March Madness | Kent State basketball's NCAA Tournament seed, opponent and site announced
Saturday night's convincing win in the Mid-American Conference Tournament title game earned the Kent State University men's basketball team the league's automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. KSU pulled away from the MAC Tournament's top seed, Toledo, for a 93-78 victory, snapping the Rockets' 17-game winning streak.
Sunday evening, the Golden Flashes found out their seed, destination and opponent for their first-round game later this week in the 68-team field.
Here's what you need to know about Kent State's seventh all-time trip to the NCAA Tournament in men's basketball and second under coach Rob Senderoff.
Who does Kent State play in the NCAA Tournament and where is the game?
The Golden Flashes are the 13th seed in the Midwest Region and will play No. 4 Indiana in a first-round game. The game will be played at Albany, New York, on Friday. Tip time and broadcast information will be announced later this week.
How often do No. 13 seeds beat No. 4 seeds in the NCAA Tournament
Under the current seeding format, No. 13 seeds are 31-117 vs. the No. 4.
Last year, all four No. 13s lost in the first round, including Akron (57-53 to UCLA). Also losing last year as No. 13s were South Dakota State, Chattanooga and Vermont.
However, in 2021, No. 13s went 2-2 in the first round. Ohio, the MAC champs that year, beat the ACC's Virginia 62-58 in the first round. Also, No. 13 North Texas beat the Big Ten's Purdue 78-69 in the first round.
Who does the Kent State-Indiana winner play in the second round?
The Kent State-Indiana winner plays the winner of the Miami (Fla.)-Drake game. Miami, which shared the ACC regular-season title, is the No. 5 seed after a 25-7 season. Drake is 27-7 after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and received the 12th seed.
What are the seeds for the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament
Here are the seeds, in order, or the Midwest Region, where Kent State was placed in the NCAA Tournament:
1, Houston
2, Texas
3, Xavier
4, Indiana
5, Miami (Fla.)
6, Iowa State
7, Texas A&M
8, Iowa
9, Auburn
10, Penn State
11, Mississippi State or Pittsburgh
12, Drake
13, Kent State
14, Kennesaw State
15, Colgate
16, Northern Kentucky
How many Ohio teams are in March Madness?
Kent State is joined by just one other Ohio team in the men's tournament — Xavier.
The Musketeers are the third seed in the Midwest region and play Kennesaw State in the first round. Xavier won the NIT a year ago and earned an at-large bid to the NCAAs this season after it lost to Marquette in the Big East Tournament title game.
What is the Kent State men's basketball team's NCAA Tournament history vs. Indiana?
The Golden Flashes and Hoosiers are meeting for the third time in the NCAA Tournament, and each of the first two matchups are pretty memorable for different reasons for KSU fans.
In 2001, Kent State won for the first time in the NCAA Tournament when it upset Indiana 77-73 in the first round before losing to Cincinnati in the second round.
A year later, KSU and IU met again in the tournament, this time in a regional final and the Hoosiers won 81-69 to advance to the Final Four.
When was the last time Kent State made the NCAA Tournament?
KSU last reached the tournament in 2017. Third-seeded UCLA beat No. 14 Kent State 97-80.
What is the Kent State men's basketball team's all-time record in the NCAA Tournament?
Kent is 4-6 in its previous six trips to the tournament. It's won games in just two tournaments, 2001 and 2002. MAC teams are 33-78 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. No MAC team has ever reached a Final Four, but one came close. More on that later.
When has Kent State men's basketball played in the NCAA Tournament?
The Golden Flashes have advanced to the tournament in 2023, 2017, 2008, 2006, 2002, 2001 and 1999.
What's the best seed Kent State has had for an NCAA Tournament?
The Golden Flashes have earned a single-digit seed just once, in 2008. As a No. 9 seed, KSU lost 71-58 to UNLV
How many Kent State men's basketball coaches have led their team to the NCAA Tournament twice?
Kyle Senderoff becomes the third Kent State men's basketball coach to guide the program to two NCAA Tournaments. He joins Jim Christian (2006, 2008) and Gary Waters (1999, 2001).
When did the Kent State basketball make its NCAA Tournament run?
The 2002 Golden Flashes are the MAC's gold standard for recent NCAA Tournament success. Kent State advanced all the way to the NCAA's Elite Eight that spring under coach Stan Heath, just missing a trip to the Final Four. Along the way, the champions of the MAC eliminated teams from the Big 12, SEC and Big East.
Kent State was the No. 10 seed in the South Region that year.
The Golden Flashes knocked off No. 7 Oklahoma State (69-61) and No. 2 Alabama (71-58) in the first two rounds in Greenville, South Carolina, before upsetting No. 3 Pittsburgh 78-73 in overtime in the Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena. That gave the Flashes a 21-game winning streak.
In the regional finals, though, No. 5 Indiana (which upset No. 1 seed Duke in the Sweet 16) ended KSU's run and advanced to the Final Four. The Hoosiers won 81-69 at Rupp, as the Flashes ended the season 30-6. Indiana reached the title game and lost to Maryland.
The Hoosiers haven't been back to a Final Four since. Kent State has not won an NCAA Tournament game since. And no MAC team has approached KSU's run.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Who does Kent State basketball play in the NCAA Tournament
