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631

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU 80 CSU 77

« on: January 02, 2018, 10:29:21 AM »

Coach shortened the bench to 8 players.  Not sure where Akuchie was ?
Only pressed one time the whole game and resulted in a easy lay up for CSU.  Game plan was more like Slocum than Calhoun.

Naz was one rebound away from a double double.   He'll probably have some up and down games as all frosh do but he's getting a feel for the college game.

Benton looked really poised at the point.  Probably are best option with Cam at the two.

Funny that you said that as I was thinking the exact same thing, but I knew if I mention Slocum it would simply bring in a bunch of useless attack posts. However, the focus on D and less press is spot on. If anyone uses the ESPN app, the game is still out there in the replay section. This team is simply not used to winning and dominating and could not handle CSU's momentum until the lead was about to fall. Thank you Cam.

Couldn't agree more on both sentiments.  I nearly brought it up in my recap.  Watching it live it felt more like a Slocum game plan from the past.   Cam played 38 mins.  I was glad to see the adjustment.  The team needed a win. 

Realistically only played 7 as Ferguson only played 2 mins, but did score.  I had mentioned after the Indiana game how he's really been struggling the last 4 games.  Akuchie dressed, but didn't play nor did Anabir

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU 80 CSU 77

« on: January 01, 2018, 06:16:49 PM »

Was a much needed win...now hopefully we can at least split the 2-game home stand.  Liked the intensity to start off the game.  I knew CSU would go on some runs, but was hoping to at least go in at half up double digits.  Disappointing to let them back in the game at the end after building the lead back up to 9.  Just seemed like YSU lost their intensity, got sloppy with the ball, and took a couple bad shots.  I think it's part of learning how to win. 

Was happy to see YSU hit foul shots & 3 pointers again...and very happy for Cam.  A poor foul shooting effort today would have been a loss.  Even though I hated to see it close at the end, and I was fearing they were going to blow it, sometimes wins like these are important going down the road in league play.  Good to see Naz have strong back to back games.  He's looking more confident.  Thought Tyree & Haygood both played great inside, and both stayed out of foul trouble.         

633

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Naz Bohannon Posts Double-Double in Loss at Indiana

« on: December 30, 2017, 10:54:10 PM »

Just hard to believe how poorly YSU shot in this game.  After a horrible performance against a poor Idaho State team I have been encouraged with at least the effort the last 2 games against Utah State & Indiana that have at least made the games competitive until towards the end.

I really thought YSU outplayed Indiana for about the first 19 minutes of the first half.  If they could have even shot average they would have been leading at the half.  Just missed so many wide open shots.  They had some opportunities to jump out to a lead, but just couldn't convert and had some poor turnovers.  With even as poorly as YSU shot, it was a 4-point game with about a minute to go in the first half and once again couldn't close out the half & Indiana went on a 5-0 run to close it out and never looked back.  And even if you had said Indiana would only have 29 points at half, you'd think you'd be feeling pretty good.

YSU isn't going to win any games when Braun & Cam combine for 6 points.  I was hoping Cam broke out of his funk after the Utah State game, but it's just hard to believe the #s he put up...1 of 14 from the field- 0 for 8 from 3's.  Just so hard to imagine only making 2 out of 25 from 3's.  And once again only 50% from the line.

I was happy to see Naz have a strong game.  The announcers commented how they think he'll be a force in Horizon League play...YSU really needs him to step up like he did Friday. 

Has anyone else noticed how it seems like Braun really struggles going to the rim and can't finish?  It's still hard to believe he's shooting under 52% from the line. 

I thought Haygood looked pretty good & I wish we could get more minutes out of Tyree. 

Ferguson seems to be really struggling of late.  He's only combined for 7 points in the last 4 games.  In the 5 games after he came back from missing action with his broken nose, he scored at least 7 points in all 5 games.

Looking at stats, one other crazy thing I noticed is YSU has taken 102 more shots than their opponents, but have made 33 less! 

Hopefully they can put the non-conference record behind them, reset, and find a way to win 2 of the 3 this coming week before playing Oakland.  Monday's game against CSU is definitely winnable, could be an ugly game in the 50s or low 60s.  I'm just afraid it's going to be pretty demoralizing if they don't win at least one game this week.

634

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Idaho St - YSU

« on: December 19, 2017, 10:04:53 PM »

Naz should be playing DE on the football team.

I realize he's a freshman, but I've been disappointed in his production.  Struggling with his shot, 50% at the line & just 1-7 for 3's.  A little surprised he's started every game. 

635

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Idaho St - YSU

« on: December 19, 2017, 07:02:07 PM »

It just seems like this team can never find a spark- back to my point about missing Santiago.  In several games we were in, just couldn't make that 3, layup, or a near steal & something just seemed to switch the momentum back to the opponent.  In years past, Donlan or Cam would get hot and spark a run or Santiago would get everyone fired up by his hustle.  There's been very limited stretches where this team has put together a solid run this year.  I feel like Covington is the player that's been the closest to that this year and maybe Braun here and there. 

Cam just has never found his groove this year and it's very sad to see him struggling so bad in his senior year.  Cam and Braun have both made 17 3 pointers, but it's mind boggling to me that Cam has attempted 26 more 3's!  It's also very strange to me that Braun's 3-point % of 44 isn't much less than his FG % at 47 & FT % at 52. 

I also went back and looked at Cam's stats from prior years.  In his sophomore season his FG % was 47, 3-pt % at 41 & FT % at 81.  Last year his ppg went up, but his FG % dropped to 42, 3-pt % to 32 and FT % to 74.  Currently this year he's at 34% FG, 26% 3-pt & 74% FT. 

636

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Idaho St - YSU

« on: December 19, 2017, 03:09:04 PM »

Things sure don't look promising.  Our lack of height inside really causes problems beyond just the obvious lack of inside scoring for us and such an advantage scoring easy baskets by the opposition.  Our outside shooters, due to lack of an inside threat, are really pressured which makes their game suffer.  We are a weak shooting teams, but it is worse because of our lack of an inside game.

On defense we give up way too many easy baskets.  I think the press needs to be cut back on to help us defend better.  Yes we get some turnovers, but I think we give up more points than we get and we are the team getting tired out, not the opponent.  When we played Kent, a bigger, stronger, better shooting team, we did better when we didn't press than when we did.

Long term this method of playing will work out, but not with the current players.  We need to play to our players strengths and not a system that doesn't seem to fit our current players.  Go back to the fundamentals of offense and shooting and defense. Those were the skills that Idaho St had and we didn't.  We were physically better, but they were better at the basic basketball skills.

I agree 100% with this.  We get so many shots blocked inside.  I was really hoping Haygood would be able to take over more inside.  At times he shows flashes of promise.  I like the way Tyree plays, but just can't get enough minutes out of him.  Coach Calhoun said they had him checked to see if he had any problems, but checked out ok.  Even though he wasn't very athletic and not a great shooter, we're missing the inside presence of Jordan Kaufman.  He was always good for tip-in on missed shots and had a size advantage over a lot of opponents. 

I'm sure it's tough for Coach when he's trying to instill his method of play, but like you said the pressing just isn't working.  Most of the turnovers we're producing aren't in the backcourt.  At what point, do you try and like you said go back to fundamentals and schemes to the strength of our players before it becomes so demoralizing?  I'm afraid that's what could happen if we lose the first few conference games.  To me that's what looked like what happened against Idaho State.  Missed shots, the ball doesn't bounce our way a few times, and they hit some big plays & it's like the life gets sucked out of this team.  I really think losing Santiago took a lot of heart & life out of this team.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Idaho St - YSU

« on: December 19, 2017, 12:03:25 AM »

I don't know how many watched the game on Big Sky TV, but just an embarrassing game....easily I feel the worst of the year & in quite some time for that matter.  Idaho St. had won 1 D1 game this year & had an RPI ranking of 336.  They were a 3-point favorite & won by 24 & could have easily been worse if not for a few late baskets.

I've tried to find some positives in each loss this year, thought YSU at least played hard & pretty even with Kent State in the 1st half, DePaul & Butler in the 2nd halfs, had an opportunity to beat Canisius, Southern Miss & Robert Morris, and was competitive for the most part with Northern Colorado.  The South Dakota game was non-competitive, but that was at the end of 3 straight games & to a very good team.  But tonight was downright ugly to a team that YSU should be better than.

You turn a team over 18 teams and shoot 10 more shots & lose by 24 is just unbelievable.  Same old story...slow start, can't make 3's, poor foul shooting, too many uncontested layups/dunks & 3's.  1 point for Cam- just hard to believe.

Coach really sounded deflated & at a loss in the post-game interview.  Tough games now against Utah State & Indiana.  Really need something to change to even be able to win a game.   

638

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU vs BUTLER BB

« on: December 09, 2017, 07:17:03 PM »

Where was Devin Haygood?

639

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Santiago

« on: December 04, 2017, 03:08:54 PM »

It's too bad...reminds me of Bobby Hain in his senior year.  Missing Santiago's presence this year has been a killer compounded with Cam's struggles, losing Latin Davis, and Ferguson's injury.

640

YSU Penguin Athletics / RPI rankings

« on: December 01, 2017, 10:13:45 AM »

I see the RPI rankings are out and YSU is 348 out of 351...ouch but I suppose not surprising.  Currently 306 in BPI rankings.   

Idaho State looks to be our best opportunity to pick up a win before conference play starts as they are winless.  DePaul appears to be down this year so hopefully we play a competitive game. 

Looking ahead Indiana is the last non-conference game on Friday, December 2.  Open up league play on Monday, New Years Day at CSU then home the following Thursday & Saturday against Milwaukee & Green Bay.  Definitely a busy stretch there.

641

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Men's basketball Bob Morris

« on: November 29, 2017, 10:40:59 PM »

Definitely competed hard.  It would have been a nice rewarding win.  Few little things here and there were the difference.  A couple wasted turnovers throwing the ball away.  I think if Hartfield had knocked down that wide open 3 during that run it would have brought the house down and maybe swung the momentum totally to YSU.  Couple layups were there that didn't fall.  Just could never get over the hump.  Looking back that 7-0 run to start the 2nd half was really the difference.  That was a shame to see that happen.

FT shooting was better, but still not where it needs to be.  Terrible 3-point shooting.  Really both FT & 3-pt shooting has cost us at least 2, maybe 3 games.   

I agree with a healthy Santiago & just an avg game by Cam & this would have been a good victory.  Feel bad for those two.  Noticed Santiago came out of the locker room late after halftime during the timeout after the 7-0 RMU run.     

Garrett Covington continues to impress me...hard to believe he's a freshman.  He's going to have a bright future.     

Pretty good crowd for a mid-week non-conference game.  Good student support.

You could really hear the pain in Coach Calhoun's voice on the post-game show. 

Really wish we had Latin Davis now.  He could have been huge with Santiago & Ferguson's injuries. 

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU vs South Dakota

« on: November 27, 2017, 09:43:36 AM »

I guess giving up over 100 to Niagara in that little talked about scrimmage was a really bad sign.

I knew there would be struggles, but I really didn't envision not being competitive in these early non-conference games.  I realize there are a lot of guys that haven't played D1 basketball, but we have 5 guys that played significant time last year.  The only D1 game we've really been competitive in from start to finish was the So. Miss game.  Other than Kent St. & South Dakota, most of these other teams we've lost to have their issues as well.

We've already had 3 20+ losses with DePaul, Butler & Indiana all coming up.  Last year there were a total of 4 20+ losses & 2 of those were Michigan State & Ohio State by 20 along with Jacksonville & Oakland.   

I'm sure there's a lot of sleepless nights for Coach Calhoun, but I have faith he'll make this work.

643

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Live feed: YSU - So. Miss

« on: November 25, 2017, 10:42:31 PM »

Really felt it was a game YSU should have won.  YSU had better athletes & are a bigger team that dominated the boards but way too many missed open shots & too many turnovers again.  Improved FT shooting...Tyree going 7-for-7 was impressive.  Braun's FT shooting is puzzling.  He's only 18 of 36 yet is almost shooting that good from the floor.  Cisco still most be hurting.  Not getting many minutes.  They are definitely missing his play from last year.

Felt like that was the most competitive D1 game YSU has been in this year from start-to-finish.  I guess for positives, the opponents score & margin of victory has shrunk each D1 game; gave up 111 to Kent State & lost by 33, gave up 104 to Canisius & lost by 20, gave up 80 to UNC & lost by 13, and gave up 71 to So. Miss & lost by 7.

Really need to find a way to get a win Sunday & head home & beat Robert Morris or it could turn into an ugly stretch

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Live feed: YSU - So. Miss

« on: November 25, 2017, 04:56:33 PM »

Here's the live video feed https://www.facebook.com/SanfordPentagon/videos/1516966475023641/?hc_location=ufi

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Live feed YSU - UNC

« on: November 24, 2017, 11:17:38 PM »

9-23 FT shooting that puts us at 60-112 for less than 54%...just unreal.  This was a problem in recent years but never to this level.  Guys like Donlan & Frantz were so good.  The only real good FT shooter that's getting any playing time is Santiago & he can't even get to the line this year. 

Thought Cam had a real good 1st half & looked like himself, but couldn't get anything going in the 2nd half & looked out of sorts. 

Was good to get Ferguson back.  Thought he added a lot spark, but couldn't make FT either. 

Tyree Robinson looked strong underneath, just couldn't get a few shots he was fouled on to fall then struggled from the line.   Didn't understand why he didn't get more PT.