Kent State at UTEP Preview/Open Thread

Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff told me this after their opening round win against North Dakota State when I asked him what kind of a style the Flashes bring: "The way we play, it's never going to be pretty. But if you like watching a pitcher's duel in baseball, you'll like watching us because we play hard."

Senderoff and his crew will bring their 26th ranked scoring defense into the West Star Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational championship tonight against UTEP.

Despite only shooting a surprisingly cold 3/15 from behind the three point line against the Bison of North Dakota State, Kent State used their strength and length inside to win the rebounding margin, and hold North Dakota State to under 35 percent shooting from the field. Kent State came into the game ranking first in the nation against Division one opponents in three point shooting percentage.

Their offense is nothing special or tricky, they will feed the post as the usual first pass in their half court sets, let their bigs try to find the rim, and if it's not there, someone is coming off a perimeter action looking for a three point try.

Kris Brewer, and Jimmy Hall provided some clutch late game scoring, and needed play making in the final minute of NDSU game, but guards Derek Jackson, and Devereaux Manley also have to accounted for as both have consistent double digit scoring abilities, and can light it up from area codes behind the three point line.

It will be interesting to see how Kent State prepares and attacks UTEP, they like to slow it down and grind out a good shot, but with UTEP's struggles in guarding the three point line in transition, and Kent's struggles from three last night will they speed things up to try to catch the Miners off guard, and get themselves going?

Omega Harris and Matt Willms did all the little things right against Alcorn State, and Vince Hunter was well.....Vince Hunter.

UTEP will need the likes of Julian Washburn, and the slumping, to say the least, C.J. Cooper to show some sort of offensive life in this last ‘"true" non-conference tune up.

As always the Miners defensive tenacity will keep them in the game, but can a co-Alpha Dog (particularly a guard) become a scoring side kick alongside Vince Hunter to take this team to the next level?

That is the remaining big question as UTEP has showed its strengths, and of course weaknesses, but nothing will get this team more motivated to make this C-USA run with a fourth straight WSBDHSBI Championship.

Key Matchup

Jimmy Hall v. Vince Hunter

Both rebound, both have great body control around the rim, and their hustle seems to get their respective team going to spark runs or momentum.

Hall has been a big huge boost to the personnel options Senderoff has at his disposal, the sophomore new comer is very strong on the block, and even though is only 6'7, he knows how to use his body to push around bigger forwards.

Without Hall Kent State doesn't beat North Dakota State, and without Hunter, well let's just not into to that or even think about that.

But both are the engines of the dirty work a good team needs to dominate a conference, look for both to get after each other in a prime Mid-Major affair.

A-Rod's opening line: UTEP -7.5