I will give credit to Coach Senderoff for his ability to get production out of less-talented players year in and year out but being the third best team in the MAC isn't going to bring national distinctiveness to Kent State University.
If people have forgotten, making men's basketball the focal point for "revenue generation and national distinctiveness" was Joel Nielsen's "strategic vision" back in 2016. But nine years later, the Flashes can't even claim to be the best team in northeastern Ohio. That claim goes to the Akron Zips regardless of whether they win tomorrow night in Cleveland. If the Zips win, which I believe they will, Akron will have won its third MAC Championship in four years.
Not that winning three MAC titles in four years brings national distinctiveness, because only winning NCAA Tournament games will do that, but it's a start.
The question now is, how long will it take Kent State to catch up with Akron?
If people have forgotten, making men's basketball the focal point for "revenue generation and national distinctiveness" was Joel Nielsen's "strategic vision" back in 2016. But nine years later, the Flashes can't even claim to be the best team in northeastern Ohio. That claim goes to the Akron Zips regardless of whether they win tomorrow night in Cleveland. If the Zips win, which I believe they will, Akron will have won its third MAC Championship in four years.
Not that winning three MAC titles in four years brings national distinctiveness, because only winning NCAA Tournament games will do that, but it's a start.
The question now is, how long will it take Kent State to catch up with Akron?
