The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

This week's Mid-Major Watch spotlights Justin Greene.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6097830

Quote:Spotlight on Kent State's Justin Greene

At 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds in eighth grade, Justin Greene saw himself as a baseball player.

He played first base in his native South Carolina, but personal circumstances would bring him to Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y., to live with his father, Chris.

There wasn't much baseball being played on the streets of Brooklyn, so he decided to join a local basketball league mainly to keep busy. He had never played organized basketball, but a junior varsity player from Lincoln High School saw him play and encouraged Justin to try out for the team.

Justin had never heard of Sebastian Telfair, Stephon Marbury or Lance Stephenson. He had also never heard of coach Tiny Morton. Greene showed up at tryouts with low-top sneakers because he didn't have basketball shoes and never really needed them. Despite his "uncool look," he made the junior varsity team.

In his first JV game at Lincoln, Morton pulled Greene aside and told him, "You could be pretty good if you leave the cookies alone at night," Greene remembers with a laugh.

He trimmed down by running, then running some more and then running a little longer. "I almost quit because I had never done that much running in my whole life. Coach Morton stayed on me because he believed in me and between him and my dad, they wouldn't let me quit."

Good thing.

Greene is now 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, and the best low post player in the Mid-American Conference. He is the only player in the MAC to be listed among the top-5 in scoring, rebounds and blocked shots.

When he arrived at Kent State, he met the probable returning starter, Brandon Parks, and promptly told Parks he was going to win the job. Greene kept his word and, according to Kent State coach Geno Ford, Parks now brags, "Hey, I got beat out by the best big man in the MAC." Parks and Greene are very good friends, despite the fact they competed for playing time. But Greene has a way about him that makes him easy to admire.

He is simply devoid of ego. When he plays poorly, he takes the blame. "If he plays poorly, he stops by my office to review video. Justin texts me after games when he struggles, to take responsibility for his lack of production," Ford explains. "He is not afraid to take responsibility and self-analyze."

His dedication to improving and understanding his own shortcomings has served Greene well. He has improved his scoring numbers over the past two seasons and is averaging 15.7 ppg and 7.6 rpg and shooting 78 percent from the free throw line after shooting 25 percent on free throws just two seasons ago.

His coach puts it this way: "Justin Greene is not a selfish guy. He is fun to be around. He really wants to be a good player."

In my view, Greene is putting up player-of-the-year numbers in the MAC while leading Kent State to the top of the MAC East standings.

The baseball team at Kent is preparing for its season. I wonder if they need a 6-foot-8, 230-pound first baseman. I know a guy who still loves baseball and knows how to improve.

KSU also is in the Who's Hot.

Quote:Kent State is back on top of the MAC East and has the best record in the balanced MAC at 6-2. The Golden Flashes rely on ball-hawking defense and opportunistic offensive rebounding. Justin Greene is putting up player-of-the-year numbers. Stay tuned, as a showdown with a good Buffalo team is coming up Feb. 24.

That's pretty awesome. Good to see some recognition for Greene and the Flashes.

On the other hand, Lunardi currently has us predicted as 15 seed in the tournament, lowest I've seen in a long time for a MAC school:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Another reason why even though we should be happy to be on top of the MAC no matter how bad, it hurts us in the post season match-ups to be part of such a weak conference. Winning the MAC tournament is the number one priority but hopefully we can get a good win against Drexel and finish the conference games strong to improve our seeding.

(02-07-2011 09:01 PM)2thaker8 Wrote:  That's pretty awesome. Good to see some recognition for Greene and the Flashes.

On the other hand, Lunardi currently has us predicted as 15 seed in the tournament, lowest I've seen in a long time for a MAC school:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Another reason why even though we should be happy to be on top of the MAC no matter how bad, it hurts us in the post season match-ups to be part of such a weak conference. Winning the MAC tournament is the number one priority but hopefully we can get a good win against Drexel and finish the conference games strong to improve our seeding.

I checked the Bracketology today too. IMO, its long overdue. I think they picked us mostly because there is no logical auto-bid from the MAC. Of course there really isn't much logical about the MAC anyway.

Most sites just pick the #1 team in the conference. Since Ball State had the lead and then Buffalo had the advantage because of their win vs. Kent, most sites have had those teams until now.

The other thing this year is that there will be 3 more teams in the tournament (essentially 4 17 seeds now, instead of 1, hence everyone outside the Top 60 will be dropping a seed. That said, a #14 seed isn't anything special either. Until you beat Indiana in the tournament.

Absolutely. Whoever happens to be leading the conference when he revises it every week gets the auto bid because who knows. Ohio, Akron, Ball State, Buffalo, and Kent have all been on there (maybe more that I've missed). But this is the first week we've gone down to a 15 seed. It's been 14 the rest of the season. Gonna have to finish very strong to build some confidence in the selection committee.

(02-07-2011 09:23 PM)2thaker8 Wrote:  Absolutely. Whoever happens to be leading the conference when he revises it every week gets the auto bid because who knows. Ohio, Akron, Ball State, Buffalo, and Kent have all been on there (maybe more that I've missed). But this is the first week we've gone down to a 15 seed. It's been 14 the rest of the season. Gonna have to finish very strong to build some confidence in the selection committee.

The reason more of the MAC is not represented could be because there are 11 possible Big East teams, which would be a record from a conference. Again it comes back to the MAC scheduling more ooc tough games.

I'm not worried about the seed, I just hope we get in. A trip to the tourney this year could go a long way in terms of experience for next years team which figures to be VERY good.

Thanks for the heads-up. I am throwing the links on my Facebook. I beat people over the head with Kent State stuff on there.

(02-07-2011 11:36 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  I'm not worried about the seed, I just hope we get in. A trip to the tourney this year could go a long way in terms of experience for next years team which figures to be VERY good.

I think I'm thinking the same lines as you. Just getting in would be pretty decent for this young team. If we get in and win, Geno might get bought up by another school. Let's keep him around until we can do some real damage in this thing.
Of course, all of this is mute until after the MAC-T.

(02-07-2011 09:01 PM)2thaker8 Wrote:  That's pretty awesome. Good to see some recognition for Greene and the Flashes.

On the other hand, Lunardi currently has us predicted as 15 seed in the tournament, lowest I've seen in a long time for a MAC school:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Another reason why even though we should be happy to be on top of the MAC no matter how bad, it hurts us in the post season match-ups to be part of such a weak conference. Winning the MAC tournament is the number one priority but hopefully we can get a good win against Drexel and finish the conference games strong to improve our seeding.

In the update Lunardi did Friday, BG was the MAC rep as a 16 seed playing Texas. It was weird seeing a MAC team with that seed.

Jerry Palm/CollegeRPI.com currently has KSU as a 14. He had BG as a 16 as well last week. What else do you do with a sub .500 MAC team with a bid? If KSU wins the MAC Championship and the tourney, 14 will probably be what it is. I can't see higher than that.

(02-07-2011 11:36 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  I'm not worried about the seed, I just hope we get in. A trip to the tourney this year could go a long way in terms of experience for next years team which figures to be VERY good.

Couldn't agree more! This a young team, with only one senior. Just in a confidence builder alone, would be great for the team. And also the benefits with future recruiting. Tournament appearances go a long way in convincing high schoolers to pursue their hoops' dreams at KSU.