GAME NOTES: Looking to start the 2014-15 season off on the right foot, the Kent State Golden Flashes will seek their first win as they travel to face the Youngstown State Penguins in a non-conference tilt at the Beeghly Center on Saturday.

It wasn't a very successful 2013-14 season for Kent State, as the Golden Flashes finished toward the bottom of the Mid-American Conference East Division with a 7-11 league record (16-16 overall). The team's offseason goal was to reload and gain some size in the lineup.

Despite having some very strong players a year ago, including the Horizon League's top overall scorer (Kendrick Perry), the Penguins finished with a 15-17 overall record and a 6-10 mark in HL play. Things this season should be tough once again after YSU lost its top three scorers in the offseason.

The Penguins and Golden Flashes have a long-standing history of playing against one other. Kent State leads the all-time series against Youngstown State, 29-17. The last time YSU won a game against Kent State was back in the 2006 campaign.

The Flashes will trot out some height and solid returning marksmen this upcoming season. The team's top three scorers from last year return in Kris Brewer (11.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.8 apg), Derek Jackson (10.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.0 apg) and Devareaux Manley (9.7 ppg), while players like junior college transfer Marvin Jones (6-foot-10) and freshman Raasean Davis expect to see the court early. Graduate transfer Blake Vedder (Indiana, Pennsylvania) is now eligible to play. He stands at a gargantuan 7-foot-4. Also, Hofstra transfer Jimmy Hall is eligible to play after sitting out last season.

It's clear the Golden Flashes wanted to reload in the offseason, and now they'll make another push for the conference crown, if they can get a bit more scoring. They'll also have to overcome a relatively tough non-conference schedule in which the team will challenge Southern Illinois, North Dakota State, UTEP and Kansas. But with a strong contingent of scorers coming back plus some young and promising talent, the Golden Flashes could compete for the MAC crown this season.

YSU finished with a 6-10 mark in league play last season, despite averaging 76.9 ppg as a unit. That certainly won't happen again this upcoming year, as the Penguins are without not only their top three leading scorers from a year ago, but the conference's top scorer in Perry (21.3 ppg). The only returning player that averaged double-digit points for YSU in 2013 is big 6-foot-10 forward Bobby Hain (11.1 ppg, team-best 7.7 rpg, 16 blocked shots). Point guard D.J. Cole should be the go-to player this season after averaging 8.3 ppg and registering a team-best 143 assists last year, which was third in the league.

Ryan Weber (12.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 27 steals) transferred out of the program and is sitting on the Ball State bench this year, which leaves yet another forward spot up for grabs. Incoming freshmen Bryce Nickels and Sidney Umude are expected to compete for playing time right away, considering the holes left by seniors Perry, Weber and Kamren Belin. Fifth-year senior Shawn Amiker (5.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) should see plenty of additional minutes.

It may take some time for the new additions to the Kent State roster to jell, but the same goes for the almost entirely new lineup of Youngstown State. The Golden Flashes now can get scoring from a number of outlets, so expect Kent State to grow with time.