Kent State’s men’s basketball team might go to the NCAA tournament in March. They might do what “experts” such as Jay Bilas say and win some games in that tournament. And it would be great for alumni, students and Super Fan (you know who I’m talking about).

Think about it: Who wouldn’t want to root for the Flashes? They’re a mid-major team with a center who has goofy hair, a forward who preaches to his team before every game and a point guard who can make dazzling plays. Not to mention everyone only knows Kent State for two reasons — one of which happened nearly 38 years ago and led to a Neil Young song (let’s be honest here, people remember the song more than the event). The other happened about six years ago (and guess what, it involves basketball, tournaments and the number eight). If it happened again, all this would lead to a national following for the Flashes and more hits on BlackSquirrelRadio.com and KentNewsNet.com.

But it might not happen. In an era where RPI rankings mean more to teams and make conference games against Toledo and Eastern Michigan a liability, win or lose, the Flashes turned over their at-large tournament bid on Saturday at Toledo. The Flashes lost to the Rockets despite being up by five points to a six-win team with 65 seconds left in the game. There was a foul, a few turnovers and a dunk, and next thing you know, everyone with Kent State on their chests is looking around and saying, “What the (bleep) just happened?”

But let’s face it, coach Jim Christian isn’t focused on an at-large bid. He wants the Mid-American Conference title, then the MAC tournament title. If the supposed best team in the MAC after Kent State is Ohio or Akron, then I think the Flashes are the safest bet to win the tournament and get the automatic bid.

But it’s not Ohio, who we might have beaten if a storm of technicals weren’t called at the most crucial part of the game, or Akron, who we embarrassed in the second half of the Battle of I-76 a few weeks ago; it’s the bad teams I’m worried about. Toledo, Northern Illinois, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, where we played poorly in front of the Eagles players’ parents and the band (there were around 600 people at the game, but I counted about 200 people). Those are the teams that Kent State would lose to if they continue to play down to their competition.

But hey, a lot of people struggle at times in a 30-game season. For Kent State, this is a fact they lean on after every game. I love scrappy teams because they are the teams that aren’t as talented, aren’t as deep and usually play sound fundamental basketball. Those scrappy teams are the ones that say after losses and close games, “Hey, it’s a 30-game season.” Kent State isn’t less talented; they are deep with the ability to play 10 guys if they want. As for the fundamentals, well, they have to work on that aspect. Kent State shouldn’t have to be a scrappy team. They should be a monster in this field of MAC teams.

But they aren’t acting like it, yet. This team is going through a rough stretch. Last time I checked, No.2 Kansas lost, No.1 Memphis almost lost and North Carolina follows up a 30-plus-point blowout over North Carolina State with an overtime win against Georgia Tech, then a loss to Maryland, who lost to Ohio, who Kent State almost beat. The Flashes have a boatload of excuses, but this one, that college basketball is more confusing than a professor speaking French while teaching quantum physics, is the most viable.

But I’m sick of the “buts” that have to be said when talking about Kent State.

They’re so good, but…

They had a bad game, but…

They were down at half-time, but…

Here’s the story about Kent State: They are a good mid-major team with a center who has goofy hair and 10 guys who turn the ball over way too much. The Toledo game will change this team in a good way, but I just hope it starts on Wednesday and carries over to the MAC tournament, which is in Cleveland. If it doesn’t, the 2007-2008 Kent State basketball team will be remembered like this: They won MAC, they won 20 games for the tenth season in a row, Hamin Quaintance had pig-tails, but they didn’t go…

Contact assistant sports editor Joe Harrington at [email protected].