MAC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

Kent State and head coach Rob Senderoff have, it would seem a full rebuild on their hands for the 2020-2021 season. But some new pieces to the puzzle in Kent, OH could be enough to make it a shorter than normal reboot. Last season, Kent State was impressive going 20-12 overall and 9-9 in MAC play.

Reasons to be skeptical are the team lost four starters and return only two reserves who made any sort of impact last season. Three of the four starters, Antonio Williams, Troy Simons, and Anthony Roberts all averaged 12+ points per game last season; and Philip Whittington wasn’t close behind, averaging 9.4 points per contest.

That reason alone may have you thinking “holy cow, how are they not worst on your list?”.

One reason to be encouraged if you are a Golden Flashes fan is that they bagged, for the first time in program history, Ohio’s Mr. Basketball award winner in incoming freshman VonCameron Davis. Davis averaged 26.9 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior. He also stands at 6’5″ so he can be that hybrid guard for Coach Senderoff and be put in the best position to get some buckets.

Here are some highlights from his senior season at Walnut Ridge High School in Columbus.

Davis alone can lift Kent State’s scoring losses,  along with the two returning aforementioned reserves in Tervell Beck and Giovanni Santiago. Given the four starters lost, it would be expected to see more playing time for Beck and Santiago, who each averaged under five points per game.

Below are a couple of others to watch on the Golden Flashes’ roster:

• Danny Pippen – The lone returning starter for Kent State has a big task on his hands to be the leader of this team. Pippen averaged 14.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season and will have to equal that in order for the team to pose any threat in the MAC.
• Mike Nuga – Nuga sat out last season due to NCAA Transfer rules, but will be a key player this season for Rob Senderoff. Prior to transferring, Nuga was at Portland State, where he led the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game.

Overall, Kent State might be one of the more intriguing teams to pay attention to this season. Not because of where them contending in the MAC, but with the additions they gained. In particular, VonCameron Davis to see how his game transitions from high school to the collegiate level.