1261
YSU Penguin Athletics / YSU vs. NDSU in-game thread
« on: November 12, 2011, 03:57:08 PM »
4-minutes to go
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
1262
YSU Penguin Athletics / Predictions?
« on: November 11, 2011, 02:59:34 PM »
Okay Guin fans. Biggest weekend of the year to be a Penguin lover!
Second biggest FB game of the year against the Bison (still looking for free internet video for us).
Baksetball opens vs Samford.
Lady Pens open vs ranked WVa. (espn3 coverage), then a 1-day layover to play at IPFW.
Cross Country now ranked 52 and running in regional this weekend.
How about that diver Casey Hill? What a performer.
Let's here some predictions:
FB score will not be close ..one team will win big. Hopefully guins O over Bison D. YSU 38 NDSU 17
Basketball will struggle early & cruise convincingly ...74-52.
Lady Pens go 2-0 ..WVa lost all starters from last year's team.
Lady Pens CC finished between 10-15 for their best finish in school history.
Casey Hill sweeps both springboards for the 4th straight time.
WoooWooo Guinnies !!!!!
Second biggest FB game of the year against the Bison (still looking for free internet video for us).
Baksetball opens vs Samford.
Lady Pens open vs ranked WVa. (espn3 coverage), then a 1-day layover to play at IPFW.
Cross Country now ranked 52 and running in regional this weekend.
How about that diver Casey Hill? What a performer.
Let's here some predictions:
FB score will not be close ..one team will win big. Hopefully guins O over Bison D. YSU 38 NDSU 17
Basketball will struggle early & cruise convincingly ...74-52.
Lady Pens go 2-0 ..WVa lost all starters from last year's team.
Lady Pens CC finished between 10-15 for their best finish in school history.
Casey Hill sweeps both springboards for the 4th straight time.
WoooWooo Guinnies !!!!!
1263
YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: Nortey hoping for big change in final year
« on: November 11, 2011, 01:30:47 AM »
By Joe Scalzo
scalzo@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Senior point guard Macey Nortey has played in all 90 of Youngstown State’s games over the past three years and her 84 career starts put her within striking distance of the school’s all-time record of 112.
Problem is, Nortey has a 9-81 record in those games, so you’d half expect the Long Beach, Calif., native to be counting down the days until she can escape the snowy Midwest.
Not so.
“I’m very bittersweet about it,” she said. “When people ask me about it being my senior year, I mean, I love it, I’m excited and I do want to go out of here with a bang, but at the same time, it’s just like, ‘Wow, four years have flown.’
“I don’t think about it being my last year. I just kind of go game-by-game, practice-by-practice.”
YSU enters tonight’s opener at West Virginia with more optimism than it’s had in years, thanks to a strong finish to last season and a roster that returns four of five starters.
Led by the Horizon League’s preseason player of the year, junior forward Brandi Brown, the Penguins boast their best and deepest roster since the 2007-08 season when they finished 14-17.
“I’m really excited about our bench and our newcomers and the fact that we do have different options and different looks from the point guard with [freshman] Kelsea [Fickiesen] all the way down to [sophomore] Melissa [Thompson] playing the three [small forward] and the four [power forward],” Nortey said. “It’s just nice to show a different face and give everyone a chance to prove what they’ve worked on during the summer and in the preseason.
“It’s nice to have different ways to attack the opponent.”
YSU went 6-24 last year, winning its last three home games and losing its last three road games by five points or fewer.
That’s a promising trend for this season, although the Penguins face a bad matchup tonight. The Mountaineers lost four of five starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team but they have seven players that stand at least six feet tall.
YSU has two.
“They’re obviously a more athletic team than us,” second-year coach Bob Boldon said. “The overall theme for the game is trying to find ways to negate their advantages over us.”
On the flip side, the Penguins could benefit from playing its best opponent in the opener, since it will give them a chance to see how much they need to improve.
And, Boldon said, it should be fun.
“Obviously,” he said, “it’s a wonderful atmosphere to play in.”
scalzo@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Senior point guard Macey Nortey has played in all 90 of Youngstown State’s games over the past three years and her 84 career starts put her within striking distance of the school’s all-time record of 112.
Problem is, Nortey has a 9-81 record in those games, so you’d half expect the Long Beach, Calif., native to be counting down the days until she can escape the snowy Midwest.
Not so.
“I’m very bittersweet about it,” she said. “When people ask me about it being my senior year, I mean, I love it, I’m excited and I do want to go out of here with a bang, but at the same time, it’s just like, ‘Wow, four years have flown.’
“I don’t think about it being my last year. I just kind of go game-by-game, practice-by-practice.”
YSU enters tonight’s opener at West Virginia with more optimism than it’s had in years, thanks to a strong finish to last season and a roster that returns four of five starters.
Led by the Horizon League’s preseason player of the year, junior forward Brandi Brown, the Penguins boast their best and deepest roster since the 2007-08 season when they finished 14-17.
“I’m really excited about our bench and our newcomers and the fact that we do have different options and different looks from the point guard with [freshman] Kelsea [Fickiesen] all the way down to [sophomore] Melissa [Thompson] playing the three [small forward] and the four [power forward],” Nortey said. “It’s just nice to show a different face and give everyone a chance to prove what they’ve worked on during the summer and in the preseason.
“It’s nice to have different ways to attack the opponent.”
YSU went 6-24 last year, winning its last three home games and losing its last three road games by five points or fewer.
That’s a promising trend for this season, although the Penguins face a bad matchup tonight. The Mountaineers lost four of five starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team but they have seven players that stand at least six feet tall.
YSU has two.
“They’re obviously a more athletic team than us,” second-year coach Bob Boldon said. “The overall theme for the game is trying to find ways to negate their advantages over us.”
On the flip side, the Penguins could benefit from playing its best opponent in the opener, since it will give them a chance to see how much they need to improve.
And, Boldon said, it should be fun.
“Obviously,” he said, “it’s a wonderful atmosphere to play in.”
1264
YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: Postseason hopes still alive
« on: November 11, 2011, 01:28:40 AM »
By Joe Scalzo
scalzo@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
YSU’s playoff hopes have twice been declared dead by some guy at this newspaper — the writer’s name isn’t important — but it looks increasingly likely that the Penguins are playing for more than pride this weekend.
Even with a 5-4 record, YSU’s postseason formula looks like this: Win and you’re (probably) in.
“We feel like if we get this win, everything is back in place for us,” senior defensive end Obinna Ekweremuba said.
At this point, North Dakota State (9-0, 6-0 Missouri Valley) is a playoff lock and Northern Iowa (7-2, 6-1) probably is, too.
After that, things get fuzzy. The FCS playoffs were expanded from 16 teams to 20 last year, and YSU officials believe the MVFC’s third-best team has about an 80 percent chance of making the postseason. (They figure the fourth-best team has about a 20 percent chance of making the playoffs.)
The MVFC sent three teams to the playoffs last season and all were four-loss teams. Before the expansion, just 22 four-loss teams had made the playoffs since the field expanded to 16 in 1986.
This year, the MVFC will likely have four four-loss teams: Illinois State (7-3), which plays Northern Iowa in its season finale, and Indiana State (5-4), which plays Missouri State (1-8, 1-5) and Southern Illinois (2-7, 1-6) in its final two games.
The Redbirds won the head-to-head matchup with the Sycamores and would likely get the nod.
But what if YSU upset No. 1-ranked North Dakota State on the road this weekend, then beat Missouri State on Nov. 19? Well, that would most likely give YSU the nod, provided Illinois State doesn’t beat UNI this weekend.
“They know we’ve got to win both games,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said of his players. “[If we do], I feel confident we’ll get that nod.”
At first glance, YSU’s resume isn’t that strong. The Penguins have just one victory over a winning team — Illinois State — and the other four wins are against teams with a combined record of 6-31. Two of those teams are partial-scholarship FCS schools.
But YSU lost by two on the road to Indiana State and came within a fourth-down goal-line stand in the final minutes of beating Northern Iowa last week. Those close losses, combined with a road win over the nation’s top-rated team in the final two weeks, would give YSU a lot of clout with the selection committee, which selects the 10 at-large teams.
“It doesn’t matter if we don’t win, so that’s got to be our mentality,” Wolford said. “But we’ve got nothing to lose. We can let it all hang out.”
YSU has made the playoffs just once since Jim Tressel’s last season in 2000 — it fell to eventual champion Appalachian State in the 2006 national semifinals — but the school’s name still carries weight nationally.
And a win over North Dakota State would show voters that the Penguins’ future is as bright as its past.
“It would give us a sense that we’re ready to take that next step,” Wolford said. “We talk about being competitive for championships and that is the standard around here. That’s what we’re striving for. That’s what we think about every day. That’s what we coach every day to. That’s what we recruit to every day to. That’s what we wake up and work to.
“That’s what’s expected. We embrace it. We love it. It makes us want to work harder and it makes us want to have self-pride. I don’t feel like it’s really that far off.”
scalzo@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
YSU’s playoff hopes have twice been declared dead by some guy at this newspaper — the writer’s name isn’t important — but it looks increasingly likely that the Penguins are playing for more than pride this weekend.
Even with a 5-4 record, YSU’s postseason formula looks like this: Win and you’re (probably) in.
“We feel like if we get this win, everything is back in place for us,” senior defensive end Obinna Ekweremuba said.
At this point, North Dakota State (9-0, 6-0 Missouri Valley) is a playoff lock and Northern Iowa (7-2, 6-1) probably is, too.
After that, things get fuzzy. The FCS playoffs were expanded from 16 teams to 20 last year, and YSU officials believe the MVFC’s third-best team has about an 80 percent chance of making the postseason. (They figure the fourth-best team has about a 20 percent chance of making the playoffs.)
The MVFC sent three teams to the playoffs last season and all were four-loss teams. Before the expansion, just 22 four-loss teams had made the playoffs since the field expanded to 16 in 1986.
This year, the MVFC will likely have four four-loss teams: Illinois State (7-3), which plays Northern Iowa in its season finale, and Indiana State (5-4), which plays Missouri State (1-8, 1-5) and Southern Illinois (2-7, 1-6) in its final two games.
The Redbirds won the head-to-head matchup with the Sycamores and would likely get the nod.
But what if YSU upset No. 1-ranked North Dakota State on the road this weekend, then beat Missouri State on Nov. 19? Well, that would most likely give YSU the nod, provided Illinois State doesn’t beat UNI this weekend.
“They know we’ve got to win both games,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said of his players. “[If we do], I feel confident we’ll get that nod.”
At first glance, YSU’s resume isn’t that strong. The Penguins have just one victory over a winning team — Illinois State — and the other four wins are against teams with a combined record of 6-31. Two of those teams are partial-scholarship FCS schools.
But YSU lost by two on the road to Indiana State and came within a fourth-down goal-line stand in the final minutes of beating Northern Iowa last week. Those close losses, combined with a road win over the nation’s top-rated team in the final two weeks, would give YSU a lot of clout with the selection committee, which selects the 10 at-large teams.
“It doesn’t matter if we don’t win, so that’s got to be our mentality,” Wolford said. “But we’ve got nothing to lose. We can let it all hang out.”
YSU has made the playoffs just once since Jim Tressel’s last season in 2000 — it fell to eventual champion Appalachian State in the 2006 national semifinals — but the school’s name still carries weight nationally.
And a win over North Dakota State would show voters that the Penguins’ future is as bright as its past.
“It would give us a sense that we’re ready to take that next step,” Wolford said. “We talk about being competitive for championships and that is the standard around here. That’s what we’re striving for. That’s what we think about every day. That’s what we coach every day to. That’s what we recruit to every day to. That’s what we wake up and work to.
“That’s what’s expected. We embrace it. We love it. It makes us want to work harder and it makes us want to have self-pride. I don’t feel like it’s really that far off.”
1265
YSU Penguin Athletics / TB Torrian Pace Named CoSIDA Academic All-District
« on: November 11, 2011, 01:24:57 AM »
Youngstown State sophomore tailback Torrian Pace (Chantilly, Va.) was named to the Capital One Academic All-District V team on Thursday, the College Sports Information Director of America announced.
Pace and Northwestern's Jacob Schmidt were the two running backs selected in District V. Pace owns a 3.54 grade-point average in Criminal Justice in two-plus years at YSU.
This season, Pace has rushed for 150 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown in a reserve role.
He is now eligible for CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America honors with will be announced in early December.
Pace and Northwestern's Jacob Schmidt were the two running backs selected in District V. Pace owns a 3.54 grade-point average in Criminal Justice in two-plus years at YSU.
This season, Pace has rushed for 150 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown in a reserve role.
He is now eligible for CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America honors with will be announced in early December.
1266
YSU Penguin Athletics / Men's Basketball Opens 82nd Season at Samford Saturday
« on: November 10, 2011, 01:48:46 PM »
The Youngstown State men's basketball team opens the 82nd season in school history when it visits Samford, Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala. The game can be heard on WKBN 570-AM.
Guins Celebrate 40 Years in Beeghly
The 2011-12 campaign will be the 40th season the Beeghly Center has been the home of Youngstown State men's basketball. YSU first took to the court in the Beeghly Center in 1972-73.
Nearing 1,000 Wins
The Guins are approaching a significant milestone in the program's history. YSU has won 992 games and needs just eight more to collect the program's 1,000th win.
Guins in Season Openers
Youngstown State is 37-44 in season openers and defeated Samford, 64-61, in last year's first game. The previous time the Guins won a season opener was in 2006 when they defeated Central Michigan, 74-50, at a neutral site. The last time YSU won a road season opener was in 2000 when the Guins defeated Saint Francis (Pa.), 64-63.
About Samford
The Bulldogs are coming off a 12-19 campaign in 2010-11. Samford has nine letterwinners and three starters from last year's squad, including leading scorer senior guard Jeffrey Merritt, who led the team with 10.3 points per game. Merritt also averaged 6.3 rebounds per contest.
The Samford Series
This is just the third meeting in the all-time series between Youngstown State and Samford. YSU owns a 2-0 edge in the series, including a 64-61 victory last season at the Beeghly Center. The only other meeting between these two schools occurred in 1974 when the Guins won, 83-77, in the Beeghly Center.
Brooks Hits Scoring High
In last season's match up against Samford, senior DuShawn Brooks turned in a career performance. Brooks scored a career-high 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the floor, including four 3-pointers, and led the Guins to a 64-61 victory.
Slocum In Elite Company
Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is one of just 10 active Division I head coaches with at least 600 career victories. Slocum currently ranks sixth on that list with 638 career coaching victories. He also ranks 43rd all-time in career victories.
A Win Will
• Improve YSU 1-0 on the year.
• Mark YSU's first road win of the season.
• Mark YSU's first road victory since defeating Saint Francis (Pa.), 74-65, on Dec. 16, 2009.
• Mark the program's third win over Samford.
• Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum's 639th career victory and his 59th at Youngstown State.
• Mark YSU's 993rd victory in the program's history.
Percent Returning
• Letterwinners - 66.7 percent
• Starters - 80 percent
• Scoring - 63.3 percent
• FG made - 65.6 percent
• 3-point FG made - 67.7 percent
• FT made - 50.5 percent
• Rebounding - 65.5 percent
• Assists - 66.9 percent
Scoring Uprise
The Guins averaged 69.1 points per game in 2010-11. It was the highest season per game average since the 2000-01 team averaged 71.1 points per game. YSU scored 2,072 points in 2010-11, marking just the sixth time since 1990-91 that a YSU team has scored at least 2,000 points in a season. The Guins have scored at least 70 points 15 times last season and owned a record of 6-9 in those games. It is also the most times scoring at least 70 since the 2000-01 season when they scored at least 70 in 15 games.
To the Point
Youngstown State's two point guards - Blake Allen and Kendrick Perry - were the two best in the Horizon League at taking care of the ball. Last year, the two have combined for 196 assists and committed just 91 turnovers for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.2.
Ward Approaching Top 10
Senior Ashen Ward has made 97 3-pointers during his career and needs just three more to reach 100. He also needs just 10 more to move into 10th place on the YSU all-time 3-point chart.
Guins Road Warriors
Last season, the Guins played 16 games in the friendly confines of the Beeghly Center. In 2011-12, the Guins will have to take to the road for 16 games and host just 13 contests. It is the fewest number of home games since playing 12 in 2005-06. The Guins also played just 13 in 2007-08.
Eargle Has Chance For 1,000
In just two seasons of playing college basketball, junior Damian Eargle has scored more than 600 points with 607. Eargle needs just 393 more points to reach 1,000 for his entire career, which includes the 2008-09 season at UNC-Greensboro. Last season, Eargle ranked second on the squad with 339 points for an average of 11.3 points per game.
Ward First With 50 Since 06-07
Last season, Ashen Ward led the team with 50 3-pointers made. He became the first player to make at least 50 3-pointers since Quin Humphrey made 65 in 2006-07.
KP3 Most Frosh Assists in 20 Years
Kendrick Perry's 122 assists mark the third straight season a YSU player has recorded at least 100 assists in a season. His 122 assists were the most by a freshman since Lacy Jones' 132 in 1990-91 and are the fourth most by a YSU freshman.
Record-Setting Guins
The Guins set school records with 235 3-pointers made and 708 3-pointers attempted. Six different Penguins made at least 20 3-pointers in 2010-11. The Guins also tied a single-game record with 14 3-pointers made against Butler on Jan. 9, 2011.
Ball Security
The Guins showed extreme care when handling the basketball last season. Blake Allen led the Horizon League with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.2 (74-to-34). Kendrick Perry, who ranked fourth in the league with 4.1 assists per game, was second with a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio (122-to-57).
Eargle Impressive
Junior Damian Eargle was named to the 2011 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. Eargle averaged 11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor. Eargle also led the Horizon League in blocks per game and his 91 blocked shots ranks second on the Youngstown State single-season list.
Ending Strong
Over the last 12 games of last season, sophomore Kendrick Perry was one of the Guins' most productive players. Perry is averaged 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game during that span. He scored in double figures nine times and is shot 49.2 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from 3-point range. He also owned an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.6.
Allen Had Strong Second Half
Junior Blake Allen turned an solid second half of the season in 2010-11. Over the last 17 games, Allen averaged 10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He shot 41.2 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from 3-point range during that time. Allen made 39 of his 92 3-point attempts in the team's final 17 contests. In the first 13 games of the year, Allen averaged 3.1 points per game and made just 8-of-28 (28.6 percent) from beyond the arc.
Eargle 10th Nationally
Junior Damian Eargle ranked 10th in the nation in blocked shots per game with 3.0. His 91 blocks are the second most in a single season. The only other player in school histor to record at least 85 blocks was Ricky Tunstall, who posted 138 in 1982-83. Eargle passed Tunstall for second on the list as well. In 1983-84, Tunstall blocked 83 shots.
Guins Set Single-Game Attempts Mark
The Guins set a single-game record with 35 3-point attempts against Detroit on Feb. 16. The previous record was 33 set earlier this season against Samford on Nov. 12 and tied against Akron on Nov. 20, and Wilberforce on Jan. 11.
Eargle Tied Career Scoring High
Damian Eargle tied a career high with 25 points in the 91-79 loss at Detroit on Feb. 16. The last time Eargle scored 25 points in a game was against Appalachian State in 2009 when he played at UNC-Greensboro. Eargle posted 11 rebounds and five blocks against the Titans.
Beyond the Arc
The Guins' 11 3-pointers made against Bowling Green on Feb. 19, 2011, which marked the ninth time last season they made at least 10 3-pointers in a game. The Guins also tried at least 20 3-pointers in 22 out of 30 games last year.
Guins Tie 3's Mark
Against Butler on Jan. 9, 2011, Youngstown State tied a single-game record with 14 3-pointers. It marked the fifth time that has been done in school history. The last time YSU made 14 3-pointers was against UIC in 2007.
Ward Set Career High Against UIC
Ashen Ward set a career-high with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor, including seven 3-pointers, in the Guins' 71-69 win over UIC on Dec. 30.
OT Losing Streak at 11
With its 94-87 overtime loss to Milwaukee on Feb. 26, Youngstown State has now lost 11 straight games that have gone into extra periods. The last time the Guins on in overtime was against Chicago State in 2001.
Eargle Climbing Blocks Chart
Sophomore Damian Eargle is quickly climbing the YSU single-season blocks chart. His 86 blocked shots rank second on the single-season list. Only Ricky Tunstall, in 1982-83 and 1983-84, has blocked more shots in a season. He is just the second player in school to post at least 80 blocks in a season.
Penguin Block Party
As a team, the Guins had 148 blocks, almost doubling the 74 by their opponents. It also ranks as the second most in school history - just 19 shy of the school record.
Last to Score 30
With 30 points against Loyola on Jan. 9, 2010, DeAndre Mays set a career-high and became the first player to score at least 30 points since Keston Roberts scored 31 against Detroit on Feb. 27, 2007. Mays' performance was the 10th time under Jerry Slocum a player has scored at least 30 points in a game. YSU had just 10 30-point plus performances from Feb. 1988 to Dec. 2005.
Guins Celebrate 40 Years in Beeghly
The 2011-12 campaign will be the 40th season the Beeghly Center has been the home of Youngstown State men's basketball. YSU first took to the court in the Beeghly Center in 1972-73.
Nearing 1,000 Wins
The Guins are approaching a significant milestone in the program's history. YSU has won 992 games and needs just eight more to collect the program's 1,000th win.
Guins in Season Openers
Youngstown State is 37-44 in season openers and defeated Samford, 64-61, in last year's first game. The previous time the Guins won a season opener was in 2006 when they defeated Central Michigan, 74-50, at a neutral site. The last time YSU won a road season opener was in 2000 when the Guins defeated Saint Francis (Pa.), 64-63.
About Samford
The Bulldogs are coming off a 12-19 campaign in 2010-11. Samford has nine letterwinners and three starters from last year's squad, including leading scorer senior guard Jeffrey Merritt, who led the team with 10.3 points per game. Merritt also averaged 6.3 rebounds per contest.
The Samford Series
This is just the third meeting in the all-time series between Youngstown State and Samford. YSU owns a 2-0 edge in the series, including a 64-61 victory last season at the Beeghly Center. The only other meeting between these two schools occurred in 1974 when the Guins won, 83-77, in the Beeghly Center.
Brooks Hits Scoring High
In last season's match up against Samford, senior DuShawn Brooks turned in a career performance. Brooks scored a career-high 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the floor, including four 3-pointers, and led the Guins to a 64-61 victory.
Slocum In Elite Company
Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is one of just 10 active Division I head coaches with at least 600 career victories. Slocum currently ranks sixth on that list with 638 career coaching victories. He also ranks 43rd all-time in career victories.
A Win Will
• Improve YSU 1-0 on the year.
• Mark YSU's first road win of the season.
• Mark YSU's first road victory since defeating Saint Francis (Pa.), 74-65, on Dec. 16, 2009.
• Mark the program's third win over Samford.
• Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum's 639th career victory and his 59th at Youngstown State.
• Mark YSU's 993rd victory in the program's history.
Percent Returning
• Letterwinners - 66.7 percent
• Starters - 80 percent
• Scoring - 63.3 percent
• FG made - 65.6 percent
• 3-point FG made - 67.7 percent
• FT made - 50.5 percent
• Rebounding - 65.5 percent
• Assists - 66.9 percent
Scoring Uprise
The Guins averaged 69.1 points per game in 2010-11. It was the highest season per game average since the 2000-01 team averaged 71.1 points per game. YSU scored 2,072 points in 2010-11, marking just the sixth time since 1990-91 that a YSU team has scored at least 2,000 points in a season. The Guins have scored at least 70 points 15 times last season and owned a record of 6-9 in those games. It is also the most times scoring at least 70 since the 2000-01 season when they scored at least 70 in 15 games.
To the Point
Youngstown State's two point guards - Blake Allen and Kendrick Perry - were the two best in the Horizon League at taking care of the ball. Last year, the two have combined for 196 assists and committed just 91 turnovers for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.2.
Ward Approaching Top 10
Senior Ashen Ward has made 97 3-pointers during his career and needs just three more to reach 100. He also needs just 10 more to move into 10th place on the YSU all-time 3-point chart.
Guins Road Warriors
Last season, the Guins played 16 games in the friendly confines of the Beeghly Center. In 2011-12, the Guins will have to take to the road for 16 games and host just 13 contests. It is the fewest number of home games since playing 12 in 2005-06. The Guins also played just 13 in 2007-08.
Eargle Has Chance For 1,000
In just two seasons of playing college basketball, junior Damian Eargle has scored more than 600 points with 607. Eargle needs just 393 more points to reach 1,000 for his entire career, which includes the 2008-09 season at UNC-Greensboro. Last season, Eargle ranked second on the squad with 339 points for an average of 11.3 points per game.
Ward First With 50 Since 06-07
Last season, Ashen Ward led the team with 50 3-pointers made. He became the first player to make at least 50 3-pointers since Quin Humphrey made 65 in 2006-07.
KP3 Most Frosh Assists in 20 Years
Kendrick Perry's 122 assists mark the third straight season a YSU player has recorded at least 100 assists in a season. His 122 assists were the most by a freshman since Lacy Jones' 132 in 1990-91 and are the fourth most by a YSU freshman.
Record-Setting Guins
The Guins set school records with 235 3-pointers made and 708 3-pointers attempted. Six different Penguins made at least 20 3-pointers in 2010-11. The Guins also tied a single-game record with 14 3-pointers made against Butler on Jan. 9, 2011.
Ball Security
The Guins showed extreme care when handling the basketball last season. Blake Allen led the Horizon League with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.2 (74-to-34). Kendrick Perry, who ranked fourth in the league with 4.1 assists per game, was second with a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio (122-to-57).
Eargle Impressive
Junior Damian Eargle was named to the 2011 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. Eargle averaged 11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor. Eargle also led the Horizon League in blocks per game and his 91 blocked shots ranks second on the Youngstown State single-season list.
Ending Strong
Over the last 12 games of last season, sophomore Kendrick Perry was one of the Guins' most productive players. Perry is averaged 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game during that span. He scored in double figures nine times and is shot 49.2 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from 3-point range. He also owned an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.6.
Allen Had Strong Second Half
Junior Blake Allen turned an solid second half of the season in 2010-11. Over the last 17 games, Allen averaged 10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He shot 41.2 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from 3-point range during that time. Allen made 39 of his 92 3-point attempts in the team's final 17 contests. In the first 13 games of the year, Allen averaged 3.1 points per game and made just 8-of-28 (28.6 percent) from beyond the arc.
Eargle 10th Nationally
Junior Damian Eargle ranked 10th in the nation in blocked shots per game with 3.0. His 91 blocks are the second most in a single season. The only other player in school histor to record at least 85 blocks was Ricky Tunstall, who posted 138 in 1982-83. Eargle passed Tunstall for second on the list as well. In 1983-84, Tunstall blocked 83 shots.
Guins Set Single-Game Attempts Mark
The Guins set a single-game record with 35 3-point attempts against Detroit on Feb. 16. The previous record was 33 set earlier this season against Samford on Nov. 12 and tied against Akron on Nov. 20, and Wilberforce on Jan. 11.
Eargle Tied Career Scoring High
Damian Eargle tied a career high with 25 points in the 91-79 loss at Detroit on Feb. 16. The last time Eargle scored 25 points in a game was against Appalachian State in 2009 when he played at UNC-Greensboro. Eargle posted 11 rebounds and five blocks against the Titans.
Beyond the Arc
The Guins' 11 3-pointers made against Bowling Green on Feb. 19, 2011, which marked the ninth time last season they made at least 10 3-pointers in a game. The Guins also tried at least 20 3-pointers in 22 out of 30 games last year.
Guins Tie 3's Mark
Against Butler on Jan. 9, 2011, Youngstown State tied a single-game record with 14 3-pointers. It marked the fifth time that has been done in school history. The last time YSU made 14 3-pointers was against UIC in 2007.
Ward Set Career High Against UIC
Ashen Ward set a career-high with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor, including seven 3-pointers, in the Guins' 71-69 win over UIC on Dec. 30.
OT Losing Streak at 11
With its 94-87 overtime loss to Milwaukee on Feb. 26, Youngstown State has now lost 11 straight games that have gone into extra periods. The last time the Guins on in overtime was against Chicago State in 2001.
Eargle Climbing Blocks Chart
Sophomore Damian Eargle is quickly climbing the YSU single-season blocks chart. His 86 blocked shots rank second on the single-season list. Only Ricky Tunstall, in 1982-83 and 1983-84, has blocked more shots in a season. He is just the second player in school to post at least 80 blocks in a season.
Penguin Block Party
As a team, the Guins had 148 blocks, almost doubling the 74 by their opponents. It also ranks as the second most in school history - just 19 shy of the school record.
Last to Score 30
With 30 points against Loyola on Jan. 9, 2010, DeAndre Mays set a career-high and became the first player to score at least 30 points since Keston Roberts scored 31 against Detroit on Feb. 27, 2007. Mays' performance was the 10th time under Jerry Slocum a player has scored at least 30 points in a game. YSU had just 10 30-point plus performances from Feb. 1988 to Dec. 2005.
1267
YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: Bench players key for YSU
« on: November 08, 2011, 07:00:31 AM »
By Joe Scalzo
scalzo@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
At this time last year, the question keeping YSU men’s basketball coach Jerry Slocum up at night was, “What do we have?”
Not this year.
Not with at least two players capable of earning all-league honors in junior forward Damian Eargle and sophomore guard Kendrick Perry.
Not with a starting five that combined to play in 149 of a possible 150 games last year.
Not with a good balance of outside shooters (Ashen Ward and Blake Allen finished 1-2 in 3-pointers), defenders (Eargle led the league in blocked shots) and slashers (both Perry and DuShawn Brooks can create their own shot at any time).
No, the question keeping Slocum up at night this year is, “What else do we have?”
“Our reserves are a major concern for me,” said Slocum, who is 58-121 in six years with the team. “I thought we’d be a little further along than we are.
“[The preseason] hasn’t gone as great I’d hoped.”
YSU was picked to finish seventh in the preseason Horizon League poll — its best finish in 10 years — but to finish in the top half of the standings, it will need more from its bench, specifically sophomore forward Josh Chojnacki and red-shirt freshman forward Fletcher Larson.
“The guys who have played the best are our two freshmen in D.J. [Cole] and Cale Zuiker,” Slocum said. “Our other guys, as I said to them today, have got to improve quick. As you know, all the sudden you can go in there on the road and — bam, bam — you’ve got some foul trouble and those guys are going to have to play significant amount of important minutes.
“Those guys clearly have to play better.”
YSU plays 16 of its 29 games on the road, beginning Saturday in Birmingham, Ala., against Samford. The Penguins beat the Bulldogs 64-61 in last year’s season opener at Beeghly Center.
Samford, which went 12-19 last year, returns three starters and nine letter-men, including its best player, Jeffrey Merritt. The senior guard led the team in scoring (10.3 points per game), rebounds (6.3), assists (2.0) and steals (1.2).
The Bulldogs run a Princeton-style offense that relies heavily on spreading the floor and finding back-cuts.
“It’s a hard game to play because they play such a different style,” said Slocum. “Everything we’ve taught through the preseason kind of goes out of the window.”
YSU will then return to Beeghly Center for back-to-back home games against Notre Dame College (Nov. 15) and UC-Riverside (Nov. 18) before road games against Penn State (Nov. 23) and St. Francis (Nov. 26).
“We feel good; we have a lot of confidence after our scrimmage this weekend,” said senior guard Ashen Ward, who turned 22 on Sunday. “We’re just building and learning off that experience, the off-season and this fall, just preparing, defensively and offensively, to get ready.”
scalzo@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
At this time last year, the question keeping YSU men’s basketball coach Jerry Slocum up at night was, “What do we have?”
Not this year.
Not with at least two players capable of earning all-league honors in junior forward Damian Eargle and sophomore guard Kendrick Perry.
Not with a starting five that combined to play in 149 of a possible 150 games last year.
Not with a good balance of outside shooters (Ashen Ward and Blake Allen finished 1-2 in 3-pointers), defenders (Eargle led the league in blocked shots) and slashers (both Perry and DuShawn Brooks can create their own shot at any time).
No, the question keeping Slocum up at night this year is, “What else do we have?”
“Our reserves are a major concern for me,” said Slocum, who is 58-121 in six years with the team. “I thought we’d be a little further along than we are.
“[The preseason] hasn’t gone as great I’d hoped.”
YSU was picked to finish seventh in the preseason Horizon League poll — its best finish in 10 years — but to finish in the top half of the standings, it will need more from its bench, specifically sophomore forward Josh Chojnacki and red-shirt freshman forward Fletcher Larson.
“The guys who have played the best are our two freshmen in D.J. [Cole] and Cale Zuiker,” Slocum said. “Our other guys, as I said to them today, have got to improve quick. As you know, all the sudden you can go in there on the road and — bam, bam — you’ve got some foul trouble and those guys are going to have to play significant amount of important minutes.
“Those guys clearly have to play better.”
YSU plays 16 of its 29 games on the road, beginning Saturday in Birmingham, Ala., against Samford. The Penguins beat the Bulldogs 64-61 in last year’s season opener at Beeghly Center.
Samford, which went 12-19 last year, returns three starters and nine letter-men, including its best player, Jeffrey Merritt. The senior guard led the team in scoring (10.3 points per game), rebounds (6.3), assists (2.0) and steals (1.2).
The Bulldogs run a Princeton-style offense that relies heavily on spreading the floor and finding back-cuts.
“It’s a hard game to play because they play such a different style,” said Slocum. “Everything we’ve taught through the preseason kind of goes out of the window.”
YSU will then return to Beeghly Center for back-to-back home games against Notre Dame College (Nov. 15) and UC-Riverside (Nov. 18) before road games against Penn State (Nov. 23) and St. Francis (Nov. 26).
“We feel good; we have a lot of confidence after our scrimmage this weekend,” said senior guard Ashen Ward, who turned 22 on Sunday. “We’re just building and learning off that experience, the off-season and this fall, just preparing, defensively and offensively, to get ready.”
1268
YSU Penguin Athletics / Punter Nick Liste Earns MVFC Special Teams Honors
« on: November 07, 2011, 06:35:37 AM »
St. Louis, Mo. -- Youngstown State sophomore punter Nick Liste was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Penguins 21-17 loss at UNI.
Liste found the first trip of the UNI-Dome to his liking averaging 45.7 yards per punt. He had six punts for 274 yards, including a season-long 54-yard boot. Liste had punts of 38, 39, 46 (twice) and 54. His 38-yard punt was fair caught at the 12 while one of his 46-yard was fair caught at the 15. He also had four kickoffs in the game.
On the year, Liste is averaging 39.5 yards per punt on 43 kicks. He has placed 14 inside the opposition's 20-yard line and has five punts of more than 50 yards.
South Dakota State quarterback Austin Sumner was named the Offensive Player of the Week, North Dakota State strong safety Colton Heagle was named the Defensive Player of the Week and UNI quarterback Jared Lanpher was tabbed the Newcomer of the Week.
Liste and the rest of the Penguins will remain indoors next Saturday when they visit top-ranked North Dakota State. Kickoff at the Fargodome is set for 4 p.m. Eastern time.
Liste found the first trip of the UNI-Dome to his liking averaging 45.7 yards per punt. He had six punts for 274 yards, including a season-long 54-yard boot. Liste had punts of 38, 39, 46 (twice) and 54. His 38-yard punt was fair caught at the 12 while one of his 46-yard was fair caught at the 15. He also had four kickoffs in the game.
On the year, Liste is averaging 39.5 yards per punt on 43 kicks. He has placed 14 inside the opposition's 20-yard line and has five punts of more than 50 yards.
South Dakota State quarterback Austin Sumner was named the Offensive Player of the Week, North Dakota State strong safety Colton Heagle was named the Defensive Player of the Week and UNI quarterback Jared Lanpher was tabbed the Newcomer of the Week.
Liste and the rest of the Penguins will remain indoors next Saturday when they visit top-ranked North Dakota State. Kickoff at the Fargodome is set for 4 p.m. Eastern time.
1269
YSU Penguin Athletics / Phootball Photos
« on: November 06, 2011, 05:18:45 PM »
I finally got the photos up for so far this season. I will have summer and spring added soon:
http://ysupenguins.com/Photos/
http://ysupenguins.com/Photos/
1270
YSU Penguin Athletics / Preview: Men's Basketball Hopes Offseason Prep Work Pays Dividends in 2011-12
« on: November 06, 2011, 02:35:34 PM »
At the team's annual media day prior to the start of the 2011-12 season, Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum said that basketball players are made in the summer and the offseason.
If that, indeed, is the case, the Guins have every reason to be optimistic as the season approaches.
"This is a group of young men that have made a major, major commitment to the offseason, our summer program and to our fall workouts," Slocum said.
After battling through 16 games decided by 10 points or less last season, the Guins committed themselves to an even more rigorous offseason strength and conditioning program, and, for the first time, participated in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club's Pro-Am Summer League.
Eleven players on this year's squad played in the summer league and competed against some of the top players from the top schools in the nation, including Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Duquesne and Robert Morris.
Not only did the Guins compete, several players excelled in the league. Senior DuShawn Brooks led the Guins in scoring with 15.5 points per game while sophomore Kendrick Perry and junior Blake Allen averaged 14 and 11.3 points per game, respectively.
The trio also ranked second, third and fourth in 3-point field-goal percentage in the summer league. Allen was second in the league at .438, Perry was third at .417 and Brooks was fourth with a .411 3-point percentage.
Coupled with the offseason dedication and summer success, the Guins return four starters and eight letterwinners from last year's battle-tested squad.
"I think this group paid its dues last year, I believe, in terms of this group growing up, especially our freshman and sophomores," Slocum said. "These guys know what Horizon League basketball is about. They know about the challenges ahead of them physically in an obviously very, very good league."
The Guins did lose their leading scorer from a season ago in Vytas Sulskis, who averaged 13.1 points per game, but they also return 63.3 percent of their scoring and 67.7 percent of their 3-point field goals made.
Slocum also said that the returning players give the squad some stability.
"I'm not going to hide the fact that I like our balance, I like our work commitment, I like their attitudes, I like how they like each other," Slocum said.
Backcourt
The backcourt gives the Penguins leadership, depth, versatility and several scoring threats. Of the 14 players on the roster, eight are listed as guards and have to capability to play more than one position which gives Slocum some flexibility.
Last season, Allen and Kendrick Perry ranked first and second in the Horizon League in terms of assist-to-turnover ratio. The combined for 196 assists and just 91 turnovers.
The Guins perimeter also set school records for most 3-pointers made (235) and most 3-pointers attempted (708).
The Ones
Allen moves into the starting point guard role after starting last season coming off the bench. The 6-foot-1 Tampa, Fla., native became the starting point guard after 13 games and turned in an outstanding second half of the season.
Over the last 17 games of the year, Allen averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He scored 172 of his 212 points in those games and shot 42.4 percent (39-of-92) from 3-point range during that time.
Sophomore Nate Perry, who connected on 38.5 percent of his 3-point attempts last season, and freshmen DJ Cole and Danny Reese will also compete for time at the position.
Cole, who was a third-team all-state selection, averaged 13 points, six assists and four steals per game and shot 63 percent from the field as a senior.
Reese was an honorable mention all-state selection as a senior.
The Twos and Threes
Kendrick Perry, who started at the team's point guard a year ago, slid over to the "off-guard" slot midway through last season and found a home.
Perry, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer against National-Runners-Up Butler and hit another buzzer beater to force overtime against Valparaiso, averaged nine points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, which ranked fourth in the Horizon League.
Senior Ashen Ward was named team captain and is slated to start at the "three."
Ward averaged 8.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season and led the squad with 50 3-pointers made. His 1.7 3-pointers made per game ranked tied for eighth in the Horizon League.
He also became the first player since 2006-07 to make at least 50 treys in a season.
Ward connected on seven 3-pointers for a career-high 26 points in a 71-69 win over UIC.
Redshirt freshman Shawn Amiker, Nate Perry and sophomore Mike Podolsky will also battle for playing time in this rotation.
Amiker, Jr. averaged 18.7 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game as a senior and led Ferndale to an undefeated regular season and a conference title in 2010.
Podolsky, who played in six games last season, finished his career as Canfield's second-leading all-time scorer with 940 points and set the school's single-game records for most points with 41 and most field goals with 17.
Frontcourt
The Penguins' frontcourt is more experienced and athletic than in years past.
Headlining this crew is Brooks and junior Damian Eargle at the "four" and "five."
Brooks slides into the starting role after coming off the bench as the sixth man last season. He averaged six points per game but displayed a scoring acumen when he posted a career-high 20 points in a 64-61 win over Samford.
Eargle showed the league he is one of the top forwards in the circuit averaging 11.3 points and six rebounds per game and leading the league with 91 blocked shots.
Sophomores Josh Chojnacki and Chris Morgan, redshirt freshman Fletcher Larson and true freshman Cale Zuiker will provide the frontcourt multiple options and depth.
Chojnacki, a 6-foot-9 post, appeared in 19 games and posted a team-best .846 free-throw percentage.
Morgan was a three-year letterwinner at Mathews High School and was the first player from Matthews to be named Trumbull County Player of the Year.
Larson, a 6-foot-8 forward, was named First-Team All-Western New York and led Jamestown High School to a sectional championship in 2010.
Zuiker, a 6-foot-9 forward, was a three-year letterwinner at Marshfield High School and a two-time first-team all-conference selection. He was named all-state by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. He also set Marshfield's career record for most 3-pointers with 123 in just 65 games.
If that, indeed, is the case, the Guins have every reason to be optimistic as the season approaches.
"This is a group of young men that have made a major, major commitment to the offseason, our summer program and to our fall workouts," Slocum said.
After battling through 16 games decided by 10 points or less last season, the Guins committed themselves to an even more rigorous offseason strength and conditioning program, and, for the first time, participated in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club's Pro-Am Summer League.
Eleven players on this year's squad played in the summer league and competed against some of the top players from the top schools in the nation, including Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Duquesne and Robert Morris.
Not only did the Guins compete, several players excelled in the league. Senior DuShawn Brooks led the Guins in scoring with 15.5 points per game while sophomore Kendrick Perry and junior Blake Allen averaged 14 and 11.3 points per game, respectively.
The trio also ranked second, third and fourth in 3-point field-goal percentage in the summer league. Allen was second in the league at .438, Perry was third at .417 and Brooks was fourth with a .411 3-point percentage.
Coupled with the offseason dedication and summer success, the Guins return four starters and eight letterwinners from last year's battle-tested squad.
"I think this group paid its dues last year, I believe, in terms of this group growing up, especially our freshman and sophomores," Slocum said. "These guys know what Horizon League basketball is about. They know about the challenges ahead of them physically in an obviously very, very good league."
The Guins did lose their leading scorer from a season ago in Vytas Sulskis, who averaged 13.1 points per game, but they also return 63.3 percent of their scoring and 67.7 percent of their 3-point field goals made.
Slocum also said that the returning players give the squad some stability.
"I'm not going to hide the fact that I like our balance, I like our work commitment, I like their attitudes, I like how they like each other," Slocum said.
Backcourt
The backcourt gives the Penguins leadership, depth, versatility and several scoring threats. Of the 14 players on the roster, eight are listed as guards and have to capability to play more than one position which gives Slocum some flexibility.
Last season, Allen and Kendrick Perry ranked first and second in the Horizon League in terms of assist-to-turnover ratio. The combined for 196 assists and just 91 turnovers.
The Guins perimeter also set school records for most 3-pointers made (235) and most 3-pointers attempted (708).
The Ones
Allen moves into the starting point guard role after starting last season coming off the bench. The 6-foot-1 Tampa, Fla., native became the starting point guard after 13 games and turned in an outstanding second half of the season.
Over the last 17 games of the year, Allen averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He scored 172 of his 212 points in those games and shot 42.4 percent (39-of-92) from 3-point range during that time.
Sophomore Nate Perry, who connected on 38.5 percent of his 3-point attempts last season, and freshmen DJ Cole and Danny Reese will also compete for time at the position.
Cole, who was a third-team all-state selection, averaged 13 points, six assists and four steals per game and shot 63 percent from the field as a senior.
Reese was an honorable mention all-state selection as a senior.
The Twos and Threes
Kendrick Perry, who started at the team's point guard a year ago, slid over to the "off-guard" slot midway through last season and found a home.
Perry, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer against National-Runners-Up Butler and hit another buzzer beater to force overtime against Valparaiso, averaged nine points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, which ranked fourth in the Horizon League.
Senior Ashen Ward was named team captain and is slated to start at the "three."
Ward averaged 8.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season and led the squad with 50 3-pointers made. His 1.7 3-pointers made per game ranked tied for eighth in the Horizon League.
He also became the first player since 2006-07 to make at least 50 treys in a season.
Ward connected on seven 3-pointers for a career-high 26 points in a 71-69 win over UIC.
Redshirt freshman Shawn Amiker, Nate Perry and sophomore Mike Podolsky will also battle for playing time in this rotation.
Amiker, Jr. averaged 18.7 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game as a senior and led Ferndale to an undefeated regular season and a conference title in 2010.
Podolsky, who played in six games last season, finished his career as Canfield's second-leading all-time scorer with 940 points and set the school's single-game records for most points with 41 and most field goals with 17.
Frontcourt
The Penguins' frontcourt is more experienced and athletic than in years past.
Headlining this crew is Brooks and junior Damian Eargle at the "four" and "five."
Brooks slides into the starting role after coming off the bench as the sixth man last season. He averaged six points per game but displayed a scoring acumen when he posted a career-high 20 points in a 64-61 win over Samford.
Eargle showed the league he is one of the top forwards in the circuit averaging 11.3 points and six rebounds per game and leading the league with 91 blocked shots.
Sophomores Josh Chojnacki and Chris Morgan, redshirt freshman Fletcher Larson and true freshman Cale Zuiker will provide the frontcourt multiple options and depth.
Chojnacki, a 6-foot-9 post, appeared in 19 games and posted a team-best .846 free-throw percentage.
Morgan was a three-year letterwinner at Mathews High School and was the first player from Matthews to be named Trumbull County Player of the Year.
Larson, a 6-foot-8 forward, was named First-Team All-Western New York and led Jamestown High School to a sectional championship in 2010.
Zuiker, a 6-foot-9 forward, was a three-year letterwinner at Marshfield High School and a two-time first-team all-conference selection. He was named all-state by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. He also set Marshfield's career record for most 3-pointers with 123 in just 65 games.
1271
YSU Penguin Athletics / other scores of interest
« on: November 06, 2011, 11:20:49 AM »
James Mad 10
UNH 28
JMUis out. Of course, leave it to the CAA lovers to find a way to get them in.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Richmond 28
Old Dominion 42
ODU is in ...there first year yet.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Towson 40
Maine 30
Maine is still in, but had the conference sewn up until this.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Appalach St 10
Furman 20
Furman did what we could not. Now the SoCon is going to get three teams.
------------------------------------------------------------------
UNH 28
JMUis out. Of course, leave it to the CAA lovers to find a way to get them in.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Richmond 28
Old Dominion 42
ODU is in ...there first year yet.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Towson 40
Maine 30
Maine is still in, but had the conference sewn up until this.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Appalach St 10
Furman 20
Furman did what we could not. Now the SoCon is going to get three teams.
------------------------------------------------------------------
1272
YSU Penguin Athletics / Northern Iowa rallies past Youngstown State 21-17
« on: November 06, 2011, 08:40:48 AM »
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP)—David Johnson scored on a 1-yard run with 1:59 to play to give Northern Iowa a 21-17 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday.
Johnson carried the ball eight times on the winning drive, and caught a 32-yard pass from Jared Lanpher. A pass-interference penalty also helped Northern Iowa.
Lanpher connected twice with Terrell Sinkfield for touchdowns for the Panthers (7-2, 6-1), who kept their hopes alive for a Missouri Valley title.
Kurt Hess threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Will Shaw early in the fourth quarter to put the Penguins (5-4, 3-3) ahead 17-14. Jamaine Cook ran for 90 yards and a touchdown for Youngstown State.
YOUNGSTOWN ST-FG, D Brown 28 YD 5:20 1st Qtr
NORTHERN IOWA-TD, T Sinkfield 32 YD PASS FROM J Lanpher (T
Sievertsen KICK) 9:23 1st Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, J Cook 1 YD RUN (D Brown KICK) 14:33 2nd
Qtr
NORTHERN IOWA-TD, T Sinkfield 31 YD PASS FROM J Lanpher (T
Sievertsen KICK) 14:54 2nd Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, W Shaw 38 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 1:18 4th Qtr
NORTHERN IOWA-TD, D Johnson 1 YD RUN (T Sievertsen KICK)
13:01 4th Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST NORTHERN IOWA
First downs 19 11
Rushed-yards 40-118 27-30
Passing yards 175 238
Sacked-yards lost 1-1 3-23
Return yards 8 54
Passes 17-35-2 16-28-0
Punts 6-45.7 9-38.4
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 3-25 9-81
Time of possession 34:30 25:30
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: YOUNGSTOWN ST-Jamaine Cook 30-90, Adaris Bellamy 4-28, Kevin
Watts 1-5, Team 1-MINUS 1, Kurt Hess 4-MINUS 4. NORTHERN IOWA-David
Johnson 18-47, Carlos Anderson 2-3, Team 1-MINUS 2, Jared Lanpher
6-MINUS 18.
PASSING: YOUNGSTOWN ST-Kurt Hess 17-34-175- 2, Andre Barboza 0-1-0- 0.
NORTHERN IOWA-Jared Lanpher 16-28-238- 0.
RECEIVING: YOUNGSTOWN ST-Will Shaw 2-48, Jamaine Cook 5-39, Christian
Bryan 3-29, Jelani Berassa 3-27, Kevin Watts 3-20, Andre Barboza 1-12.
NORTHERN IOWA-Jarred Herring 6-84, Terrell Sinkfield 3-69, David
Johnson 2-31, Brett LeMaster 1-30, Austin Wells 2-17, Darion Howard
1-10, Chad Owens 1-MINUS 3.
Att: 11,523
Johnson carried the ball eight times on the winning drive, and caught a 32-yard pass from Jared Lanpher. A pass-interference penalty also helped Northern Iowa.
Lanpher connected twice with Terrell Sinkfield for touchdowns for the Panthers (7-2, 6-1), who kept their hopes alive for a Missouri Valley title.
Kurt Hess threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Will Shaw early in the fourth quarter to put the Penguins (5-4, 3-3) ahead 17-14. Jamaine Cook ran for 90 yards and a touchdown for Youngstown State.
YOUNGSTOWN ST-FG, D Brown 28 YD 5:20 1st Qtr
NORTHERN IOWA-TD, T Sinkfield 32 YD PASS FROM J Lanpher (T
Sievertsen KICK) 9:23 1st Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, J Cook 1 YD RUN (D Brown KICK) 14:33 2nd
Qtr
NORTHERN IOWA-TD, T Sinkfield 31 YD PASS FROM J Lanpher (T
Sievertsen KICK) 14:54 2nd Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, W Shaw 38 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 1:18 4th Qtr
NORTHERN IOWA-TD, D Johnson 1 YD RUN (T Sievertsen KICK)
13:01 4th Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST NORTHERN IOWA
First downs 19 11
Rushed-yards 40-118 27-30
Passing yards 175 238
Sacked-yards lost 1-1 3-23
Return yards 8 54
Passes 17-35-2 16-28-0
Punts 6-45.7 9-38.4
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 3-25 9-81
Time of possession 34:30 25:30
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: YOUNGSTOWN ST-Jamaine Cook 30-90, Adaris Bellamy 4-28, Kevin
Watts 1-5, Team 1-MINUS 1, Kurt Hess 4-MINUS 4. NORTHERN IOWA-David
Johnson 18-47, Carlos Anderson 2-3, Team 1-MINUS 2, Jared Lanpher
6-MINUS 18.
PASSING: YOUNGSTOWN ST-Kurt Hess 17-34-175- 2, Andre Barboza 0-1-0- 0.
NORTHERN IOWA-Jared Lanpher 16-28-238- 0.
RECEIVING: YOUNGSTOWN ST-Will Shaw 2-48, Jamaine Cook 5-39, Christian
Bryan 3-29, Jelani Berassa 3-27, Kevin Watts 3-20, Andre Barboza 1-12.
NORTHERN IOWA-Jarred Herring 6-84, Terrell Sinkfield 3-69, David
Johnson 2-31, Brett LeMaster 1-30, Austin Wells 2-17, Darion Howard
1-10, Chad Owens 1-MINUS 3.
Att: 11,523
1273
YSU Penguin Athletics / The latest on our Technical problems
« on: November 06, 2011, 08:35:07 AM »
We were able to restore the board through 10-30-11. Everything after that is unfortunately lost. Any users added since then (such as Soup) will need to re-register. I apologize for the issues, but we are back up and running ...a little faster as well.
1274
YSU Penguin Athletics / Youngstown State routs Western Illinois 56-14
« on: October 29, 2011, 07:19:04 PM »
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP)—Kurt Hess threw for four touchdowns and ran for another to lead Youngstown State in a 56-14 rout over Western Illinois on Saturday.
The Penguins (5-3, 3-2 Missouri Valley Conference) dominated from the start, scoring on the first play of the game, en route to a 49-0 lead. Hess threw a 70-yard TD to Christian Bryan eight seconds into the game.
After a 13-yard TD run by Hess, a 2-yard TD run by Jamaine Cook and a 69-yard TD from Hess to Jelanie Berassa, the Penguins led 28-0 in the first quarter.
Hess who was 7 of 10 for 209 yards, also threw TDs of 17 yards to Kevin Watts and 28 yards to Kintrell Disher.
The Penguins also got 111 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries by Cook.
The Leathernecks (2-6, 1-4) ended the shutout on Nikko Watson’s 5-yard touchdown run with 5:21 left in the third quarter.
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, C Bryan 70 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 0:18 1st Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, K Hess 13 YD RUN (D Brown KICK) 6:05 1st
Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, J Cook 2 YD RUN (D Brown KICK) 11:34 1st
Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, J Berassa 69 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 15:00 1st Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, J Cook 4 YD RUN (D Brown KICK) 2:42 2nd
Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, K Watts 17 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 10:05 2nd Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, K Disher 28 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 5:59 3rd Qtr
WESTRN ILLINOIS-TD, N Watson 5 YD RUN (P Smith KICK) 9:39
3rd Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, E Ducatel 11 YD PASS FROM M Kanetsky (D
Brown KICK) 14:31 3rd Qtr
WESTRN ILLINOIS-TD, T Crump 4 YD PASS FROM J Hudson (P
Smith KICK) 3:52 4th Qtr
WESTRN ILLINOIS YOUNGSTOWN ST
First downs 18 18
Rushed-yards 47-196 44-268
Passing yards 136 220
Sacked-yards lost 1-5 0-0
Return yards -10 52
Passes 13-24-2 8-11-0
Punts 8-37.5 6-39.8
Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-yards 7-64 7-90
Time of possession 30:38 29:22
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: WESTRN ILLINOIS-Nikko Watson 30-149, Josh Hudson 4-23, Cody
Reardon 1-12, Larry Patterson 8-9, Rick Richardson 2-2, Wil Lunt 2-1.
YOUNGSTOWN ST-Jamaine Cook 17-111, Jordan Thompson 11-61, Adaris
Bellamy 9-46, Kurt Hess 5-43, Torrian Pace 2-7.
PASSING: WESTRN ILLINOIS-Josh Hudson 10-21-93- 2, Cody Reardon 2-2-32-
0, Wil Lunt 1-1-11- 0. YOUNGSTOWN ST-Kurt Hess 7-10-209- 0, Marc
Kanetsky 1-1-11- 0.
RECEIVING: WESTRN ILLINOIS-Terriun Crump 5-47, Justin Morgan 2-37,
Aaron Muhammad 2-34, Charles Chestnut 2-18, Rick Richardson 1-7, Larry
Patterson 1-MINUS 7. YOUNGSTOWN ST-Christian Bryan 1-70, Jelani
Berassa 1-69, Kintrell Disher 1-28, Jamaine Cook 2-19, Kevin Watts
1-17, Ely Ducatel 1-11, Adaris Bellamy 1-6.
Att: 11,583
The Penguins (5-3, 3-2 Missouri Valley Conference) dominated from the start, scoring on the first play of the game, en route to a 49-0 lead. Hess threw a 70-yard TD to Christian Bryan eight seconds into the game.
After a 13-yard TD run by Hess, a 2-yard TD run by Jamaine Cook and a 69-yard TD from Hess to Jelanie Berassa, the Penguins led 28-0 in the first quarter.
Hess who was 7 of 10 for 209 yards, also threw TDs of 17 yards to Kevin Watts and 28 yards to Kintrell Disher.
The Penguins also got 111 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries by Cook.
The Leathernecks (2-6, 1-4) ended the shutout on Nikko Watson’s 5-yard touchdown run with 5:21 left in the third quarter.
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, C Bryan 70 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 0:18 1st Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, K Hess 13 YD RUN (D Brown KICK) 6:05 1st
Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, J Cook 2 YD RUN (D Brown KICK) 11:34 1st
Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, J Berassa 69 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 15:00 1st Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, J Cook 4 YD RUN (D Brown KICK) 2:42 2nd
Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, K Watts 17 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 10:05 2nd Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, K Disher 28 YD PASS FROM K Hess (D Brown
KICK) 5:59 3rd Qtr
WESTRN ILLINOIS-TD, N Watson 5 YD RUN (P Smith KICK) 9:39
3rd Qtr
YOUNGSTOWN ST-TD, E Ducatel 11 YD PASS FROM M Kanetsky (D
Brown KICK) 14:31 3rd Qtr
WESTRN ILLINOIS-TD, T Crump 4 YD PASS FROM J Hudson (P
Smith KICK) 3:52 4th Qtr
WESTRN ILLINOIS YOUNGSTOWN ST
First downs 18 18
Rushed-yards 47-196 44-268
Passing yards 136 220
Sacked-yards lost 1-5 0-0
Return yards -10 52
Passes 13-24-2 8-11-0
Punts 8-37.5 6-39.8
Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-yards 7-64 7-90
Time of possession 30:38 29:22
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: WESTRN ILLINOIS-Nikko Watson 30-149, Josh Hudson 4-23, Cody
Reardon 1-12, Larry Patterson 8-9, Rick Richardson 2-2, Wil Lunt 2-1.
YOUNGSTOWN ST-Jamaine Cook 17-111, Jordan Thompson 11-61, Adaris
Bellamy 9-46, Kurt Hess 5-43, Torrian Pace 2-7.
PASSING: WESTRN ILLINOIS-Josh Hudson 10-21-93- 2, Cody Reardon 2-2-32-
0, Wil Lunt 1-1-11- 0. YOUNGSTOWN ST-Kurt Hess 7-10-209- 0, Marc
Kanetsky 1-1-11- 0.
RECEIVING: WESTRN ILLINOIS-Terriun Crump 5-47, Justin Morgan 2-37,
Aaron Muhammad 2-34, Charles Chestnut 2-18, Rick Richardson 1-7, Larry
Patterson 1-MINUS 7. YOUNGSTOWN ST-Christian Bryan 1-70, Jelani
Berassa 1-69, Kintrell Disher 1-28, Jamaine Cook 2-19, Kevin Watts
1-17, Ely Ducatel 1-11, Adaris Bellamy 1-6.
Att: 11,583
1275
YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: YSU boots Deonta Tate off team
« on: October 26, 2011, 06:56:56 AM »
By Joe Scalzo
scalzo@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
On Monday afternoon, the Youngstown State coaches brought senior linebacker Deonta Tate into the football offices and told him he was no longer part of the team.
“I jus gt kicked off da team wow,” he wrote on his Twitter account. “Had fun YSU Sports but I guess this is where we end.”
Tate’s tweets — he did not respond to an interview request on Tuesday — indicated he was surprised by the decision, and that it wasn’t mutual.
YSU coach Eric Wolford said Tuesday the decision came after several coaches spoke to Tate several times over an extended period of time.
“Basically, we had to make a decision we felt like was best for the team,” Wolford said. “In a roundabout way, if we’re all out in the Atlantic Ocean and everybody’s got an oar in their hand, they need to be rowing. And if you’re not rowing, we’ll try to help you.
“That’s what it comes down to. You’re either with us or you’re not.”
Tate, who was recruited out of Palmetto, Fla., by Jon Heacock, started 17 of his first 26 games before falling out of favor last season. He started the first eight games of the 2010 campaign but was replaced by Dom Rich for the final three.
Tate played sparingly this season, recording two tackles in six games as a backup linebacker and special teams player.
Wolford said Tate will remain on scholarship this year.
“He can still do what he needs to do,” Wolford said.
Tate’s departure continues Wolford’s radical reshaping of the roster since taking over in December 2009.
Of the 92 players on YSU’s roster, only 21 (23 percent) were part of the program under Heacock.
Of those 21, 11 have started a game either on offense or defense this season and three others are key special teams contributors.
Most of the Heacock holdovers are on offense, including starters Kurt Hess (QB), Jamaine Cook (RB), Andrew Radakovich (LT), D.J. Main (RT), David Rogers (TE) and Carson Sharbaugh (TE).
“I’ve said from Day 1, these are all our guys,” Wolford said. “It’s our team, our community. It doesn’t matter who recruited who. We don’t care about that.
“It’s about winning and losing. I think it’s hard for guys who’ve played around here that have played by default, then all the sudden somebody comes in [and takes the spot].”
So far this season, Wolford has played 21 redshirt, transfer or true freshmen.
Four true freshmen have started, as have three transfer freshmen that were not with the program last year.
Last year, 13 freshmen played, including five starters.
“We play the best available player,” he said. “If there’s a faster car, you better drive the faster car.”
scalzo@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
On Monday afternoon, the Youngstown State coaches brought senior linebacker Deonta Tate into the football offices and told him he was no longer part of the team.
“I jus gt kicked off da team wow,” he wrote on his Twitter account. “Had fun YSU Sports but I guess this is where we end.”
Tate’s tweets — he did not respond to an interview request on Tuesday — indicated he was surprised by the decision, and that it wasn’t mutual.
YSU coach Eric Wolford said Tuesday the decision came after several coaches spoke to Tate several times over an extended period of time.
“Basically, we had to make a decision we felt like was best for the team,” Wolford said. “In a roundabout way, if we’re all out in the Atlantic Ocean and everybody’s got an oar in their hand, they need to be rowing. And if you’re not rowing, we’ll try to help you.
“That’s what it comes down to. You’re either with us or you’re not.”
Tate, who was recruited out of Palmetto, Fla., by Jon Heacock, started 17 of his first 26 games before falling out of favor last season. He started the first eight games of the 2010 campaign but was replaced by Dom Rich for the final three.
Tate played sparingly this season, recording two tackles in six games as a backup linebacker and special teams player.
Wolford said Tate will remain on scholarship this year.
“He can still do what he needs to do,” Wolford said.
Tate’s departure continues Wolford’s radical reshaping of the roster since taking over in December 2009.
Of the 92 players on YSU’s roster, only 21 (23 percent) were part of the program under Heacock.
Of those 21, 11 have started a game either on offense or defense this season and three others are key special teams contributors.
Most of the Heacock holdovers are on offense, including starters Kurt Hess (QB), Jamaine Cook (RB), Andrew Radakovich (LT), D.J. Main (RT), David Rogers (TE) and Carson Sharbaugh (TE).
“I’ve said from Day 1, these are all our guys,” Wolford said. “It’s our team, our community. It doesn’t matter who recruited who. We don’t care about that.
“It’s about winning and losing. I think it’s hard for guys who’ve played around here that have played by default, then all the sudden somebody comes in [and takes the spot].”
So far this season, Wolford has played 21 redshirt, transfer or true freshmen.
Four true freshmen have started, as have three transfer freshmen that were not with the program last year.
Last year, 13 freshmen played, including five starters.
“We play the best available player,” he said. “If there’s a faster car, you better drive the faster car.”