You're listening to the back home network, presented by home field apparel. Hi folks, welcome back to Crimson cast, Scott here with you excited to have John Elrod on the podcast here in a little bit. He is a reporter for the hustle belt.com, which is the SB Nation site for the Mac. Fortunately, not a ton of blogs or podcasts out there about Kent State basketball, just Kent
State basketball. So, getting a guy who follows the entire Mac, but he has some good information about Kent State to get you ready for the game. I talked about a little bit in the interview did it last night?
I was trying to do this on the fly, but I went ahead and did it this morning and played around with some Excel spreadsheets because I could not find this online or at least, I couldn't find it where I was searching, but I find it interesting that we've played Kent State, three times, all these connections with Kent State with Center off, being the coach and the connection with him and I you and Samson.
But the fact that, you know, we played Kent State back-to-back years in the tournament and o1 and O2. And then now we're playing them again. Just a lot of times we played Kent State for two teams that, you know, again being nice to Kent State. Like they're not in the tournament all the time and unfortunately, neither are we. So I was curious, you know how it ranks in historical records of Indiana opponents in the NCAA
tournament. So I was able to find a list through into Excel played with some formulas and here's what I got. We've played six teams three times in the The NCAA tournament we've played Duke three times Kentucky, three times LS, U 3 times, North Carolina, Kent State, and Oklahoma. So Kent State is in some rarefied air there with what you would consider to be mostly Blue Bloods. And then, you know, Oklahoma and LSU who've also had some pretty high high peaks in college
basketball. So we're one more meeting away from playing, you know, having Kent State being the team, we've played the most in the end Able to tournaments just, you know that that would have to happen next year. If we go back to back years again, playing them, just if you're curious the other teams that we've played in the tournament, there's a bunch of teams we played. Once other teams, we've played two times, Maryland, you know,
Big Ten opponent. Now, UCLA soon-to-be, Big Ten opponent, Gonzaga, Boston College Richmond, would love to not play them again. Kansas Syracuse, good results against them. Well, once in one, good one bad, but I'll take the Gap. I spaced on the sweet 16 is, as I was saying that, but I'll take a giving. You wouldn't, you want a title against anybody? It's a good result, Florida, State, Temple, and UAB.
Those are all the teams we face twice and then a bunch of teams that we have faced one time in the NCAA tournament. As you look at the rest of the bracket, just, if you're curious about these sorts of things, we have never played Miami. Although of Ohio, we've never played Miami Florida in the NCAA tournament before we have never played. We've never played Drake before. So in the next round, we playing an opponent for the first time, we've never played Houston
before. We have never played Iowa in the tournament and we have played Auburn one time in the tournament. If you look a little deeper in the bracket, if we're making a farther run, and again, if we're in the elite eight, I don't think anyone is going to be like caring about matchup numbers against teams but just for fun, we've never played Texas in the NCAA tournament.
We've played Xavier once If we make it all the way to the Sweet 16, you know, like I said, We we played against, I get twice, that could be a third time opponent and then like I said, we've played Kansas two times. So anyway, for what it's worth, I find it interesting that you know, Kent State is one of the teams we've played three times in the tournament.
It's a small list and it's to me, I think it's interesting that Kent State is on it because there's not a lot of overlap in that Venn diagram of the two schools and yet There does seem to be a lot of it. So fun, matchup fun discussion with John Elrod. And before we get going, just want to say a quick word to our sponsor home-field apparel there. The sponsor of the home network of which Crimson cast is happily.
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your first purchase. Just me doing that, you know, buy me a buy me, a Yukon bomber jacket, and then we'll discuss. And then you get the discount, I get the jacket and everybody's a winner. So now lets you pick. This is a crimson cast coming in, right at about 30 minutes. That's a new one as well, so, I hope you enjoy this.
This will give you enough time to get it in before the game, even though you have, you know, almost like 36, 40 hours before you hear this, because we're the late, late, late late game on Friday. Day. But enjoy this conversation with John. Get you prepped. Learn a little about Kent State and hope you guys enjoy. John from the hustle belt, how you doing, man? Doing Great Scot. It's good to be on. Yeah, man.
So you are a contributor for hustle belt, the sports SB Nation site for Kent State. Hustle belt.com and your Twitter, just everyone has it at John Elrod underscore 19. So, yeah, give us your connection to Kent State. So hustle Bell. Actually covers the Mac in general, I know that a lot of bigger schools, have individual SB Nation blogs for them. But you know, for a smaller conference we just have one that encompasses all teams so yeah, it's been super fun. I actually don't even go to a
Mac school. I go to a small college called Oberlin College but it's in Northern Ohio and it's close to a lot of these schools you know six of the teams in the macro in Ohio. So I have connections to those. I grew up watching some of these teams Akron is actually, probably the team. I've watched the most Rivals of Kent State. Yeah. But A fan of the conference. It's, you know, you always got a, got a root on whoever the representative is in the big dance. So it's funny.
I actually have a friend who's older sister went to Oberlin? So I know. I know. Oberlin well, great absolutely phenomenal Music School up there, so yeah really is. So let us know, you know. So obviously Indiana podcast here, focus on the Indian bass, what I was trying to figure out before you hopped on, there's no real good site listing all of the teams Indiana has played in the NCAA. Willie tournament. We've played Kansas, I think three or sorry, Kentucky three
or four times. I had a list here of all that but it's like it also has the ranks and so I'm trying to do this on the fly but I was just thinking like it is odd for two schools that you know, historically can State hasn't had a ton of tournament, you know, experience. And honestly the last 20 years Indiana hasn't either it's wild that we've met you know, three times.
And then we had that that two-year back-to-back run and o1 and O2 To where we met two years in a row, but just kind of a wild connection that we seem to continually bump up to Kent State, especially when we're a foreseen, we get to get you guys in the first round. Yeah, it is pretty interesting how it works out like that. I mean, especially because the last two appearances were in back-to-back years and one of them was in the Elite 8. So yeah. Do you feel like we took away a final four?
But I mean we did. But do you guys Diaz? Look at that as like we kind of took away. You know, a great run for you guys to get to the final four. Yeah, I mean I think you have to, you know, The program like Indiana has some final fours in its history. So, you know, to take away from a school at Kent State, you know. I think that's going to hurt but you know, I think maybe the golden flashes can finally get
their this hearing. So tell us a little bit about this team you know, we're, you know, we did a little bit of a preview, right one, the brackets came out, you've been watching the Mac, you know, seen, you know, Kent State play Within the Mac. They obviously won the the Mac tournament. They had a really good season finishing 15 and 3 but tell us a little bit about, you know, what we can expect. To see from the golden flashes
for late late Friday night. Yeah, so the so the golden flashes they were preseason favorites in the Mac. A lot of people pick them to win the conference regular season and go on to win the tournament and through the first month or two of the season. They did pretty well in
non-conference play. They had a close loss to Houston where they played a, really solid defensive game and then they had a I think that yeah, they had a lead with I think three minutes to go or something against Gonzaga like a week after that, Houston game, but can pull it out.
But those are you know to really solid tournament teams that they put in good efforts against and then early in the Mac season, Kent State was at the top of the rankings and I think they had a few AP Top 25 votes but then they lost some big games. One of the losses was to Ball State, they lost in Northern Illinois as well. It wasn't great. Eight. Yeah, during this whole time, Toledo actually went on, you know.
Huge win streak took first place in the back, so it became the new favorites of the conference until Mac tournament. When Kent State really got back into, you know, they're their best basketball, they can play. And so, I think it's fair to say that they're the best team in the conference and deserving of having the nod to play in the big dance.
Yeah, I mean, look at their scores and the in the tournament, you know, they, they won all the games, pretty handily, you know, beating Prince 79-73. And then, you know, basically just kind of beating up until either 93 278. I'm curious about those two games in the is three and a half months ago, but the game against Gonzaga the game against Houston. I didn't watch them, but the scores are kind of bizarre.
Like Houston has one of the best offenses in the country or just as a lot of length has a lot of switchable parts. So a game that ends 4944 is just as a wild score. In the same thing with Gonzaga. You know, I was kind of Of, you know, trying to find, it's not the best comparison, but when you look at that game against Gonzaga, you know, the zags one. But us again, it was a close game in Kent, State made a run at the end, but, you know, the best comp to trace Jackson.
Davis on your schedule is probably Drew Timmy, and he had a really statistically, had a really good game shooting 11:15, 29 Points, got 17 rebounds, you know, can you speak to either of those two games? Because I think those are the two that kind of gave me pause and I, you found a one hand, it's like, all right, if you're Timmy, could do that. Maybe Trace Jackson Davis could Do it as well but you know, to only lose in single digits to both of those teams.
And those are two of the top teams in the tournament that is a little bit scary. And in both of those games, you know, Kent State got down, and then made a run at the end. So they never seem to give up and either of those games. Yeah, you're exactly right, and I think the point about Drew Timmy is pretty solid something. I didn't actually watch these two games live but went back and looked at, you know, parts of, you know, each game on YouTube and against Houston.
They did a great job of forcing Marcus Sasser into some tough shots. He was terrible. That game shot like 1 for 10. From three. He was able to score a little bit at the line be against Gonzaga. Their defense has a lot more trouble with big men. Their best players are guards, both of their guards were starting. Guards were First Team, all Mac defensive team. So yeah, against Drew Timmy was a lot tougher.
Their interior defense isn't as good and we saw a little bit against Akron in the semi-finals. They did a great job of slowing down akron's star point guard who leads the conference and But they had a harder time. Slowing down this guy, Enrique Freeman. Who's a great forward in the conference? So tell us a little bit but what kind of offense just can't
state-run? Because looking at their lineups, you it's a lot of seniors like you said, a lot of guards, you know, 636 165. But you know and again I'm just I'm kind of looking at Stats. I'm hoping you can kind of, you know, around the edges for me. A lot of the guys, like we look at Carrie and Jacobs, like they're only shooting 30 and 28 percent from 3 respectively, You know, Thomas 68 is shooting, you know, my reading Thomas is shooting 34%.
Sure, I screwed up. His first name, I pronounce things incorrectly, on this podcast all the time so you can definitely correct me. But you are they, you know, bringing their big guys out to shoot threes in the guards primarily therefore, you know, defensive stopper. So what kind of offense we looking at from the golden flashes? Yes, in both guards really are
involved on offense. Both of them are great Defenders as well, but yeah, I would say they're pretty unorthodox and today's college game, a lot of them. Offensive opportunities or mid range shots and, you know, both of their guards can score in the paint to, depending on, you know, what kind of big men that other team has. But we saw that in the, in the Mac tournament, all weekend, they really like to attack the paint, sometimes kick it out.
But they're good at, you know, jump stop shots, sincere, carry, specifically can State's leading scorer, he's really great at finding a spot, you know, within the, the mid-range area. You picking up his dribble pulling up when the defense isn't necessarily expecting it. So that's how they sort of account for the lack of really efficient.
Three-point shooting. Okay. What a and you know the metrics on this team you know definitely one of the better defensive teams in the country having ranked 38th on Ken Palm really good defensively and fairly good offensively as well. They don't you know don't shoot free throws very well. It looks like but you know what let's let's try it this way first. What kind of go positive negative positive from an IU perspective? You know, when they've had their
wind streaks, you know. Went gosh, you know, almost 10 and 0 from a spot from December to January, you know, and then finish the season, really, you know, from their 11 and 3, the rest of the way they've had some pretty long win streaks and finishing the year on a six-game winning streak. What do you see in a game when things are going right for Ken state, where they're able to kind of have these winds and have these like and I'll brief maybe rephrase the question.
Like what? What's a bad sign for Indiana? If you know you You see Kent State doing this? And that like if you saw this, you know, this thing in the first half, you like, man, this is not a good sign for Indiana. It's a good time for Kent State. Yeah, so I think defensively, you know, like you said their defense first team. So yeah, if they're able to limit, I'm still trying to figure out how they're going to limit raised Jackson Davis.
But if they're able to limit the other four guys, on the floor, especially Jalen Hood should be no, you know who probably be paired up with Malik Jacobs? He's the best defender on the court for Kent State, but he's a 6-3 guard, so that's probably his matchup. Yeah. So if they're able to keep those guys, From getting hot. I think that would be big and closing down on kick-outs that come from Jackson Davis be I think it will definitely be about defensive disruption with Indiana's shooting.
Yeah, I think Kent State. Yeah. Kent State led the mac and opponent three-point percentage so they do a very good job at defending the perimeter. Okay, you know, it's also funny. You know, I'm sure, you know, this to like the connection seen this. These two teams are just wild that, you know, send her off. Was one of, you know, the coach at Kent State was also an assistant at Indiana from 06 to 0-8 and was kind of the first head to fall before we fired Calvin Samson.
So, just just a bunch of wild connections shooting these teens and like I said the last time we played you know as a four-seat we lost you guys actually went to that game. My dad and I flew to San Diego, Super fired up and then you guys just just crush the dreams. Well, that's got to be still a good experience to go to a game like that, but up outcome.
Yeah, so I'll flip the question around, you know, in the games, you know, Houston Gonzaga, I think are different a teams in Indiana, and probably maybe a little higher count. It's again, not a great cop. But, you know, when Kent State was losing these games, you know, is it a road away thing? Because all their losses were on the road.
They didn't lose any games at home this year. are you concerned about Ken, State's ability to play, you know, tough teams on the road tough teams away from home and like, you know, the games against you Ball, State Akron, Northern Illinois, in the Mac, you know, what are the things that were happening in those games that really caused Kent State to have some problems because some of their losses, you know, are not awful but like, you know, Akron, one of the better teams in the
Mac, but, you know, they lose by, you know, 12 a 12 point loss, to Ball State who was not a great team, although coached by a former IU guy in Michael, Louis. I'm just, I'm just curious in those games where they're losing by double-digit points, what's going on in those games? It's causing problems for Kent State.
Yeah, I definitely do think they're a team that thrives in their home environment and even in Cleveland, you know, 45-minute trip from Kent. So they had a great showing definitely the louder crowd and most of their matchups, maybe except for Akron. But yeah, they definitely thrive in their home court. It just adds to their sort of defensive disruption mentality. It's really hard. Teams to get hot against them in those environments.
So I think in a road environment, you're not going to have that in a neutral environment. You know, I'm not exactly sure what the car trip to Albany would look like for people, but yeah and not not sure what the turnout is going to be there. Yeah, I think just not, you know, being a Mac guide keeping up with Kent State. Do you know anybody, like you get a sense for how many people from from cancer going to this game and I have no idea. All right. I called around John.
Let's go. So you know, as I look at this, you know, from an IU perspective, You know, I was, I was kind of scared of Oral Roberts. Think a lot of people were I honestly think that, you know, we match up pretty well with Kent State, just because we're susceptible the team's shoot threes. Well, we don't shoot threes well as Indiana it, you know. Statistically can State really doesn't shoot great from the
line either only 33%. We've kind of forsaken, some rebounding for offensive efficiency and you guys don't really rebound, offensive ly that way you're off. Rebounding percentage is like 260th my country. So from our perspective, looks like it's a pretty good match about. I'm curious, you know, when you saw the brackets release, what was your thoughts?
Like, you know, you kind of had a feel, you're probably going to be in the in that seed line, you know, was there a team that you wanted to match up with, we saw Indiana where you're like, oh, that's good. Matchup bad. Matchup you, how did you, how did you feel about it? Maybe was there a team? You want to see more of her or
was Indiana that team? There wasn't really a team, I was hoping for, but definitely when I saw Indiana as the matchup, I knew that wasn't a particularly good Poll for Kent State, just because of that question of how they're going to guard Jackson, Davis. It was arguably, you know, the best player in the country. Obviously, he didn't win the award but first team, All-American and all that? Yeah, and they just haven't had a great time guarding.
Big men that's been there. One week weakness. So, Yeah. Yep. No, I hear you. So, we'll get you out of here on this. You know what, what is your feel for this game? You know how, you know. I'm, I'm nervous just because this Indiana team has had a history of and, I mean, this is no disrespect to Kent State.
But, you know, I can see them. They get up for games against like Purdue and, you know, nationally ranked big-name teams and then we'll play like, you know, Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament which is still Very important game. We just don't we didn't really show up for that game. We kind of know show some games at times and that's my bigger fear. Is that at this level, every team is good. And every team poses problems.
And My worry is that, you know, maybe we come out there just kind of flat don't really take can't taste a seriously and the next thing you know a queer as they've shown against Houston Gonzaga we're in a dogfight and then it kind of becomes you know last couple minutes and anything can happen. All because we're kind of looking forward to either Houston and Miami. That's kind of map, my fear.
I still lean toward. I think Indiana's going to find a way to win and I think that, you know, Jackson Davis is, you know, he can scout him but I do think it's a different level. When you see him play in, you're playing him in person was like Big Ten teams, they've been playing him for 23 years and it's like they have a feel they know it's like and they see it but I that would be, you know, my hope is that, you know, for the players on Kent State. They're already at a bit of a
size disadvantage. Then it's like the athleticism of Jackson. There's just no comp that you've probably dealt with in the Mac to deal with that. And you can scout it all you want but then it's like in reality it's like your then you're seeing it's like oh my gosh. That's that's my hope. I think Indiana probably can win you know, by five or six points. That's My overall, take on. I'm curious what your, you know, feeling is on how this game could play out and we'll play
out. Yeah, I think that's a fair assessment. Like you said about Jackson Davis and Kent, State hasn't had that opportunity to play against him for years, like Big Ten opponents. I think Indiana could have that problem.
With certain players especially like sincere carry, who's in his fifth year, he's played 130 games started, pretty much all of them in his career, played for Duquesne before he came to Kent State, but that's a battle-tested player and he really proved his ability to take over games when it mattered the most in the Mac tournament, and when he's feeling it, like he'll essentially be like a motionless, like, on the floor, just locked in. Like there's no stopping him
when, you know, he's getting the ball in. Situations, there's not much you can do. So I think that's something to watch out for but you know, he has a tough games that season and he didn't shoot well against Houston or Gonzaga and that was probably the reason they didn't pull off those wins but I would say sincere carries. The the biggest X Factor in this game and could be the reason that can stay can pull off a victory, okay?
Any other guys that you talked about sincere Jacobs, Thomas anybody else you know worth mentioning to keep an eye on I love Amy Santiago, I can, but that's a solid name, but, you know, you look down your lineup. You know, everybody has an offensive rating of 100 or above, except for Jacobs and Davis and they're both at 95 and 98.
You know, you look at the percentages of possessions and it's pretty fairly distributed across this team obviously sincere carry and Luke Jacobs have the most 26%, both of them but it's it looks like you guys run you know, eight deep in most games. And then everyone's contributing and really at a relatively effective level based on offensive rating. Yeah, really. Is a team effort, you know a lot of players really have their role Jalen cylinders and name Dimension.
He's only five, ten comes off the bench so it's important mention. He's actually the nephew of Jared Sullinger so I'm sure that's a familiar name to. Yep, I was wondering that. Yeah, probably doesn't bring back great memories. Yeah. Yeah, he had Courage is about eight Off the Bench. He's a three-point specialist, but he can score inside too. But, yeah, he's definitely the best. Three-point shooter on the team at about 42 percent. So he's somebody to watch out for.
Yeah, and I would say, based off of recent games forward, Chris Payton is somebody to watch out for, he scored 17 in the MAC Championship, he can finish inside, you know, dunk the basketball, gets the team fired up. So All right, so I will get you out of here on this. Who give me your prediction for the game. Whoo, I'm gonna have to take Kent State 6866. Okay. All right, I like it.
I think, I think Indiana wins by 5 and probably in that same kind of score range, but it might be like Indiana, you know, 72 can State like 6067 so somewhere in that range. And and I'll ask you this and I don't there's no you know no nice way to say you know for Indiana I think for us this season like we can get to a sweet 16. I think that's been a really good year and then it's like you know I think based on this team you know we've been saying on
this podcast for a while. I think the high-level ability of this team they could win a National Championship. They can go to a final four. I just want that they're consistent enough to do it but at the top level and they're playing at their level, they are an elite team but I look at us, you know, we can get to a sweet 16.
In venues, let the cards fall where they may and see how you do against Houston. Curious for Kent State, you guys come in, you beat Indiana, is that a validating season for a team in the Mac? Or would you be also looking like, we'd love to get to a sweet 16 and yeah I mean I think winning the first round game always means a successful season for most mid major conference winners. I think the Mac the Mac is 5 and 7 in their last first round game. So almost 50% there.
Yeah but a team hasn't made the sweet 16 since Since 2012, when Ohio did it. So definitely would be big for the conference to get back there. And, you know, I think for Kent State first round when is good, but if we're talking Mac as a whole, I think it would be really big. If a team could get back to the Sweet 16. Well, I would love to wish you luck, but I can't because, you know, we don't want to lose in the first round of this is what makes the the tournament, a ton
of fun. And we'll start, you know, maybe this will be again, we meet, you know, back-to-back years and they were playing for a final four berth again next year. But hopefully, you don't have to beat us this year to have that happen again. So yeah, well John I appreciate you coming on. Thank you so much again. The website is hustle belt.com the SB Nation for the Mac You can find John on Twitter at John Elrod, underscored 19 and thank you guys all for listening. It's go time, man.
When depending on when you listen this the game is relatively soon and I want to thank you guys all for the support and we will be back after the game. Probably not Friday night. I'd say Saturday, some time to recap what's going on and hopefully sorry John cover Years. Hopefully discussing a game against, you know, maybe Miami or, you know, whoever we end up playing in the second round but we shall see. So Thank you all for listening till next time.
This is Scott for Crimson cast signing off.