In 6 of YSU's 7 league losses they've given up 76 or more points, which is well over the ppg avg they give up in league play of 72.7 (4 of 7 they've given up 81 or more). The only game they didn't was the road loss at Oakland 70-67.
In 8 of 11 of YSU's league wins they've scored 81 or more, 2 of the other wins were against IUPUI which you can almost throw up. The only other league win when they didn't score was the Robert Morris road win when they won 71-57.
This really translates to when YSU plays good defense they win, and most of their wins have been by a comfortable margin meaning they've played well on offense. They've struggled in the close games, most of which they've had sizable leads. I didn't look at the stats, but it seems like they turn the ball over a lot in those losses.
I still feel like in order for YSU to go on a run down the stretch, they are going to need Rush to play better. Rush has been under his ppg avg for 4 straight games, 7 of the last 8, and 9 of the last 11. He's went from YSU's leading scorer to 4th.
Pretty much know what we get out of Burns, Reid & Thompson. Guys like Rush, Langdon, Farmer & Lovelace are all so inconsistent.
I know Coach mentioned last week that he even asked Rush if he'd like to come off the bench, which he didn't want to. But I'm not even sure if YSU gains much if you started say Farmer or Lovelace instead. Farmer is worse from 3 and the FT line than Rush. Farmer's mid range game is better than Rush's and probably play's better defense.
We also need better play out of Dynes and Zorgvol. Dynes has been non-existent the last 3 games. 0 points and just 1 block and has played a total of just over 22 mins during that stretch. Also during that stretch, Zorgvol has just 3 points and only 1 block. So between the 2 they have just 3 points and 2 blocks in 3 games. Dynes has seemed lost in recent games and I'm sure that's why his mins have dried up.
I haven't heard any update on Bates in awhile. He's missed 9 games now and Coach acted like it wasn't a serious injury and he was day-to-day. Seemed like weeks ago Coach was confident of getting him back, now nothing has been said recently. There was times he added a nice spark off the bench and I feel like YSU could have used that at times in recent games.
Outside of the beginning of the season, this is honestly the least confident I've been with YSU since the end of 2 seasons ago. The last time YSU played really well was the Wright State road game on ESPNU. Since then they are 2-3 needing OT to beat Milwaukee at home and really not playing that great in their home win against RMU. Bad road losses to PFW and CSU and losing at home to GB without their leading scorer when so much was at stake.
It's going to take a hell of an effort to sweep these teams. I'm hoping for a split, but unfortunately I wouldn't be shocked if YSU loses both. You need to be playing your best basketball of the season this time of the year and unfortunately YSU isn't.
