Rob Senderoff, the coach of Kent State men’s basketball team, stood by his player after a critical mistake during a game against Akron on Saturday night led to a 62-61 defeat.
In the final moments of the MAC Tournament championship game, Kent State was ahead 61-60. This was after Cli’Ron Hornbeak scored a dunk with just five seconds left on the clock. However, when Akron restarted play, Kent State’s Julius Rollins fouled Akron’s Greg Tribble in the backcourt with 4.8 seconds remaining.
The reaction from Senderoff and the Kent State team was one of shock following the foul.
Senderoff later explained, “He probably thought we were trailing by one, instead of leading.”
This foul was costly for the Golden Flashes as they had no fouls to spare, sending Tribble to the free-throw line. Tribble made both shots, putting Akron in the lead at 62-61. Kent State’s Jalen Sullinger attempted a final shot with one second left but missed, losing the chance to win the game.
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Automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament are up for grabs, and had Kent State maintained their lead, they would have secured consecutive MAC Tournament championships and an automatic NCAA Tournament spot.
Senderoff took responsibility for the loss, stating, “I should have called a timeout then. I don’t blame Julius. There were 100 plays in the game, and that was just one.”
He mentioned that Rollins was deeply affected by the mistake, saying, “Right now, it’s probably the worst thing that’s ever happened to him,” but reminded him that it’s just a game at the end of the day.
Senderoff shared a personal message with Rollins, “If this is the worst thing that’s happened to you by the time you’re 50, like me, then you’ve had a pretty good life. Tomorrow, the sun will rise again, though it might be a bit cloudy for us.”
For more captivating moments from March Madness 2023, check out the gallery featuring a standout photo from every NCAA men’s tournament game this year.