Kent State coach Geno Ford said the 2008-09 men’s basketball schedule is the toughest the program has seen in recent memory.

A week-long stretch from Nov. 28 through Dec. 4 is the most demanding part of the schedule.

The Flashes face Illinois in the South Padre Invitational and have a potential matchup against Texas A&M in the second round. A trip to defending national champion Kansas follows the invitational and then the Flashes return home to play St. Mary’s .

“It’s a very demanding non-league schedule,” Ford said. “It’s by far the toughest that we’ve had in my five years associated with the program. It’s going to be essential that our new players pick up the system quickly because we’ve got some real tough opponents and we’ve got them early in the year.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re getting excited to meet it head on and feel good about our chances,” he added.

The season starts Nov. 17 at home against N.C. Central. All together, seven of the Flashes’ opponents were involved in postseason play last year.

The Flashes, one of seven teams in the country with 20 wins or more in the last ten years, look to extend their streak under Ford. To do so, they will have to make up for the loss of senior forwards Mike Scott and Haminn Quaintance.

The schedule, Ford said, gives Kent State’s young team the ability to win its way in to the tournament. The Athletic Department’s only strategy in scheduling was to give the Flashes that chance.

“We try to play some of the best people in the country,” Ford said. “What we wanted to try to do this year was give ourselves more than just a couple opportunities. Hopefully we can beat some of those (schools), because those are the type of (programs) that you have to beat to have a chance to be an at-large team.”

Kent State will begin Mid-American Conference play on Jan. 11 at Ohio, and the Flashes will play at Akron on Jan. 24, the first of two matchups against the rival Zips. The second installment of the rivalry takes place on March 8 at the M.A.C. Center to end the season.

ESPN’s Bracketbuster matchup is scheduled for Feb. 21 and will be played at home as well. Last year the Flashes went to St. Mary’s and won, vaulting them into the No. 23 spot in the national rankings. Kent State’s opponent will be released at a later date.

“To get an opponent like (St. Mary’s) when our students are in session,” Ford said, “we really feel highlights the schedule.

“Now we’ve got a national top-25 program coming in to our building with the students,” he added. “We’ve just got to find a way to gut it out.”

Contact sports reporter Chris Gates at [email protected].

Nov. 17: NC CENTRAL

Nov. 19: at Saint Louis

Nov. 23: UNC WILMINGTON

Nov. 28: vs. Illinois (South Padre Island)

Nov. 29: vs. Texas A&M or Tulsa (South Padre Island)

Dec. 1: at Kansas

Dec. 4: SAINT MARY’S

Dec. 6: WESTERN CAROLINA

Dec. 15: YOUNGSTOWN STATE

Dec. 18: UNC GREENSBORO

Dec. 23: at Cleveland State

Jan. 3: at Hampton

Jan. 5: at Temple

Jan. 11: at Ohio*

Jan. 14: BOWLING GREEN*

Jan. 17: MIAMI*

Jan. 21: at Buffalo*

Jan. 24: at Akron*

Jan. 27: EASTERN MICHIGAN*

Jan. 31: at Western Michigan*

Feb. 3: TOLEDO*

Feb. 7: at Ball State*

Feb. 10: at Northern Illinois*

Feb. 14: CENTRAL MICHIGAN*

Feb. 17: OHIO*

Feb. 21: ESPN BRACKETBUSTER

Feb. 26: at Bowling Green*

March 1: at Miami*

March 5: BUFFALO*

March 8: AKRON*

March 11-14: Mid-American Conference Tournament

*MAC game