a combination of their veteran players and some fresh faces.
For example, young big man Udoka Garuba played only a few minutes of the game, but he was able to contribute six points on two straight triples in the fourth quarter. His impact helped the team take control of the game and win it in the end.
The Golden Flashes are allowing 76.8 points per game
Kent State enters the week atop the Mid-American Conference standings after racking up a 20-win season and a perfect 3-0 conference record. The Flashes boast the league’s top defense, allowing 64.2 points per game. They also lead the MAC in turnover margin (+15.1), turnovers forced (16.6) and steals (9.1).
Kent has the best 3-point shooting team in the MAC, averaging 47.8 percent from long range. They also have the best free throw shooting percentage in the conference at 72.2 percent.
The Golden Flashes have a knack for winning on the road, recording a 9-6 record when playing away from home this year. They’ve won five straight games away from the friendly confines of Dix Stadium.
A key component of their success is their ability to control the tempo. They’ve only allowed more than a point per possession in three of their last six games.
They’ve also won their last 10 home games, which is the longest streak in the MAC.
This year’s version of the Golden Flashes features three freshmen who have emerged as major contributors. Junior guard Malique Jacobs is averaging 21.2 points and 5.8 assists per game while sophomore forward Jamir Smith is posting 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per outing.
They’re also the only MAC team to feature an All-American player, a sophomore in Miyrine Thomas who is averaging 16.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She’s the first Flash to earn MAC All-Freshman and MAC All-Conference honors in the same season. She was named the MAC’s Defensive Player of the Year and is also a two-time All-MAC selection.
The Rockets are averaging 7.9 rebounds per game
Throughout their history, the Houston Rockets have been one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. They have a long list of legends, including Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone and Charles Barkley, and they have also won two NBA championships.
The Rockets have a lot of young talent on their roster, which helps them to win games. Their leading scorer is James Harden, who has averaged 21.8 points per game this season. He also has a good assist-to-turnover ratio, and he shoots 37% from three-point range.
He has been a key part of the team’s turnaround since the All-Star break, and it is important for them to keep this momentum going. They play a pair of home games against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday and Sunday.
In their first three home games of the year, the Rockets have won twice and lost once. This has given them a chance to test the improvement they’ve made since the All-Star break.
Their most recent victory was against the Los Angeles Lakers, which helped them move back to within a half game of a playoff spot. They have now won four of their last seven, a big boost for this rebuilding team.
The Rockets have been able to get better at the defensive end of the court this year, and that has led to a significant increase in their rebounds per game. They have outrebounded their opponents by double digits in four of their last five games and a league-high 23 times overall this season.
Their offense has been improving, too, and they are averaging the most paint points in the league this season. They hit 78 points in the paint against the Lakers, which was their most in four quarters this season.
The Golden Flashes are shooting 33.0% from 3-point range
Indiana and Kent State will face off in a key Mid-American Conference game on Friday night. This game marks the first matchup between the two programs since 2002, when Indiana won 81-69 to win the South Region championship at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Golden Flashes enter this matchup with a 26-6 overall record and 15-3 MAC mark. The team has a solid defending game, limiting opponents to 65.1 points per game on 40.0 percent shooting from the field and 31.2 percent from three-point range. They also force 517 turnovers and allow 289 steals and 125 blocked shots on the season.
They are ranked sixth in the NCAA in turnover margin with a 5.1 turnover margin and have a 9.4 steals per game. They are also in the top 100 nationally in average offensive possession length, which allows them to play fast in the open court and use their strong deflections to keep opponents from getting comfortable.
Their front line is not particularly large, but they are strong and athletic. They finished the MAC regular season first in the conference in both block rate and steal rate.
With their length and athleticism, they can play in the halfcourt with some of the nation’s best guards, including senior Sincere Carry, who has a team-high 16.3 points per game, along with Malique Jacobs, who has a 14.9 point, 5.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals average.
The team has also benefited from the presence of junior point guard Michael Pippen, who has been a key player this year after recovering from knee surgery. He is averaging 14 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this season, and has led the team in scoring in four of its last six games. He is a threat from beyond the arc as well, draining 1.9 made 3-pointers per game this season and ranking second in the MAC in triple-point percentage.