Justin Greene keeps getting better and better in his sophomore season.
After averaging just 2.2 points in 8.8 minutes per game last season, the KSU center is now ranked sixth in the Mid-American Conference in scoring at 14.2 points per game.
His free-throw shooting has improved so much, from an ugly 25 percent last season (3-for-12) to 77 percent so far this year (64-for-83), that the Flashes actually chose the 6-foot-8 Brooklyn, N.Y., native to shoot a technical foul shot last week during the Cable Car Classic.
In the last three games alone, Greene is 30-for-34 from the foul line (88 percent).
“Justin has gotten stronger in the weight room, he has worked hard, and because of that he has a lot more confidence,” said KSU assistant coach Rob Senderoff. “That confidence is showing. Now that he is sixth in the league in scoring, when we get into the (Mid-American Conference) games at the end of the week, everyone will probably be gameplanning for him. He is going to become the focal point for teams defensively.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he handles it,” Senderoff said. “The question will be, can he produce when teams are keying on him? I think he will, because he has already shown that he is smart enough to figure things out.”
Greene demonstrated that ability after having disappointing first halves against Pittsburgh and Northeastern this season. Both teams were bigger and stronger in the post, and that created some problems for Greene.
Although, Greene adjusted to the size and strength of his opponents and found ways to put up big numbers in the second halves of both games.
•••
WEST COAST HEARTBREAK — Kent State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have returned home after suffering through some heartbreaks on the west coast.
After losing a pair of games in Honolulu by a grand total of just four points, 54-53 and 63-60, both to the University of Hawaii, the Golden Flashes’ women play host to Delaware State today at 1 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.
The Flashes men won a thriller over Wofford in the opener of the Cable Car Classic in Santa Clara, Calif., last week, but missed a layup and an open 3-pointer in the closing minute to fall 61-58 to Northeastern in the tournament’s championship game. They will return to action Monday night when Norfolk State visits the M.A.C. Center.
On paper, Delaware State and Norfolk State should offer a cure to the Flashes’ blues.
Delaware State is just 1-11 on the year. The Hornets lost to KSU’s women 66-56 in Delaware last season.
On the men’s side, Norfolk State’s record is just as dismal. The Spartans are just 1-10 on the year, with their only victory coming Nov. 16 against the University of Maine.
But then, the Norfolk State team that will take the court Monday night isn’t exactly the same Norfolk State team that has lost nine games in a row.
“They were struggling, but then three games ago they added a 6-foot-8 transfer from Rutgers named Christian Morris,” said KSU men’s basketball head coach Geno Ford. “He is averaging 16 points and almost 10 rebounds per game ... and he now gives them three players who could without question play and possibly start for us.”
The other two in that trio are guard Michael Deloach (21.5 points per game) and small forward Rob Hampton (12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds per game).
“Deloach is as talented a guard as we’ve played all year,” said Ford. “He is really quick, he averages about three steals per game, and he is a real good shooter. He will pose some problems for us because we’ve had trouble guarding high-scoring wings, and in particular guys who guys who can score off the dribble.
“Morris is going to be a problem because of his brute strength,” Ford said. “He played in the Big East, and there is a reason he was there. And Hampton is one of those do-everything guys. He can make 3s, drive, pass and defend. We are going to have to do a good job on those three guys because any one of them can bust out and go for 30. Those guys are going to keep getting better and have more chemistry every day they are together.”
•••
SWOOSHING OVER TO NIKE — Kent State football has a new three-year contract in the works to switch its shoe contract from New Balance to Nike.
When it goes through, the switch will be popular with the Flashes’ players. Most of the players on last year’s squad spent their own money to wear Nike instead of New Balance. According to a KSU source, more than half of the team wore Nike on game day, “spatting” the shoes with ankle tape to cover the logo.
KSU even believes the switch to Nike could help in recruiting. One of the first questions most recruits ask is what shoes do you wear?
In addition to changing shoes, the move to Nike will mean a change in the Flashes’ home and away uniforms.
Kent State’s basketball and track teams currently have contracts with Nike.
•••
MAKING THE GRADE — The end of the 2009 football season may have been disappointing at Kent State, but the end of the semester has KSU’s football coaches excited about the team’s work in the classroom.
The Flashes’ 112 football players posted a 2.63 team grade-point average last semester, which marks the best academic performance for the program in several years.
•••
David Carducci can be contacted at dcarducci@recordpub.com