Messages

376

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Cleveland State

« on: January 09, 2022, 08:53:59 PM »

Killer loss.  Give YSU credit for battling hard after pretty much an inexcusable loss Friday.  I thought YSU really blew a chance at the end of the 1st half with 2 empty possessions, basically not even getting a shot off.  It just felt like they when CSU got it down to 8 at half they took some of YSU's energy away and they were a different team the 2nd half.  CSU's coach seemed to make the necessary adjustments.

Still too many turnovers and a few horrible ones, but it was the lack of rebounding I think was the difference.  Just missing not being able to grab the last one before their 3 to tie the game was dagger, but YSU couldn't have got much of a better look on the last possession to win, but Cohill just couldn't find.

Shemar was terrific, reminded me more of some of his games last year.  Couldn't get any production out of Akuchie.  Besides Olison and Cohill, Ogoro was much better but still missed his only FT attempt.  He's now 5-14...unbelievable. 

Thought it was odd no PT for Jamir.  And Chicone apparently broke his wrist in the last game?

377

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU - PFW MBB

« on: January 08, 2022, 07:32:52 PM »

What concerns me the most are the turnovers and lack of being efficient on offense.  This game reminded me of the loss to Niagara, and I chalked that up to being tired after the 3rd game in 3 days and having no time to prepare without Covington. 

I was surprised YSU made really no effort to try and get Akuchie and Thomas the ball inside, and maybe Owens and Dunn aren't ready yet, but their size really isn't being utilized.  And I wish we could get more than 10 mins out of Thomas. 

When YSU went on the 5 game winning streak with road Horizon League wins along with good wins over Central Michigan and Canisius and throw in Westminster, I thought maybe they got over the hump.  They averaged 78 and gave up 60 during that stretch.

Then came WVU.  YSU played a terrible first half (WVU was worse), but was only down 1 then they got blown out in the 2nd half.  Throw out the Defiance game.  The Oakland game had the horrible stretch when YSU couldn't score and got outscored by 22. 

Now the last 2 games have been similar, only difference was Robert Morris wasn't as good as the mediocre PFW.

I felt like early on this YSU team was one of most athletic in recent years and if they could shoot the ball well and play defense they'd be dangerous.  Defense hasn't been so much the issue this year as it was in some years past.  YSU needs to find some guys to step up.  Without Covington, they need a leader besides Akuchie.  Cohill's advantage in a lot of earlier games was his speed as him and Olison could get to the basket and score, now they seem like they are either getting stripped or just lack the size to finish. 

Shemar can knock down shots, but I feel like his size is really hurting him this year.  He can't get to the basket at all successfully and has turned the ball over a lot as well.  Definitely need more out of Hunter and Ogoro as well.   

Surprisingly CSU only beat Robert Morris by 1 last night.  YSU needs to find a way to win or the early road wins aren't going to mean much and they are going to find themselves in the middle of the pack of a down year of Horizon League.  Felt like Oakland and CSU were clearly the best teams and YSU would be in the next group with the likes of Wright St and Detroit.         

378

YSU Penguin Athletics / YSU - PFW MBB

« on: January 07, 2022, 09:35:24 PM »

YSU loses 71-61 but it was close throughout until a bunch of FT late.

Coach said post game on the radio it was a piss poor performance and he's pissed off, and certainly should be.

Really disappointing loss.  YSU didn't have any energy, not sure if they looked past PFW to Cleveland St. on Sunday or what.  PFW scored 20 points off YSU's 14 turnovers.  YSU just 6-12 from the line and missed a bunch of key ones when it was close.

I really thought once YSU got over the hump in the 2nd half and took the lead they were going to be ok.  I thought the game changed when YSU was down 1 and threw it away and PFW had a breakaway dunk.  That gave them the momentum back.  No idea why their player wasn't given a technical as he taunting YSU when coach called the timeout.  Coach was hot. 

Didn't think it was a very good officiated game, but that was besides the point. 

Nice game for Chicone with 13, but I can't understand why him and Ogoro continually cannot shoot free throws. Chicone is now 9-18 and Ogoro is 5-13 this year.

Everything is a struggle for YSU on offense ever since the WVU game. 

379

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU 64 RMU 60 mbb

« on: January 05, 2022, 11:48:11 PM »

Agree with everything that's already been said.  Just all around weird game.  Earlier on, YSU should have been up 15 points or so but just couldn't get shots to fall and too many turnovers.  Even though YSU should be the superior team, you just knew they were going to come back. 

The second half started off totally opposite of the first as no one could miss from either team then it reverted back to the first half of sloppy basketball.  My fear was once Robert Morris took the lead, if they got hot and stretched the lead to a few possessions it might have been too much for YSU as frustrated as YSU was.

Give YSU credit for digging in.  I was really frustrated watching, I can't imagine playing when you can't get shots to fall and turn it over 26 times.  YSU making 8 more 3's and the crazy 25+ rebounding edge offset all of the turnovers & shooting under 34%.  If you had said those positives for YSU and they would hold RMU to 60 points you'd think they would have won by 20+.  How about 18 offensive rebounds for YSU and just 3 for RMU!?

It seemed like YSU couldn't get anything easy inside and nothing would fall.  Cohill and Olison missed so many shots driving to the lane.  Then there were several times Jamir had the ball and should have just went up with it, but kicked it out.  The multiple 3's by Shelton in the first half and Olison in the 2nd half were huge and changed the game both times.  Games likes these are the ones you really miss Garrett Covington. 

Agoro and Hunter continue to struggle.  Agoro just doesn't look comfortable, and he's just 5-12 from the FT line.  Both really impressed me last year at times.  Need to get more production out of them as well as Shemar, who has had a lot of inconsistent games this year.

But hey it's Horizon League basketball, many times they aren't pretty.  And who wouldn't take 3-1 after 5 scheduled road games with 11 of the final 17 at homes especially without Covington. 

380

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU - Oakland MBB

« on: January 04, 2022, 10:53:33 PM »

The course of the season will be determined by Sunday evening.  If we are 4-2, we can contend for one of the top four spots (and a first round home game in the conference tournament.)  If we are 3-3 (or, gulp, 2-4) the season will yet again be all but lost.

Hate to say that, but I get where you're coming from.  This week is a good barometer of where the team is at playing one of the best teams in CSU at home, mid-pack team in Fort Wayne at home, and probably the worst team in the league and the only road game against Robert Morris.  I'd be disappointed if they can't go 2-1.  They have to take care of business Wednesday night against Robert Morris.  Hopefully COVID doesn't get in the way. 

And as chezmustache said, they have to get back to playing good defense and these games should provide a good opportunity to doing that.  The big runs by the opposition and scoring droughts is what has killed YSU in most of their losses this year. 

381

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU - Oakland MBB

« on: January 01, 2022, 06:57:26 PM »

looks like YSU did the usual meltdown.   Starters scored all but 16 points led by Akuchie with 21pts.   He also had 8 rebs to boot.     Cohill had 12 and Olison contributed with 14 on 6-13 fg     YSU was just 8-28  28.6% from behind the arch.    oh well with 3 pt shooting like that you cannot compete.    on the flip side Oakland was much better at the 3 ball than YSU going 13-28   46.4%   thats 5 more 3 pointers than us so i can see what was the difference

It was competitive game outside the ridiculous 22-0 run by Oakland after the shot clock debacle that caused a long delay. Their ability to hit 3's vs YSU's inability was the big difference; however, nonetheless they are a better team

382

YSU Penguin Athletics / YSU - Oakland MBB

« on: January 01, 2022, 04:10:31 PM »

Brutal first half, giving up 50.  Was tied at 16 at nearly the halfway in the first half and gave up 22 straight.  YSU was out-hustled, lost their composure, and couldn't get shots to fall during that stretch.  It felt similar to the start of the second half against WVU.  Settled down at the end of the first half but would have liked to see them get it down to 12 or so.  Akuchie has been tremendous with 15 of the 34, but no one else has stepped up.  Big difference is they've knocked down 7 3's to YSU's 2.  YSU has really been struggling of late shooting 3's.

383

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Detroit game cancelled men's basketball

« on: December 29, 2021, 03:30:46 PM »

Additional update from the Horizon League https://horizonleague.org/news/2021/12/29/mens-basketball-horizon-league-announces-updates-to-hlmbb-and-hlwbb-schedules.aspx

384

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Detroit game cancelled men's basketball

« on: December 29, 2021, 01:41:02 PM »

Here's the story on Detroit https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2021/12/29/detroit-mercy-mens-womens-hoops-cancel-next-two-games-due-covid/9040182002/

So the men's games are cancelled and considered no contests, while their women's games are forfeits...interesting. 

385

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Detroit game cancelled men's basketball

« on: December 28, 2021, 09:09:35 PM »

Completely predictable. Players leave the sheltered and closely monitored team environment and go home for the holidays. A few return infected and wipe out large segments of their team.

I am quite sure that the Horizon League will adjust the policy and declare this game as a "no contest."  That is fine with us. Our odds of winning in Detroit were not high.  So no losses with the first three road games in the books.  I will take that.

Yep...I would have bet money this was going to happen with the Detroit game; would have rather it happened with Oakland though.  Even though I think YSU could have beat Detroit, it's a team YSU has struggled with.  Outside of the 3 straight wins in 2019-2020, YSU has only beaten Detroit in 2011 & 2014 going back to December 31, 2009.  YSU has lost 23 of the last 28 to Detroit. 

Defiance is a D3 school and their record is 4-6.  They've played 2 D1 games losing by 52 to Miami (OH) & by 49 to Bellarmine.  Lost to PSU Shenango by 4...yikes.  They have won their last 3 non D1 games.

386

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU - WVU MBB

« on: December 22, 2021, 10:27:25 PM »

Thought YSU was locked in the first half but didn't take advantage of WVU shooting so poorly and missed a lot of good looks.  They could have jumped out to sizable lead, but surely would have taken being down only 1 at the half if you had asked them that before the game.

Losing Shemar didn't help, but the full court press absolutely killed them in the second half.  WVU brought the intensity and couldn't miss in the second half.  YSU looked gassed and couldn't hit anything.  Even in the 2nd half YSU had a lot of wide open 3's they couldn't hit.  Ended the game 5-27 and I don't think many of them were contested. 

To hold WVU to 24 in the first half then give up 58 in the second half is mind blowing. 

Nothing from the keys to victory panned out.  Didn't score 70, turned the ball over (20), couldn't hit 3's and didn't get a big game from Akuchie, Cohill and/or Olison (18 points combined).  Fouling them also didn't pan out as they hit 25-34 for 73.5% well better than their 60.6% average.  And WVU entered the game at just 30.4% from 3 and they hit 46.7%.

Crazy that YSU out-rebounded them 39-32. 

I'd say the big positive is it didn't look like Shemar's injury was that serious as it certainly didn't look good when it happened.

387

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU - WVU MBB

« on: December 22, 2021, 02:34:28 PM »

I believe in moral victories.   Hopefully we're competitive and the boys battle to the end.  Not one guy on our roster would have sniffed a scholarship to WVU  coming out of HS but there are at least 3 that if they were in the transfer portal WVU or similar school would take them.

Limit WVU to one shot and we need the 3 ball to drop to have a chance although you can say that about every game.   Like mud said Akuchie,Olison and Cohill need to have an A game and we need a X factor to emerge .

Yes I agree.  We'll see YSU stands.  I know some have said they haven't beaten anyone this year, but they are a couple possessions away from being 9-1 basically without their best player and was in the game with PSU late.

Hopefully YSU can keep it a competitive game.  I think YSU can beat the spread, and would love to see it in single digits. 

Shemar needs to step up and have a solid game & hit some 3's and hopefully Shelton could be an X factor.  He's played well of late. 

388

YSU Penguin Athletics / YSU - WVU MBB

« on: December 22, 2021, 01:24:38 PM »

Tonight at 6 PM on ESPN+

WVU is a 15.5 point favorite. 

WVU is 10-1 with their only loss to Marquette.  They beat Oakland 60-53 earlier in the season.

WVU is only averaging 69.4 per game, but giving up just 60.5.  They've only given up 70 or more twice this year; once in their loss to Marquette and 77 in a win against Eastern Kentucky.

YSU is 7-0 this year when scoring 70 or more. 

Coach Calhoun said they want to foul them and get them to the line because they aren't a good FT shooting team.  They are averaging just 60.6% and their opponents aren't much better at 61.9%.  YSU meanwhile is at 75.4%.

Also noticed WVU is only shooting 30.4% from 3, which is worse than YSU at 33.5%.

You have to think if YSU can shoot the ball well tonight they'll have a chance.  Need good possessions, minimize turnovers, knock down some 3's and keep them from easy baskets- get them to the line like Coach said.  I think YSU needs a big game from Akuchie and need Cohill and/or Olison to put some points up. 

I always feel like in these games the key is to not get down big early and hang tough to the first media timeout.  Then it always seems like the last few mins of the first half and the first few mins of the second half can determine a game.  If YSU can survive those 3 pieces I think they'll be in the game with under 8 mins to go and that's all you can ask.

389

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU 71 Canisius 43

« on: December 12, 2021, 09:12:30 PM »

Even though Canisius entered the game at 2-8, their first 4 losses were to 4 very good teams (Miami, East Carolina, St. Bonaventure & Cleveland St), and the biggest deficit was 12.  Their biggest loss had been 14 twice to Monmuth & Cornell.  YSU really made them look like a D3 school.  Throw in too that YSU started off slow, missed some good looks and really should have had a bigger lead early. 

It's hard to believe YSU's first ever win over Canisius would come in such dominant fashion.  I saw it stated that was the largest numerical win in the Calhoun era; however, his first win was by 88 over Franciscan so maybe it meant to be against a D1 school. 

Chicone has done a nice job handling the ball and running the offense...seems like he rushes his FT shooting, not sure if that's his technique or not, but he's just 5-10 this year.  Shemar seems like he has been forcing things too much of late.  Hope he gets out that funk.

Wish Hunter could get going.  Have to wonder how much longer he'll continue to start.  Chris Shelton and Daniel Ogoro have picked it up of late.  Jacori Owens looks like he has some potential.  Will be anxious to see him improve over the years.  You have to wonder about Will Dunn.  Seems like he's regressed.  Need to get him some work against Westminster.

Few major things I really like about this team...very athletic, great FT shooting (76%), and really play like a team that's close and unselfish.  I can now see why Covington was so apt to stick with the team after his injury and some of the comments pre-season how close of a team this was.  They're really learning to play together as a team as the improvement has been fun to watch

390

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Central MI MBB

« on: December 09, 2021, 07:36:22 PM »

I was disappointed Salley didn't stay in the program.  I think it's always nice to have the ability to put a big man in even if he's not the most athletic especially against some teams.  Hain was tremendous and his injury was nearly as deflating as Covington's.  Kaufman definitely improved every year.  I wish we could get some more mins out of Jamir but i'm not sure about his stamina let alone his foul troubles.  I thought Ola had a chance to be something special the way he started off but he was never right after his injuries.

As I said earlier, Wednesday's game wasn't a typical YSU win, those are usually the games YSU loses but thankfully shot lights out.  Those first 3 possessions CMU beat the press so easily and pretty spotted them 6 points.  I think YSU got lax in the 2nd half and thought they had it under control.  When YSU built the lead to 13 I really thought it was going to be at least an 18-point victory.  CMU really played like a team in the their first year with a new coach.   

I really believe YSU is 7-1 right now with Covington and absolute worst case 6-2 but I don't believe they would have lost either of the MTE games, definitely not SIUE and can't imagine the lackluster performance and not being able to score against Niagara.  Shame of it is, YSU probably would have had a hell of shot to be 9-1 heading into the WVU game