Recordpub.com - Injuries to Singletary, Sherman appear minor

By David Carducci

Record-Courier staff writer

The early diagnoses on the sprained ankle of Chris Singletary and the dislocated elbow of Rod Sherman brought some good news for Kent State’s men’s basketball team.

“It doesn’t look like they’ll miss any major time,” said Golden Flashes head coach Geno Ford. “It’ll probably be a week or two for both as opposed to three or four.”

That timetable means Singletary and Sherman will miss Monday’s exhibition game with Ohio Northern at the M.A.C. Center. Both should be back in time for KSU’s season opener with visiting Samford on Nov. 13.

Of the two injuries, Singletary’s appears to be the most serious. The senior first sprained his right ankle during individual workouts early in the month. He re-injured the ankle driving to the basket on a fastbreak during a scrimmage on Sunday.

“That’s the scary thing. This is the second time he’s hurt the same ankle,” said Ford. “He might get some level of clearance next week, but we are going to be cautious with him before we let him get back to contact.”

Sherman suffered the dislocation of his left elbow in a fall Tuesday.

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PRESEASON PICKS — Kent State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams were both picked to finish second in the East Division in the Mid-American Conference’s annual preseason media poll.

Ford’s team was predicted to finish in first place in the East Division on three of the 24 ballots. The Flashes also received 108 points in the voting. Both numbers were a distant second to preseason-favorite Akron, which received 19 first-place votes and 190 points.

Buffalo and Bowling Green were the only other teams to receive a first-place vote. The poll tabbed Buffalo to finish third in the East, followed by Miami in fourth, Bowling Green in fifth and Ohio University last.

Central Michigan finished atop the West Division poll with 113 points and 10 first-place votes. Behind the Chippewas, Northern Illinois was picked a close second (102 points, 4 first-place votes), followed by Eastern Michigan in third, Ball State in fourth, Western Michigan in fifth and Toledo last.

Of the 24 voters, 19 picked Akron to win the MAC Tournament in March. Kent State received one vote.

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WOMEN SECOND, AGAIN — KSU women’s basketball coach Bob Lindsay wasn’t surprised to see the media predict a second-place finish for his team.

“We were picked second because we get picked second every year,” Lindsay said Wednesday during the MAC’s preseason teleconference.

Lindsay’s Flashes received 12 first-place votes — 10 fewer than perennial preseason favorite Bowling Green. The Falcons were also picked to defend as MAC Tournament champion.

“Bowling Green is picked to win and deservedly so,” said Lindsay. “There are five other teams in the division that could do very, very well also.”

The biggest question for KSU is at the center position, where the Flashes must replace the team’s top scorer and rebounder in Anna Kowalska. Starters return at the four spots with forward Chenel Harris and guards Jamilah Humes, Rachel Bennett and Stephanie Gibson.

After Bowling Green and KSU, the women’s East Division poll continues with Miami in third, Akron in fourth, Ohio in fifth and Buffalo in sixth.

Toledo is the favorite to win the West receiving 18 first-place votes. Ball State claimed 14 first-place votes in finishing a close second. Northern Illinois was picked third, followed by Central Michigan in fourth, Eastern Michigan in fifth and Western Michigan in sixth.

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SINGLETARY HONORED — The media selected Singletary to represent Kent State on the East Division All-MAC preseason team.

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David Carducci can be contacted at dcarducci@recordpub.com