When fans arrive for a Kent State University basketball game, they see the players, the coaches and the action on the court. They may notice a big performance, a key play or a close finish. What they do not see is the work that has already happened to make the game possible.Uniforms have been prepared. Practice and game-day details have been handled. Information about the team and its players has been collected and shared. The coaches have been able to concentrate on preparing the team instead of tracking down every detail that surrounds a college basketball program.That work belongs to people...

A college basketball player’s schedule does not end when practice is over. There are classes to attend, papers to write, exams to prepare for and degree requirements to meet. Add team travel, workouts, meetings and games, and managing college life can become a demanding balancing act.At Kent State University, Jana Ashley and Amy Densevich help make that balancing act manageable. Ashley, associate director of academic services, spends much of her time supporting the men’s basketball team. Densevich, associate athletics director for student-athlete support services, works with women’s basketball...

Before a Kent State University basketball player can score a basket, grab a rebound or defend an opponent, that player has to be ready to take the court. That readiness is built long before tipoff, through treatment, strength training, recovery, hydration, nutrition and the daily work of professionals who understand what athletes need to perform. For Juju Seki, athletic trainer for the men’s basketball team, and SJ Novak, athletic trainer for the women’s team, both through a partnership with Cleveland Clinic, the goal is to keep players healthy and help them return safely when injuries oc...