KENT: It was only two years ago, but it might as well have been 20.

That's how much of a difference Kent State's Mike Scott feels heading into the NCAA Tournament this year as a senior leader compared to the last time he was there as a wide-eyed sophomore reserve.

''I'm really looking forward to the challenge and playing a good game,'' the Golden Flashes' forward and vocal leader said. ''After having experienced it my sophomore year, I think (my previous experience) is definitely going to help the team out. . . . There's definitely a lot more responsibility on my part.''

So much so, Scott isn't just happy his team has advanced to the coveted ''Dance'' for the fifth time in school history. He's hungry for wins to help validate the team's seeding.

''Being (in the tournament) once before is great, and being here again my senior year is wonderful,'' he said. ''But (this time), we have more work to do, more goals to accomplish.''

Scott, who was second on the team this season in points (13.1) and rebounds (6.2), conceded that there was a lot of awe with the 12th-seeded 2006 team that lost 79-64 to No. 5 Pittsburgh in the first round. Thus, it proved to be a quick exit for a team that just years earlier had become the tournament's darling.

The experience had by Scott's sophomore team was the complete opposite of the memorable 2001-02 team that advanced all the way to the Elite Eight round — Kent State doing it by knocking off Oklahoma State in the first round and Alabama in the second followed by a thrilling five-point overtime victory over Pitt in the Sweet 16 before falling

to Indiana in the Elite Eight.

While that's quite a reputation to live up to, it's not too much of a concern for sixth-year Flashes coach Jim Christian.

''There's more pressure in the (Mid-American Conference) Tournament when you're picked to win it,'' Christian said. ''We understand what's at stake. We understand that every team we play is a championship team.''

If the Flashes get by their first-round opponent UNLV in Thursday afternoon's game at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., they would likely find themselves playing top-seeded Kansas next, which should coast past No. 16-seed Portland State in Thursday's initial first-round matchup.

Despite a 90-61 rout by No. 1-ranked North Carolina early in the season, it was a game Scott points to as one that helped KSU get where it is today. One that, for all intents and purposes, should eliminate the awe factor this time around.

''What that game did was give us confidence that we can play with any team in the country, regardless of who they are,'' Scott said. ''Whether they are Kansas, Duke, UNLV — whoever they may be. We've played in front of tens of thousands of fans before, and I can't imagine a setting bigger than that, playing against the No. 1 team in the country.''