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5116

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: TONIGHT at Beeghly: Basketball Hosts National Runners-Up Butler on ESPN

« on: February 09, 2012, 06:16:14 AM »

At a Glance
Date: Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012
Place: Youngstown, Ohio
Arena: Beeghly Center
Tip Time: 7:03 p.m. EDT
Radio: WKBN 570-AM
Play-By-Play: Robb Schmidt
Live Webcast: ESPN3.com
Play-By-Play: Will Haskett
Color Analysis: Bob Lovell
Series: Butler leads 20-3
Last Meeting: Butler, 71-55, Jan. 15, 2012

The Youngstown State men's basketball team (13-10, 8-5 Horizon League) returns home to host two-time national runners-up Butler, Thursday, Feb. 9. Tipoff is set for 7:03 p.m. (EDT) at the Beeghly Center and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3.com and on 570 WKBN-AM.

The Butler Series
This is the 24th meeting between Youngstown State and Butler in a series that dates back to 1983. Butler owns a 20-3 advantage in the all-time series and has won 11 of the last 12 contests. Earlier this season, Butler came away with a 71-55 win at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Last season at the Beeghly Center, Kendrick Perry hit a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to give the Guins a 62-60 victory.

About Butler
Butler is currently 13-12 overall and 7-6 in the Horizon League and has lost its last two road contests. The Bulldogs are coming off home loss to Detroit, 65-61, on Feb. 4. Leading Butler is Andrew Smith with 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. Khyle Marshall is near double figures with 9.1 points per game.

Last Time Against Butler
In the last meeting against Butler, senior Ashen Ward scored 21 points and Kendrick Perry added 10, but the Guins shot just 42 percent from the floor and dropped a 71-55 decision to the Bulldogs on Jan. 15. Butler's Andrew Smith led the team with 20 points and the Bulldogs hit five second-half 3-pointers for help seal the win.

A Win Will
• Improve YSU to 14-10 on the year and 9-5 in the Horizon League.
• Mark YSU's most league wins since joining the Horizon League.
• Mark YSU's most overall wins since 2006-07.
• Mark YSU's eighth home win of the season.
• Mark the program's fourth win over Butler.
• Mark the second straight win over Butler at the Beeghly Center.
• Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum's 652nd career victory and his 72nd at Youngstown State.
• Mark YSU's 1,006th victory in the program's history.

KP Player of the Week
Sophomore Kendrick Perry was named the Horizon League Player of the Week (Feb. 6) after averaging 25.7 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 steals per game and leading YSU to a 2-1 record last week. His award marks the fifth time a YSU player has garnered the award this season, which is a league record.

Guins Set League Mark
With Kendrick Perry's weekly award, Youngstown State became the first program in Horizon League history to have five differenct players earn player-of-the-wee accolades. Perry joins senior DuShawn Brooks (Dec. 5), junior Damian Eargle (Jan. 2), senior Ashen Ward (Jan. 9) and junior Blake Allen (Jan. 23) as recipients of the award this year.

Guins Hit For 60%
Against Loyola, YSU shot an impressive 63.3 percent from the field. The Guins shot 60 percent in the first half and 65.5 percent in the second. The last time YSU shot above 60 percent in a game was against Green Bay on Jan. 5, 2006, when it connected on 62.9 percent of its field-goal attempts.

Allen Now Second
With four 3-pointers made against Loyola on Feb. 5, junior Blake Allen became just the second player in school history to make at least 70 3-pointers in a season and now has 72. He is 21 shy of breaking the single-season record of 92 set by Craig Haese in 2000-01. He also ranks ninth all-time with 119 career 3-pointers.

To Catch a Thief
With a career-high seven steals against Loyola on Feb. 5, sophomore Kendrick Perry set the YSU sophomore record for steals in a season with 56. He also needs just nine more to set the single-season mark for steals. With 96 career steals, Perry also needs just eight more to move into 10th on the all-time list.

200 3's in Back-to-Back Season
For the first time in school history, the Guins have made at least 200 3-pointers in consecutive seasons. The Guins made 11 against UIC on Feb. 2 to reach the mark and now have 209 made 3-pointers, which are the second most in school history. Last season, the Guins made a school record 235 3-pointers. The previous record was 199 made during the 1997-98 school year.

Perry Having POY Type of Season
If the season ended today, sophomore Kendrick Perry would be in the conversation for the Horizon League Player of the Year. Perry is currently tied for the league lead with 15.7 points per game and leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2). He also ranks second in steals per game (2.4), third in assists per game (4.1) and tied for 10th in 3-pointer made per game (1.6).

Need to Hit the Glass
Coaches often talk of the importance of rebounding and for the Guins it is vital to success. When the Guins outrebound their opponents they own a record of 8-0.

Eargle Has Chance For 1,000
In under three seasons of playing college basketball, junior Damian Eargle has scored more than 800 points with 849. Eargle needs just 151 more points to reach 1,000 for his entire career, which includes 268 points during 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 Now Into 6th
With 42 3-pointers this season, senior Ashen Ward now ranks sixth all-time with 139 career 3-pointers. He needs five more to move into fifth place on the list.

Hold Under 70
Another ingredient for the Guins to be successful is to hold their opponents under 70 points. YSU is 13-3 when not allowing its opponents to score 70 points or more.

KP Hits Career High
Sophomore Kendrick Perry scored a career-high 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, including four 3-pointers. Perry became the first YSU player to score 30 points since DeAndre Mays scored 30 against Loyola on Jan. 9, 2010.

Guins Nationally
In the most recent NCAA statistics, Youngstown State is scattered throughout the team and individual categories. The Guins ranked fifth with 9.1 3-pointers made per game, 10th with 5.8 blocks per game, 16th with just 11 turnovers per contest and 31st with a .388 3-point percentage. Individually, Damian Eargle ranks third with 4.2 blocks per game, Blake Allen is 10 with 3.1 3-pointers made and 12th with a .453 3-point percentage. Kendrick Perry ranks 12th in the country with 2.4 steals per contest.

Perry First Soph With 30 in 20 Years
With his 30-point performance against Milwaukee, Kendrick Perry became the first YSU sophomore to score at least 30 points since Mike Alcorn scored 35 on Feb. 24, 1992.

Allen Had Career Night
Junior Blake Allen set a career scoring high with 27 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field against Milwaukee on Jan. 20. Allen also tied a career high with seven 3-pointers against the Panthers. He made seven 3-pointers against Penn State on Nov. 23, 2011. It also marked his third 20-point outing this season.

Eargle Block Party
Junior Damian Eargle has recorded a block in every game this season. He has posted multiple blocks in 21 of 23 games and has swatted at least three blocks in 19 games. Over the last 10 games, Eargle has swatted 43 shots for an average of 4.3 blocks per game.

The Starting Line
• The Guins have had the same starting lineup in all 23 games.
• Four starters are averaging in double figures in all games.
• All five starters are scoring in double figures in Horizon League games only.
• Each starter has posted at least one 20-point outing.
• Four starters rank in the top 20 in scoring in the Horizon League.
• Starters account for 89 percent of the Guins' scoring.

Guins Setting Record Pace
The Guins have made 209 3-pointers in 23 games this season for an average of 9.1 3-pointers made per game. They are on pace to shatter the school's single-season mark of 235 set last year. If YSU continues this pace over the next seven guaranteed games, they will finish the season with 273 3-pointers made.

Eargle Passes Himself
Junior Damian Eargle has 96 blocks in 23 games this season, which ranks second on the YSU single-season list. He needs 43 more to set the single-season mark of 138 set by Ricky Tunstall in 1982-83. His 91 blocks last season now rank third on the list.

Up Next
The Guins host Valparaiso, Saturday, Feb. 11. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.

Eargle Moves Into Second
Junior Damian Eargle has moved into second place on the YSU career blocks chart in just 53 games played. Eargle has 187 blocked shots. The only player ahead of Eargle is Ricky Tunstall, who recorded 221 career blocks. Counting his 57 blocks at UNC-Greensboro, Eargle has reached 247 blocked shots for his entire college career.

Perry Surpasses 600 Points
Sophomore Kendrick Perry could become the 33rd player in school history to score 1,000 career points. In just 53 career games, Perry has scored 629 points and needs 371 more to reach the coveted plateau. For his career, he is averaging 11.9 points per game, including a 15.7 points per game scoring average this year.

Allen Named Player of the Week
Junior guard Blake Allen was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Jan. 23 after averaging 21.5 points per game and shooting 75 percent from the floor and 76.9 percent from 3-point range. Allen, who led the Guins to a 2-0 record, scored a career-high 27 points against Milwaukee and had 16 against Green Bay.

Ward Named POW
For the first time in his career, senior Ashen Ward was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Jan. 9. Ward averaged 21.5 points per game and shot at a 63.6 percent clip from the field and 70 percent from 3-point range. He posted consecutive 20-point performances in wins over Loyola (21 points) on Jan. 5 and UIC (22) on Jan. 7.

Eargle Named HL Player of the Week
Junior forward Damian Eargle was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Jan. 2. Eargle posted his second double-double with a season-high 20 points and 10 rebounds and led the Penguins to a 73-67 win over Cleveland State on Dec. 31. Eargle scored 14 of his points in the second half. He went 8-of-11 from the field. It marks the first time in his YSU career Eargle has won the league accolade.

Brooks Named Player of the Week
Senior DuShawn Brooks was named the Horizon League Player of the Week for Dec. 5. Brooks averaged 20.5 points per game and shot 61.5 percent from the field and 64.3 percent from 3-point range. He scored a career-high 24 points against Detroit on Dec. 1 to lead the Guins to a 64-61 win. He also led the team with 17 points in a one-point loss to Wright State on Dec. 3.

5117

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Coaches defend YSU WR recruit

« on: February 08, 2012, 08:25:49 PM »

05: The Akron police came and made a murder arrest right on the field. It was a frosh from Akron Garfield.

Are you getting at Jermaine Hopkins? Wow, what terrible, terrible tragedy that was. It seems like it was just yesterday, but it was back in 1996. All the reports were that it was a drive-bye, but in court they testified that the shooter approached the Hopkins/Jones house, pulled the gun from behind his back, and fired three shots. Jermaine was dead. The shooter ...Moore was his name, was sentenced to multiple counts, with the max on each. Life+25-years (murder + attempted)+gun specifications. Hope he is still rotting where ever he is. I am sure Hopkins is in two great places ...heaven and the YSU hall-of-fame.

5118

YSU Penguin Athletics / Coaches defend YSU WR recruit

« on: February 08, 2012, 06:40:43 AM »

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

When Eric Wolford was hired at Youngstown State two years ago, he made it clear he didn’t want players with questionable character.

“We have got to lay a foundation here for the future,” Wolford said in August 2010. “We’re not trying to do a quick fix. We want to bring in good character people.”

While he was willing to take on an occasional academic risk, he’s shied away from players with checkered backgrounds.

Until last week.

Byron Pringle, a wide receiver out of Tampa’s Robinson High, was one of 19 players to sign letters-of-intent on Feb. 1. He’s easily the most controversial.

Pringle missed his junior year following his July 2010 arrest for his role in a South Tampa crime spree. He received four year’s probation and 100 hours of community service and wrote apology letters to five victims, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Despite a solid senior season, all but two FCS schools shied away from him: Bethune Cookman and Youngstown State.

“He’s a guy I thoroughly researched,” Wolford said. “I know sometimes there may be concerns but I think Byron is a classic of a guy being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

“I think everyone deserves a second chance.”

Pringle’s signing shows two things. One, Wolford believes Pringle’s potential far outweighs his risk. Two, Wolford feels his program is stable enough to absorb a player with a checkered past, particularly one who will be 1,000 miles from his bad influences.

“I’ll tell you what, I take exception with the words ‘checkered past’ and I take exception with the environment thing,” said Pringle’s high school coach, Mike DePue, who said Pringle was more of a bystander than an active participant in the crime spree. “He made a mistake, no two ways about.

“But he paid his dues and he’s been more than responsive to all the help he’s received.

“Every coach that’s come in, he’s looked them in the eye and said he made a mistake and he’s sorry for what he did. I think coaches shied away from him not because of questions about his character but because of how it would reflect on their program.”

Pringle said as much, telling the Times, “It feels great to have a second chance to play football, doing something I love. I just told [YSU’s coaches] the truth. I told them I was remorseful for what I did and that I’m a changed person.”

Over his 34 years as a coach at Robinson, DePue has coached players such as Kansas City Chiefs DB Javier Arenas, Jacksonville Jaguars WR Greg Ellingson, Purdue DB Frankie Williams and former Kentucky basketball player Desmond Allison, who was also a football standout in high school.

“We’ve had some great, great players at Robinson and I rate him [Pringle] as one of the top five players to come out of our school,” DePue said. “I won’t blow smoke up your [behind] on this. You’re getting a good one.

“If he hadn’t missed his junior year, he’d be one of the top five players in Florida.”

Pringle (6-2, 185) is a physical, explosive athlete whose college future is most likely as a returner and wide receiver. DePue calls him a quiet, intelligent kid who will benefit from being under the microscope.

“I told him when he signed, here’s a chance for you not to start a new life, but a new chapter in your life,” he said. “From the get-go, Youngstown left no stone unturned, talking to everyone from lawyers to teachers. I think they know what they’re getting into.

“And listen, I’ve been doing this for 34 years. If I say a kid ain’t worth it and he’s bad for your program, coaches listen. That’s not Byron. He’s going to be a great player and an exemplary leader for your program.”

5119

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU defensive coordinator leaves

« on: February 07, 2012, 01:19:07 PM »

Wolford is taking his time and being thorough, just as he did after he was hired and assembled his staff.  That is a good thing.  Perhaps the DC will be someone that has not even been mentioned here.  As another poster suggested, with our offense, this has got to be a very attractive job.  You don't have to be perfect; just don't stink.

Agreed! Like or hate Wolf......this team is better. Better athletes. Not the same "community" feeling. No doubt. It's all business. But he is a couple of Db's away IMO.

How long he'll stay win or lose.....is the $64,000 question.

How long can we keep coach M is the $65,000 question. 

5120

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Kendrick Perry wins Horizon League Player of Week = YSU now 5/5

« on: February 06, 2012, 11:26:33 AM »

I knew that this was going to happen. He was just awesome this week !!!

5121

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Recruiting News..?

« on: February 05, 2012, 09:25:11 AM »

Does everyone know that I put the recuits in the new recruiting section of the board? Each one has their own thread with bio and video. Just go up above and click on "ysupenguins.com ...fan home for YSU Sports" and then you will see all of the boards.

5122

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU defensive coordinator leaves

« on: February 04, 2012, 09:22:03 PM »

Mt. Union has more ex-buckeyes than any other program. He would be an assistant at YSU. This real football folks. At $250k ..the name is big.

5123

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Expectations for next year?

« on: February 04, 2012, 09:13:44 PM »

Pizza,

I have to respectfully disagree. Heacock had better defenses with less talent. Over the last 2 years our LB's have been non-existent. The CB's have not improved. Yes I know we had some injuries, but we didn't improve.

right on the money. Until we bring back Penguin defense, we are nothing. NDSU has shown us this. Heacock had a dozen better defenses than the one we saw from NDSU last year. Now we have a problem as well. Our talent is for Florida-style defense. Will be interesting to see what happens. YSU is NEVER going to have the talent-level to play "Florida" defense. It all based off of individual effort. 4-guys play defense ...the rest rush the QB. That is how they do it. Those 4-players have to be the best in the nation.

5124

YSU Penguin Athletics / MOVED: Jim Tressel accepts admin job at Akron

« on: February 03, 2012, 01:20:33 PM »

This topic has been moved to Non YSU Sports.

http://ysupenguins.com/forum/index.php?topic=6788.0

5125

Non YSU Sports / Re: Jim Tressel accepts admin job at Akron

« on: February 03, 2012, 01:20:08 PM »

This should probably go down to the non-YSU sports section, but I do not feel the same way. Akron just elevated their institution's stature so high, it is not even measurable. YSU could have easily afforded to $200k salary as advertised. However, I suspect there is much more to it than reported.

As to him coming to YSU, the issue is that it would place an undue burden on what coach W has going on right now.

As to Tressel, this entire issue is caused "strictly" by media. If anyone thinks anything less, than that is naive. Tressel is (what the media wants to make a "was")  :

1. Openly Christian. Which flies in the face of our non-christian media.
2. Conservative in his values. Which flies the face of media.
3. Not in the SEC.
4. A person who so clearly follows the rules that it took how many years to find something? Do you honestly think it would take more than an afternoon to find a laundry list of items against Urban Meyer and U of F?

People are naive if they do not think that media (Disney/ABC/CNN/SI/ESPN are all the same company) has a set of objectives for this country. People like Jim Tressel demonstrate that people with (traditional) values and (Christian) faith, opposed to what the media wants for the nation, can achieve success. People over the entire nation (I mean 'entire') saw Tressel as the last remaining Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, or "Bear" Bryant. He is loved by everyone that meats him ...that includes millions of people that hear him on TV.

I went to the NCAA regional in Texas (baseball). I mean once they saw my shirt and cap, all anyone wanted to talk to me about was Jim Tressel. "Say, I hear you guys have a great football program, do you happen to have another Jim Tressel in a closet somewhere?". That was his first year and he played all the fifth-year seniors. People from college football towns, like Arlington, notice and respect these things.

While coach T was still at YSU, even our opposition respected the man. Some of you may recall the incident over the 1992 championship game and the bad officiating. Tressel appealed a bad call that resulted in the loss of the game. The NCAA said they will wait until the score was final and then make a ruling. The NCAA ruled in YSU's favor. Now Tressel could have petitioned to have Marshall stripped of the title, awarding it to YSU. Instead Tressel, and supposedly the seniors met, decided not to pursue the matter, and the Vindy published the letter of apology from the NCAA. When we went back to Huntington in 1994. Almost unanimously, everyone that lived there spoke of the respect they had for YSU, and Tressel because of that incident.


Moral of the story is that Jim Tressel was crucified for what he said (players, media ...especially his books) ...not for what he failed to say (to the NCAA).

All this being said; wishing tressel the best of luck, but he being a former YSU head coach, and as a guin fan myself ...I see anyone going to Akron as a traitor.

5126

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU defensive coordinator leaves

« on: February 03, 2012, 06:17:39 AM »

If Kravitz left on his own, then we are looking. If Kravitz was let go, we have someone of stature in mind already.

5127

Non YSU Sports / Re: Jim Tressel accepts admin job at Akron

« on: February 03, 2012, 06:15:07 AM »

Wick hatred will get you nowhere. It was huge find for the Zips. That being said ...traitor.

5128

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Men's basketball at UIC - Thursday 8 p.m.

« on: February 02, 2012, 09:40:15 PM »

How can we be this bad? It is certainly not UIC. We have been able to drive inside at will, but we throw-up a bunch of long distance crap! Nice job wWard. ...let him dribble down to only 1-second lefton the possesion THEN you foul him??

5129

Non YSU Sports / Jim Tressel accepts admin job at Akron

« on: February 02, 2012, 09:26:42 PM »

traitor!!!

5130

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Men's basketball at UIC - Thursday 8 p.m.

« on: February 02, 2012, 09:22:34 PM »

Big trouble now 12-2 run by UIC.