Photography by reporter/Robert Hayes. YSU fifth-year guard Brett Thompson steps up on a layup Thursday against Bethany (WV).
YOUNGSTOWN — With 12 new players arriving on Youngstown State’s roster this season, it was always going to take time for the Penguins to get acclimated to each other.
They were all playing in a new city, for new coaches, at a new school, with new teammates.
Although they had the opportunity to play three matches in Spain over the summer, as well as two matches during pre-season, these experiences are not a substitute for direct playing experience in Division I.
The Penguins opened the season with back-to-back losses on the road against strong opposition, falling to Louisiana and Michigan. But since then, YSU has won eight of its last nine games, including five straight in the past two weeks.
It may have taken a while, but the Penguins are finally starting to find their groove and establish their identity as a team.
“I think any time you’re in practice or in a scrimmage, it’s completely different from the game,” he said. Coach Jerrod Calhoun said during a news conference on Wednesday. “I think this team needs to get some reps in the game, (and) go out and compete with each other. We’ve made a good stride here. We knew all along it was going to take some time, like it did last year as well. Obviously, our schedule “This year was a little tougher early on. We’ve settled in and I think the guys are starting to understand their role and play good basketball and have good chemistry. So we’ve just got to keep getting better.”
Coming off a road loss to Dayton on November 24, the Penguins return home to Begley Center to open conference play against Horizon League rival Cleveland State. The Penguins beat the Vikings soundly by 25 points, all while posting their second-highest point total of the season.
It was in that game that Calhoun said he finally began to see his team realize its potential, and since then, YSU has won three straight road games against Robert Morris, Ohio State and Western Michigan.
“I think they are more connected on and off the field.” Calhoun said. “When you’re away from Youngstown for a long time, like we were, we spend a lot of time with each other — whether it’s at the hotel or touring or different places — it’s just 15 players, a coach and a manager and that’s it.” “Turn it around.”
As long as possible, those road trips allowed the Penguins to build chemistry and camaraderie.
“We’re starting to figure it out a little bit more.” said fifth-year forward Ziggy Reed. “We’re starting to get along with each other, knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses and things like that.”
Just last week, the YSU team spent up to 18 to 20 hours together on the bus getting to and from games, according to Calhoun.
“Those are the things that I think probably go a little bit unnoticed by the media and the fans and maybe even the parents sometimes. We spend a lot of time with each other, and when you spend time with each other, you get to know each other a little bit more. Calhoun said. “When you have a lot of new players, you have to spend that time together. So I would say we are in sync now. There is this cohesion off the field, which translates on the field.”
The Penguins’ defense has been one of the keys during their recent stretch. Defense is something that has been a big focus for the team, Reid said.
YSU is giving up 70.3 points per game this season, but during its five-game winning streak, the Penguins have been able to hold opponents to just 67.2 points per game.
“I think we’re as good a defensive team as any,” Calhoun said. “That was our calling card — switching up our defenses, playing man and zone.”
However, the crime is still being carried out. Although YSU scored 107 points Thursday night against Bethany (WV), Calhoun feels the team isn’t making the right passes or reading the system.
The Penguins are improving — they are now averaging 78.9 points per game — but the goal is to get the offense back to where it was last season when YSU was the fifth-best offensive team in the country, averaging 81.9 points per game. .
“You have to have an attacking philosophy – we beat me.” Calhoun said. “Last year they really bought into it. This team is about halfway there. (But still) there’s a long way to go.”
nmadhavan@tribtoday.com
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