Messages

901

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Baseball vs. UWM in-game

« on: May 25, 2011, 08:51:44 PM »

Excellent news.  Big win - always good to avoid the Losers Bracket on Day 1.  Can we get Klein a bionic arm so he can pitch again tomorrow?   

Go beat Wright State!

902

YSU Penguin Athletics / Something going on with men's basketball?

« on: May 24, 2011, 04:17:16 PM »

One of the Twitter feeds I follow is something called coachingrumors.  Not sure why I follow since they never really say anything except to try to get you to buy their subscription.

But they posted this earlier today


http://twitter.com/#!/coachingrumors

coachingrumors Coachingrumors.com
What's the story @ youngstown st?

Anyone hearing anything?  Would seem there is at least some chatter going on.

Spare us all the "Fire Slocum" posts - at this point I don't care what you think - really only care what you know or hear.

903

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Former Coach Dom Rosselli Selected For Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame

« on: May 20, 2011, 09:45:46 AM »

What the hell took so long for this to happen?  In looking at their website, the first class was in 2006.  Absurd that it took this long for Coach to be inducted.

Well deserved and well too late.

904

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League "Off-Season" news

« on: May 06, 2011, 01:43:40 PM »

Updates on Valpo's Brandon Wood and Butler's Shelvin Mack and their declarations for the NBA draft.  I had not previously heard that Wood is likely to transfer to grad school in the Big Ten if he doesn't stay in the draft.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/6443622/reaction-new-names-nba-draft-list

• Valparaiso leading scorer Brandon Wood declared for the draft. But according to Valpo assistant coach Bryce Drew, Wood wanted to see the process and get a sense of where he stood. If he doesn't hear anything positive, then he will withdraw from the draft. But there is another curveball. Wood is a fourth-year junior at Valpo and is graduating. He started his career at Southern Illinois and went to a junior college for a year. The Crusaders aren't expecting Wood to return, even if he were to withdraw with the option that Wood would transfer to a Big Ten school for graduate school and a fifth year. One option for him might be Michigan State, according to a source. If Wood were to join the Spartans, it would be a huge pickup because of his ability to score from the perimeter.

Saw today that Wood will indeed play next year for Michigan State.

905

YSU Penguin Athletics / Cleveland State dropping baseball after this season

« on: May 02, 2011, 04:50:32 PM »

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/csu/index.ssf/2011/05/cleveland_state_university_dro.html
Cleveland State University, faced with budget cuts, has made the difficult decision to cut its baseball program at the end of this season.

Athletic director John Parry said the decision was not an easy one.

"Anytime you drop a sport, it's tough," he said. "You are taking away a draw for 25 young men."

Parry said the main reason for the cuts was a lack of facilities for the existing team, which practices and plays 25 miles off campus in Avon at All Pro Freight Stadium. But the fact the Vikings have not had a winning season since 1989, and are currently 9-32 this season, can't be ignored.

According to Parry, dropping baseball will save the athletic department $450,000. It will not affect CSU's membership in the Horizon League, as baseball is not a required sport for membership; and it will not impact CSU's NCAA status, as the Vikings still sponsor 16 varsity sports, two above the NCAA Division I minimum of 14.

Cleveland State athletics likely could have had a comparable savings by taking from every sports budget, but Parry said, "our instructions were not to nickel and dime cuts, but make strategic decisions."

The AD said CSU will honor any baseball player's scholarship if he chooses to finish his studies at CSU. Any player who transfers will be eligible to play at his new school immediately.

*********************************************************************


This will take the league to 6 baseball members which I believe is the minimum to keep an NCAA tournament bid?

Perhaps YSU can get some players from CSU.

906

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League "Off-Season" news

« on: April 29, 2011, 08:25:23 AM »

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/csu/index.ssf/2011/04/transfers_clear_way_for_viking.html


As expected, Cleveland State had several postseason defections on the men’s basketball team, three so far — all of which combine to deplete the Vikings bench of its experience. Gone are 6-10 Joe Latas, 6-7 Charlie Woods and 6-4 Josh McCoy.

This makes six players who have transferred in the past two seasons for Cleveland State but clears the decks for the bulk of the five-man recruiting class coach Gary Waters signed back in November. And, if Internet recruiting sites are accurate, the Vikings still are out recruiting. They are on the hunt for a post player, reportedly, with offers on the table to 6-8, 240-pound Dwight Miller from Midland College, a junior college in Texas, and 6-9, 240-pound Ibrahima Djimde from Huntington (W.Va.) Prep.

However, should one of these post players commit to CSU, yet another player will have to transfer to make room.

907

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League "Off-Season" news

« on: April 28, 2011, 04:03:04 PM »

Updates on Valpo's Brandon Wood and Butler's Shelvin Mack and their declarations for the NBA draft.  I had not previously heard that Wood is likely to transfer to grad school in the Big Ten if he doesn't stay in the draft.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/6443622/reaction-new-names-nba-draft-list

• Valparaiso leading scorer Brandon Wood declared for the draft. But according to Valpo assistant coach Bryce Drew, Wood wanted to see the process and get a sense of where he stood. If he doesn't hear anything positive, then he will withdraw from the draft. But there is another curveball. Wood is a fourth-year junior at Valpo and is graduating. He started his career at Southern Illinois and went to a junior college for a year. The Crusaders aren't expecting Wood to return, even if he were to withdraw with the option that Wood would transfer to a Big Ten school for graduate school and a fifth year. One option for him might be Michigan State, according to a source. If Wood were to join the Spartans, it would be a huge pickup because of his ability to score from the perimeter.


• A number of NBA personnel said they wouldn't be surprised if Maryland's Jordan Williams, Butler's Shelvin Mack, Washington's Isaiah Thomas, Boston College's Reggie Jackson or Fresno State's Greg Smith all stayed in the draft. But there is a consensus already that Michigan's Darius Morris, Xavier's Tu Holloway, Georgetown's Hollis Thompson, Miami's Reggie Johnson, Pitt's Ashton Gibbs and Northwestern's John Shurna should go back to school before they make a mistake of leaving too soon, and in the case of those who can't make an NBA roster, a major error in giving up their eligibility.

908

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: How many men's basketball scholarships available?

« on: April 27, 2011, 12:40:35 PM »

With today's signing of Cole and the press release, it looks like next year's roster is:

Seniors:  Ward, Brooks, Brewer (3)

Juniors:  Allen, Eargle (2)

Sophomores:  K Perry, Chojnacki (2)

Freshmen:  Cole, Amiker, Larson, Zuiker (4)

Total 11 scholarship players

Walkons:  N Perry, Podolsky

Two scholarships left?  Or is Nate Perry on scholarship?

909

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Men's basketball signs Guard DJ Cole from Olathe, Kansas

« on: April 27, 2011, 12:35:31 PM »

From Scout in January

http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1174649

 Olathe (Kan.) South senior point guard D.J. Cole could probably help out somebody on the lower end of the division one scale. A 5-foot-11 floor general, Cole has near elite speed and quickness, great body control and is a fierce competitor. However, he's not much of a shooter and tends to get a bit out of control on drives. The tools, though, are there.


**********************************************************

More comments on his defense

http://kcprephoops.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/the-post-season-is-here/

Olathe East, Olathe Northwest, Olathe South – 6A – You can probably flip a coin for which Olathe school will emerge from their sub-state but we like Olathe South best because of DJ Cole. He is a game changer on defense and when he is hitting mid-range jumpers, it makes the team all that more dangerous inside and in transition

*****************************************************************

One from last year

Sleeper Alert – Rozell Nunn, a talented combo guard at Schlagle High School, missed his sophomore season because of injury and has flown beneath the radar for many recruiting services. But this kid can really go and will score in transition as well as in structured offense. Once he is widely seen, he will turn heads at the mid-major level. We also like a point guard that no one is talking about – Derek Cole at Olathe South. He is extremely quick and can move a team up and down in transition with tremendous savvy. Relegated to a small role as a sophomore because of South’s deep talent, he will play a major role this year and could command some attention from mid-majors.

http://www.flagrantfouls.com/2009/11/kansas-city-continues-to-impress-with-high-school-basketball-talent/

******************************************************************************

Everything seems to point to a kid who is quick, good defender but needs to improve his jumper.

910

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Men's basketball signs Guard DJ Cole from Olathe, Kansas

« on: April 27, 2011, 12:25:25 PM »

From the Kansas City Star

South’s Cole, who has yet to commit anywhere for college, will be equally hard to replace.

A dynamic ball-handler in the open floor and an underrated scorer, Cole is arguably better as a defensive player than anything else. The floor general and sparkplug for a Falcons team that shared the Sunflower League title the last two last seasons, it will take a small army to replace all the things he brought the floor.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/05/2778998/hoops-all-stars-leave-behind-incredible.html#ixzz1Kk12xlom

************************************************************************************************


This story indicates interest by Evansville, North Dakota State

“During games, I don't think about anything like my stats or who is recruiting me, but after the game I go back through how I played and think about that stuff,” said Cole, who is being pursued by North Dakota State, Evansville and numerous junior colleges among other suitors.

http://www.theolathenews.com/2011/01/19/1033450/senior-basketball-stars-experience.html

911

YSU Penguin Athletics / Men's basketball signs Guard DJ Cole from Olathe, Kansas

« on: April 27, 2011, 12:17:22 PM »

http://www.ysusports.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/releases/20110426yqktox

Youngstown, Ohio -- The Youngstown State men's basketball program has signed guard DJ Cole, a third-team all-state selection, to a National Letter-of-Intent to continue his academic and athletic career with the Penguins beginning in 2011-12, Head Coach Jerry Slocum announced on Wednesday (April 27).

Cole, a 6-foot point guard from Olathe, Kan., averaged 13 points, six assists and four steals per game and shot 63 percent from the field as a senior.

Cole was selected to play in the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game and led the Kansas All-Star Team to a 109-100 victory over the Missouri All-Star Team while scoring 17 points.

"We are very excited to have DJ join our basketball team," Slocum said. "He comes to us from a great high school program at Olathe South under Head Coach Jim Carr where he won a couple of conference championships.

"DJ is one of the best defensive players that I've seen in a long time, and he can change the game at both the defensive and offensive ends of the floor."

Cole joins Shawn Amiker, Jr. (Oak Park, Mich), Fletcher Larson (Lakewood, N.Y.) and Cale Zuiker (Marshfield, Wis.) as members of the 2011-12 recruiting class.

"With the addition of DJ, Cale, and our two redshirts in Shawn and Fletcher, this maybe one of our best recruiting classes since we have been at Youngstown State," Slocum said.

A three-year letterwinner at Olathe South High School, he earned first-team all-conference honors and was also named the KC Prep Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Cole said he felt right at home when he visited the campus of Youngstown State.

"I liked the whole coaching staff the first time I met them," Cole said. " The campus really sold me on YSU and I really felt comfortable with the players on the team."

He was also named first-team all-class 6A and garnered second-team class 6A all-state honors.

During his junior season, he was named third-team all-conference and Olathe South to a conference championship.

Cole said he intends on majoring in business management.

912

YSU Penguin Athletics / U Mass to FBS, will join MAC for football only

« on: April 19, 2011, 12:50:55 PM »

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/extras/colleges_blog/2011/04/umass_moving_to.html


More change coming for the Colonial -with Villanova's potential move to the Big East still a possibility? 

Delaware
Georgia State (joins CAA play in 2012)
James Madison
Maine
UMass (leaving for MAC in 2012)
New Hampshire
Old Dominion (joins CAA play in 2011)
Richmond
Rhode Island (Leaving the CAA for the Northeast Conference in 2013)
Towson
Villanova
William & Mary

We all know I hate the YSU get out of the Gateway discussions but YSU might be attractive to the Colonial if they continue to lose football members.

913

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League "Off-Season" news

« on: April 16, 2011, 01:27:00 PM »

Not the Horizon League, but I think there is an impact on YSU and the Horizon League to the changes in the basketball program with our friends in Portage County.

In case you missed it, former Kent State coach Geno Ford left for Bradley at the end of March.  Last week Kent State filled the opening by promoting assistant coach Rob Senderoff.

Ford was making $300k per year at Kent and will reportedly make $700k at Bradley with a potential additional $200k in incentives.

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x855933262/Bradley-introduces-Geno-Ford-to-the-fans

Ford has a rather hefty termination fee to pay Kent - reportedly $1.2 million based on this story.  The link also includes a copy of Ford's contract at Kent.  The viewer that it is in is somewhat unusual - click on the arrow on the side of the gray box to advance pages.  It is interesting to see a contract.

http://kentwired.com/fords-departure-leaves-basketball-team-in-state-of-shock/

Needless to say the Kent boards provided some interesting reading.  Here is one thread, there are others

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=490852

Kent's new head coach Senderoff reportedly has three year contract for $250k per year.

http://www.recordpub.com/news/sports_article/5012629

Senderoff has NCAA imposed restrictions on his ability to recruit through May 25, 2011 for his role in the Kelvin Sampson phone call scandal

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2011/04/kent_state_elevates_assistant.html

There is a lot to digest here:

This is not good for MAC basketball - losing the head coach of one your flagship programs to a middle of the road team in another mid-major conference.  I would equate this to YSU losing a reasonably successful head football coach to Massachusetts or Maine.

This furthers the decline of MAC basketball in the last decade since they began to devote more resources to football.  The MAC has not had an at-large selection to the men's basketball tournament since 1999.  MAC teams have won one game in the last 8 NCAA tournaments, Ohio's win over Georgetown in 2010.  That means the MAC will receive 7 units of NCAA basketball money next year.  For comparison's sake the Horizon League will receive 20 units next year.  That is over $3 million more to the Horizon League than to the MAC next year. The Horizon League has won at least one NCAA tournament game in the last 7 tournaments.  

Interesting also that Kent was quick to hire an NCAA rules violator in Senderoff - and the Kent boards were very vocal in backing this hiring from the start.  The recruiting restrictions likely won't matter much this year - they lose only one player and had some fall signees.  But you have to wonder how much negative recruiting will focus on that.  

Given YSU's track record in basketball - hirings and results, I don't have much room to talk.  But on an overall basis I have to think the last month has not been good for Kent State basketball and that can't be bad for Youngstown State basketball.  Getting competitive in the Horizon will start with getting competitive in Northeast Ohio - and YSU has to become better than a distant fourth among CSU, YSU, Kent and Akron.

914

YSU Penguin Athletics / 2011 football rule changes

« on: April 16, 2011, 12:50:18 PM »

Several college football rule changes for 2011 were announced yesterday.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/04/15/ncaa-rules-changes.ap/index.html

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- College football could have a very different look next fall.

Teams will have the option of shaving 10 seconds off the clock for penalties called in the final minute of each half. They will contend with a more liberal definition of intentional grounding, and they could see points taken off the scoreboard for taunting penalties.

The most sweeping change approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday is the 10-second runoff, something the NFL has used for years. College teams will now have the option of taking the yardage and the time, the yardage only or declining the penalty.

The committee also approved a change in how intentional grounding will be called. Previously, the penalty was called if the intended receiver did not have a "reasonable opportunity" to catch the pass. Starting this fall, the penalty will be called only if a receiver is not in the area of the pass - a modification that more closely resembles the NFL rule.

And the panel adopted a rule allowing video monitors in the coaches' booths. The televisions will have access only to any live broadcast of the game - no video recorders - to help coaches decide if they should challenge a call. If the monitors are available to the home team, they must also be available to the visitor.

Those changes coincide with perhaps the biggest change of the season - implementation of the new taunting rule.

Last April, the playing rules panel approved a decision to nullify touchdowns if a player is called for taunting before he crosses the goal line. Examples include players finishing touchdown runs by high-stepping into the end zone or pointing the ball toward an opponent.

The panel decided then to wait one year before making the change.

Previously, the 15-yard penalty was assessed on the extra point attempt, 2-point conversion attempt or the ensuing kickoff. Penalties called after the player crosses the goal line still will be assessed on those plays, but live-ball fouls will be assessed at the spot of the foul and eliminate the score.

In addition, the playing rules panel wants to make the game safer.

Players lined up within seven yards of the center on scrimmage plays will still be permitted to block below the waist anywhere on the field.

But receivers or running backs lined up outside the tackle box will only be allowed to block below the waist if they are blocking straight ahead or toward the nearest sideline. If they go inside and block toward the play, it would be a penalty.

The defensive team also will be assessed a 5-yard penalty if three or more players try to overpower one offensive lineman on place kicks.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/04/15/ncaa-rules-changes.ap/index.html#ixzz1JhoafjqO

915

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League "Off-Season" news

« on: April 15, 2011, 08:55:50 PM »

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6364568

ESPN reporting that UWM coach Rob Jeter has been contacted by Miami (FL) about their open job.