Owls Flying High: A Promotion / Relegation Dynasty

[jksander]

December 9, 2021
Kennesaw State (0-7) @ Auburn (4-1)

We set the pace for two minutes of this one, leading 5-0 in the opening moments, but Auburn got going quickly and with 8:20 to go in the half we trailed 18-28 and by the time we reached halftime we were looking up from a 27-52 pit. They opened on a 10-2 run and it was over, Auburn coasting to blow this one out 63-87.

Player of the Game: Kareem Roach (14 pts 6 reb 1 blk)
Honorable Mentions: Chris Snyder (12 pts 1 reb 1 ast) Shane Ross (12 pts 5 reb 4 ast 2 stl 3 blk)

[jksander]

December 13, 2021
Georgia (5-0) @ Kennesaw State (0-8)

The building tonight should have been sold out, with undefeated Georgia coming here to play us. But there were a number of empty seats visible at tip-off, and I could tell a lot of our season ticket holders had put theirs up on Stubhub this week, as there were way more Georgia fans in attendance than I would have liked. But what can I say? If I wasn't coaching the team, would I be here? All we can do is focus on one game at a time and try to dig out of this.

Manley got things going nicely in the first minutes, giving us a 5-2 lead on an off-balance triple, and Roach got a steal and a fast-break dunk with 17:52 remaining to put us up 7-2 on the Bulldogs. Manley followed with another triple to make it an eight point game inside the first 2:30 of the game, and the Kennesaw State fans who were here made their presence known. With 15:36 to go we'd effectively neutered Georgia's offense en route to a 17-4 advantage. Even better, we were being led by a balanced attack, we were shooting out the lights from three, and the players were actually ENJOYING themselves!

Georgia, of course, fought back. With 8:19 to go our lead, once at 18 points, had been slashed to seven, up 28-21 over the Bulldogs. Manley kept our scoring alive with a three that made it 31-24 with 6:36 to play, and he got a great assist to Ross who nailed a jumper to make it 33-24 seconds later. But Georgia kept knocking at the door, inching closer as the half closed, our lead just 35-33 with 2:15 on the clock. They took the lead for the first time all game 37-39 with 1:04 to go and our hearts dropped. Granberry nailed a two to tie it 39-39, but Georgia owned the final seconds and went into the half with momentum on their side. Halftime: Georgia 44, Kennesaw State 39.

Georgia made up for lost time by throttling us in the second half, opening the first four minutes on a brutal 16-5 tear. We could have just laid down for them but we fought instead, and with 12:10 to play we'd pulled back within ten, down 52-62. and a Ross deuce with 9:14 to go pulled us within seven, down 59-66. But the comeback was not to be. We fought valiantly until the buzzer but would lose this one as well, 71-83.

Player of the Game: Brandon Manley (15 pts 2 reb 4 ast 2 stl 1 blk)
Honorable Mentions: Shane Ross (10 pts 3 reb 1 ast 3 blk) Kareem Roach (10 pts 7 reb 1 ast 3 blk)

[jksander]

A confiscated sign from a Georgia fan late in the second half:

KENNESAW STATE
SPONSORED BY PORN HUB
WE SUCK AND BLOW

[PointGuard]

Well, it does seem like Kennesaw State's play is for Adults Only...all those losses probably would make kids cry. (as probably is the coach)

[jksander]

Well, it does seem like Kennesaw State's play is for Adults Only...all those losses probably would make kids cry. (as probably is the coach)

Yeah I am definitely having to tweak my game planning on a daily basis to try and find ways to get out of this hole.

- - - - -

December 20, 2021
Kennesaw State (0-9) @ Alabama (8-2)

Alabama's on the verge of a top 25 ranking heading into this game, a rarity for the football-focused school, so the atmosphere coming in was electric. We opened with a Manley three and led 3-2 after the first minute, and with 18:05 to play in the half we were tied 5-5 still thanks to a pair of Ross free throws. Bama put up a 12-2 run in four minutes, however, and we were back on our heels. We fought them hard but still were in a 15-30 hole with 4:23 left in the half. By halftime they had us completely under their thumbs, 23-45. We fought them hard in the second half, as good a defensive effort as I've seen from this team against a team who simply had more firepower on both ends than we could muster. Alabama won easily 59-81.

Player of the Game: Shane Ross (17 pts 12 reb 1 ast 2 stl)
Honorable Mention: Kareem Roach (11 pts 10 reb 2 reb 2 stl 3 blk)

[jksander]

December 27, 2021
South Alabama (3-7) @ Kennesaw State (0-10)

Griffin Casper took all of 20 seconds to take the ball into three-point country, opening the scoring for tonight's game! South Alabama put up a significant run, however, and with 13:14 to go we trailed 13-17 and needed a real boost. With 8:01 to go we trailed 22-28, and though we trailed 35-46 with 2:12 remaining, a strong 8-2 finish down the stretch put us to halftime with a solid boost of momentum and the knowledge that we could run with a good team. Halftime: South Alabama 48, Kennesaw State 43.

We opened strong in the second half, and when Ross nailed two free throws with 17:26 to go we were within a point, down 49-50 against the Jaguars. They ran out to a significant lead again, but we battled to within seven, down 64-71 with 7:58 to play, but we couldn't contain them. The Jaguars ran out to a 67-78 lead with 6:09 to go and we had to put in our big guns for the stretch run no matter the risk. Snyder nailed a pair of free throws, then got a steal and dished it to Roach who slammed the two down on a fast break! Five point game! Snyder got a rebound a moment later and took it full court for a beautiful jumper, and suddenly we're down 75-78 with 4:45 to play! ANOTHER Snyder steal, this time dishing it to Ross via one of the best ally-oop passes I've seen all year, and JAM! One point game, 4:16 on the clock! Two Roach free throws and with 3:44 to go we had our first lead of the game since the first three minutes of the game, 79-78!

Then the bottom dropped out. Shane Ross fouled out, South Alabama went on a huge run to break the game wide open YET AGAIN and we lost this one 80-88. We lose our 16th consecutive game and go into the conference season winless.

Player of the Game: Kareem Roach (17 pts 11 reb 5 blk)
Honorable Mentions: Chris Snyder (14 pts 5 reb 5 ast 3 stl) Shane Ross (13 pts 5 reb 5 ast 7 stl 2 blk)

[jksander]

Conference “V” Standings
(01) Longwood (9-2) – RPI: 16
(02) Chicago State (8-3) – RPI: 68
(03) Massachusetts-Lowell (7-4) – RPI: 29
(04) Houston Baptist (6-5) – RPI: 165
(05) Stony Brook (6-5) – RPI: 219
(06) Bryant (5-6) – RPI: 161
(07) Presbyterian (5-6) – RPI: 205
(08) Tennesee-Martin (5-6) – RPI: 235
(09) California Baptist (5-6) – RPI: 261
(10) Omaha (4-7) – RPI: 267
(11) North Alabama (3-8) – RPI: 221
(12) Abilene Christian (3-8) – RPI: 326
(13) Central Arkansas (3-8) – RPI: 352
(14) SC Upstate (2-9) – RPI: 327
(15) Incarnate Word (1-10) – RPI: 339
(16) Kennesaw State (0-11) – RPI: 346

We play Omaha twice, Central Arkansas twice and SC Upstate twice. We get Longwood and Umass Lowell both here at home, which may be the only break we get all year other than that we won't face Chicago State at all unless we make the Conference Tournament. But sitting here at 0-11, no opponent looks like a guarantee, home or away.

[jksander]

January 1, 2022
Our two walk-ons, Mike Cook and Kevin Hill both decided to quit the team, saying it wasn't worth their time beating themselves up in practice to sit on the bench and have to watch us lose every night. I told them good riddance, the rest of us will continue to fight to salvage our season.

Freshman guard Chris Earl wants more playing time, and I've told him we'll continue to work to get him minutes off the bench if he shows an effort in improving his ability to make shots happen. He has played 18 minutes as clean-up in four games, scoring a total of 8 points with a single rebound and 3 assists, shooting .500 from field goal range and scoring two threes on two attempts. He's a great shooter but isn't always comfortable setting his own shots up, focusing on his jumper. I definitely appreciate his work ethic, however, and will keep an eye on his progress.

[jksander]

January 3, 2022
Kennesaw State (0-11, 0-0) @ Omaha (4-7, 0-0)

We struggled to find an identity early, but Chris Earl nailed his third triple of the season with 12:20 to go, while giving Manley a rest, pulling us within seven, down 9-16 against the Mavericks. They built a large lead on us midway through the half, but we fought them defensively and kept them from getting good shots for a good stretch, trailing 20-30 with 3:31 to play. Kareem Roach nailed a wicked three with 2:03 to play, pulling us within a 27-34 margin, and we were still contending when the buzzer went off to signal the break. Halftime: Kennesaw State 30, Omaha 38.

The defensive toll we were taking was evident as the second half progressed and Omaha pulled away. Ross fouled out early, Granberry kept us in the battle with his solid free-throw shooting and willingness to take charges, and with 10;59 to go we trailed 46-58. But we were outmatched and worn down from there, and Omaha shredded us down the stretch 60-87.

Player of the Game: Kareem Roach (21 pts 4 reb 1 ast 2 blk)
Honorable Mentions: Griffin Casper (8 pts 4 reb 1 blk) Chris Earl (6 pts 1 ast 2 stl)

[jksander]

January 6, 2022
Central Arkansas (4-8, 1-0) @ Kennesaw State (0-12, 0-1)

We held a slim 14-11 lead over the Bears with 11:12 to go in the first half, but late in the half they retook the lead 22-23 and we were in what has proven to be our usual position this season, fighting from behind because we can't string together good offense at the same time we play good defense. With 2:26 to go in the half we trailed 29-33, but Snyder kept us in this with a solid three to give us a 34-31 advantage with 1:29 to play. We couldn't, however, hold on to lead at the break, trailing 34-38. The second half was an exercise in humiliation and repetition as we failed consistently to fight or act like we give a **** whether we win a game this year or not. Central Arkansas rolled over us 67-85.

Player of the Game: Larue Ragin (17 pts 3 reb 4 ast 2 stl)
Honorable Mention: Kareem Roach (11 pts 8 reb 1 blk)