I remember when Coach Calhoun came in he wanted to bring a fast-paced, exciting style of basketball to YSU. He wanted to press for much of the game and run up and down the court, but unfortunately early on he didn't have the players to do it and had to learn to adjust. He then wanted to bring in his style of players and that was working then the transfer portal changed everything. I know he's said the transfer portal and the analytics has changed how he coaches and he's become a better coach. I definitely agree with that. I thought in the early years he'd get out coached and not make the proper adjustments. YSU has become such a better second half time team.
Obviously DQ, Naz, Covington & Akuchie were his guys he brought in and were the face of YSU. It was tremendous Akuchie stayed with the program and of course Covington putting in 6 years and getting to experience a championship. Hard to imagine someone will ever put in the years Covington did thanks to the extra year from COVID, the extra year from his injury and not giving into the transfer portal.
Obviously everyone had to deal with COVID, but I feel like it derailed some of the progress Coach was making. It obviously cost them a post-season tourney the one year then it really killed the crowds and excitement that was building and kind of had to start over.
I always thought there was some weird disconnect in DQ's last year here. Obviously the injury was a lot of it, but something changed during that season; he also took a lot at the NBA, which there was no way he was going to get any interest from the NBA. Fordham is having a great season and DQ is averaging a career best 17 ppg & his FT shooting is up to a career best 84%; however, his stats and shooting % really aren't much different than his years at YSU. I would take Cohill over him if there was a choice of having one or the other.
From what Coach had said in a recent press conference, he still stays in contact all the time with Naz and Akuchie. He has never mentioned DQ. He did make a remark that losing Naz was a surprise. I was ok with DQ leaving because it appeared he didn't want to be at YSU any longer, but was disappointed to lose Naz. I think he could have been incredible last year. And while he got to play some on a bigger stage at Clemson, I'm not sure he really gained anything by it. He was trying out to make Jacksonville Jags as a TE. To accomplish what YSU did last year was still impressive considering the circumstances.
What Coach did in the transfer portal this year has been tremendous. I know there was a lot of talk how YSU was one of the best in the portal, but you never know how that plays out and how everyone meshes. And recruiting Lovelace was a big one. Hopefully they can retain him cause he has the chance to be spectacular. And hopefully they do well in the portal again for next year. You have to wonder about guys like Shemar, Hunter & Dunn, who will all be seniors next year. Their PT has all decreased as the season has went on.
