Messages

601

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU men’s Basketball game vs Binghamton or whoever it is

« on: December 15, 2018, 11:06:26 PM »

I thought it was a great defensive effort.  Played a clean game and took care of the ball as well.  Even though the final score was only 10-point win, it felt like 20-point victory.  Controlled the entire game- something that we really don't do much of.  We still struggle finishing at the hoop.  Seemed like countless put backs missed.  It's really something YSU struggles with every game that needs to improve to win more consistently.

It was nice to see Noe have a good game.  I'd like to see him get more mins.  He's much improved over last season.  Covington continues to play well game in and game out.  Naz had another 10+ rebound game. 

Tuesday will be tough against Ohio State, but the nonetheless we won 2 Division I non-conference games this year compared to none last year in addition to having the opportunity to win several others.  Not only did YSU fail to win a Division I non-conference game last year, all but 2 we were 13 or more point losses.  I feel a lot better than last year with more talent & athleticism heading into conference play.

602

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: St Francis Womens BKB Troubles

« on: December 09, 2018, 01:20:45 AM »

https://wjactv.com/sports/content/st-francis-head-womens-basketball-coach-joe-haigh-taking-leave-of-absence

603

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: WMU

« on: December 09, 2018, 01:19:46 AM »

YSU is ranked 324 out 353 in both Massey and Sagarin computer ratings. That's horrible!

If your going to win Div. 1 games, you must create fouls. YSU rarely drives the basket to create opponent fouls. Every game our opponent get 2-3 times the foul shots as we do. This team is so discombobbled there is little chance of winning 6 games. Some of these players have talent, but it is being altered by the coaching.

I agree.  It's just hard to watch this team at times.  These were really 2 games YSU should have won, but we can't play well enough for long enough stretches.  For as good as WMU shot in the first half, I really felt like they couldn't continue to shoot that well in the 2nd half and the game would come around.  It did.  We came back and had a 2 point lead then it felt like there was no intensity.  To then be down 18 in no time shouldn't happen.  We had a missed layup, a couple missed foul shots by Naz, and the 3 from Cathcart that didn't count & that just seemed to do us in.  This was a game too when we really took care of the ball unlike most games this year.

This team is so much more athletic than past teams, but just seems to hit stretches where they look either tired or lack the intensity to move or drive the ball. 

I just can't understand why we can't finish inside.  It's like our bigs get the ball and don't know what to do with.  I keep saying it every game but we have to get production from Pederson & Naz.  We have too many guys that look awkward with the ball.

I love Covington.  He's so smooth, smart, plays defense, and can score the ball.  We need more guys like him.  Hampton and Cathart I feel have played well and have impressed me. Naz does a great job on the boards and plays well, but as I said needs to score.   

Also, we're a year and 1/3 into pressing a lot and just doesn't seem to work and fact seems to cost us more.  It did so much last year that Coach backed off because he felt like he didn't have the right players for it.  I was more excited with having more athletic players thinking it would work some, but I just doesn't seem to be.  I'd like to see stats on how many times we've forced turnovers with it.

604

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU vs CMU mens B-ball

« on: December 05, 2018, 12:04:16 AM »

Shame to lose a game like that.  Would have been a big win for this team.  Turnovers were a killer, especially in the first half.  They had 20 more points off turnovers than YSU.  Just seemed like we were out of gas & didn't have the intensity in the 3 OT. 

Devin Morgan had his first big game, but made some costly mistakes.  Not only the 2 missed free throws that probably would have sealed it but didn't push it when we had the ball & a chance to win it and instead launched a long 3. 

Thought Naz had a really good game & Covington is clearly the leader & best player on the team.  Just didn't get much help from guys like Quisenberry, Hampton, and Simmons tonight.  Noticed Atiba Taylor didn't dress tonight and Akuchie didn't play.  Some nice mins from Anabir, but couldn't stay out of foul trouble.  Pederson had a nice game with the blocks and rebounds, but really need him to score the ball.  He's had a total of 16 points combined in the last 7 games. 

605

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Men's basketball

« on: December 03, 2018, 07:23:50 PM »

I thought we got a lot of good looks on 3's in the first half and couldn't knock them down.  I was surprised of how many uncontested 3's WVU gave up. After we got down 10 quick to WVU and settled in, you could almost make the case where we out-played them for a good stretch of the first half.  We were down 7 late in the first half despite missing a lot of open 3's.  Thought we did a nice job even of taking care of the basketball.  The 11-0 run to end the half was killer.  Huggins obviously wasn't happy in his halftime interview.  They obviously made adjustments at halftime.  After several mins in the second half, you could tell we were gassed and WVU showed their strength and the turnovers started.

We really need to establish an inside game.  Wish we could get Pederson going.  He just continues to be non-existent since the first few games.  Need that or Naz to produce more.   

606

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Men's basketball

« on: November 30, 2018, 11:08:25 AM »

Definitely a young team and a lot of inconsistencies.  Not only is it a young team, but it's basically a totally different team from last year.  You figure 3 of the 4 returning players were freshman last year.   

Some of the positives I've seen are we have a pretty deep bench with a lot of guys that can play.  I think we're more athletic and faster than teams in the past.  Simmons really impresses me at times for being a freshman.  We've been in all 8 games at halftime and led many of them.  We're +47 rebounds, +11 blocks & +11 steals.  Our foul shooting is better than it's been in a long time.

The negatives.  We really don't have that go to guy like in the past with KP & Cam and even Hartfield.  I feel like at the moment it's Hampton, who is our leading scorer and hasn't started a game this year. Reminds me a little of Matt Donlan when he got hot.  No go to guy seems like that's really hurt us in games when we've went on scoring droughts.  While maybe Hartfield didn't fit in with the style or whatever, I feel he was a huge loss. The turnovers have been a real concern.  We're averaging 16 a game. 

I was really excited about Pederson after the first 3 games but he really hasn't been a factor since.  Naz has been strong on the boards but I was hoping for more on the scoring end.  Morgan has yet to really impress me yet.  I thought Akuchie showed flashed last year and was hoping for more of that this year but he has seemed to really struggle.  We really need an inside presence and not have to rely on outside shooting.

The rest of the non-conference is going to be tough with WVU, Ohio State and both Central & Western Michigan appear to be good.  The best chance of winning looks like Binghamton.  If we could pick up a couple wins over that final stretch it would be improvement over last year when we failed to win a D1 game in non-conference. 

 

607

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: nice win mens b-ball

« on: November 16, 2018, 10:42:03 PM »

Definitely a good win considering the circumstances & coming in as a pretty big underdog.

Nice to see another game of excellent foul shooting & finally not many turnovers.

608

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: men's basketball

« on: November 14, 2018, 08:41:25 PM »

I agree with the theme of this thread that we need to maintain this roster.   I'm hoping that it will since all the players were recruited by this staff.   Coach is playing everyone so guys are getting their playing time.

I don't believe this will be 20 loss season.   we'll find out a lot with the three games in the Bronx,so I could change my mind if we go 0 for 3.
     
Cut down on turnovers and close out on the 3 ball are a must and over all jelling as a unit.  Not sure these guys are playing together as a team and it might take a while as both a new roster and lack of 4 year players in the program.

Excited about the 4 frosh .   Might be the best class at YSU in over a decade.

My thoughts 100%.

Unfortunately other than Coach Calhoun getting acclimated and getting a year under Covington and Naz's belt, last year was basically a throw away year

609

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: men's basketball

« on: November 14, 2018, 11:41:21 AM »

Based on what we have seen the first three games it looks like another 20 Lost season. For this program to grow we need to keep players in the offseason period lot of young Talent on the team and if the team stays together next year will make progress. We are very young. Staying together is the key. We keep turning over the program is going nowhere.

I agree...the key is keeping this unit together.  I think there's a lot of potential talent with these freshman  and you hope Naz & Covington continue to improve and if the class of Junior transfers return next year then maybe we have something. 

610

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: men's basketball

« on: November 14, 2018, 09:43:21 AM »

Gotta give Heidelberg credit.  They played hard and hit a lot of big 3's to keep them in the game.  Figured it was over when they were down 18 in the first half. 

I was glad to see Covington have a good game after really struggling the first 2.  I really like Simmons...he plays fast and has a long wing span.  Pederson continues to play well. 

It was good to see so many fast breaks and finishing.  The turnovers is a big concern every game.

Will be interesting with 3 games this weekend. 

611

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Akron Game

« on: November 10, 2018, 10:39:18 PM »

I was encouraged with the play during the Pitt game and thought if YSU shot an average game they would have had a chance to win.  They came out & shot lights out for most of the 1st half against Akron & opened up an 8-point lead, which could have easily been more; however, the lack of defense was worrisome that didn't allow them to build a bigger lead and you knew they couldn't keep shooting like that forever.  It was like once YSU started missing shots the tide turned so fast and you could feel it at the end of the 1st half. 

It was like once YSU got down 6 or 8 points it was over.  It just seemed like YSU was disinterested the 2nd half.    No intensity.  Seemed like they weren't even running an offense and looked like street ball.  That was one of the worst losses in awhile, and it's hard to even believe they were up 8.  Could have really been ugly otherwise. 

About the only bright spot was Pederson.  I do like Quisenberry.  He doesn't really play like a freshman.  I was really excited about Covington this year, but he hasn't shown much in the first 2 games.  I haven't seen the intensity from him like he brought last year.  Noticed Anabir hasn't gotten in this year even in this blowout.

612

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: PITT BB GAME THREAD

« on: November 06, 2018, 11:30:41 PM »

I thought there were several positives to take from the game.  Thought YSU competed hard and gave themselves a chance to win, but obviously aren't going to win shooting so poorly.  Had so many good looks but just couldn't knock down shots from close and long range.   

Really thought we outplayed Pitt for close to 25 mins, but eventually the missed shots took its toll.  Had a chance to get up early and also take the lead early in the 2nd half.  Had the advantage in rebounds, blocks, steals & assists at that point and still finished ahead of Pitt in all those categories other than tying with 44 rebounds.  If you looked at those stats you'd think YSU would have a really good shot at winning.  If you take away a couple of the really bad turnovers and 2 Covington basically missed layups it's a much closer game.  He really struggled shooting the ball in general.  Thought there were several forced 3's that would have been nice to have back.

This group definitely looks faster and more athletic than past YSU teams.  The press worked several times and a couple near steals.  That's an encouraging sign.  Akuchie & Hampton looked good off the bench.  Akuchie looks like he bulked up some.  Thought he gave a nice spark and played well.         

Was definitely strange without Cam.

613

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: PITT BB GAME THREAD

« on: November 06, 2018, 08:07:37 PM »

Poor shooting yes, but I'll take holding Pitt to 27 at the half, down 3 & having the steals, blocks & rebound advantage. Honestly played good enough to be leading. See what the 2nd half brings

614

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU vs Pitt Basketball

« on: November 05, 2018, 10:04:05 PM »

You can get tickets a lot cheaper on Stub Hub and a lot of good seats available from resale that aren't available from that link.

615

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Basketball coverage

« on: October 24, 2018, 01:12:16 PM »

Last year's team was really undercut by the injury to Santiago.  They seemed to be waiting on Francisco to return and he never did.  Kind of a lost season on the court, but progress made on transitioning the roster and style of play.  Looking forward to a much improved season.  I think .500 is possible.  Thoughts?

I agree.  Covington really impressed me last year and I'm excited to see what he'll do.  Naz was at beast at times underneath but a lot of times had trouble finishing.  Hopefully some more consistency out of him.  Those 2 have the ability to take over a game. 

I thought Noe really improved late in the year compared to early in the season when you just held your breath when he had the ball or the ball was coming to him. 

Hope to see improvement from Akuchie.  Seems like a streaky player and one that could really get hot at times. 

Obviously the rest we'll have to see, but hopefully are fits for Calhoun's style. 

One thing I hope we improve on is free throw shooting.  It's been pathetic in recent seasons.