Men's Basketball looks to improve on 11-win season
Keith Langford Jr. SPORTS EDITOR
Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: Sports
For the Youngstown State University men's basketball team, the next season looks promising as most players from a season ago return, joined by some freshman additions to the roster. The Penguins are picked to finish seventh out of 10 teams in the Horizon League, according to the Horizon League preseason poll.
"We are looking for some great things out of this group," said head coach Jerry Slocum.
A season ago, the Penguins finished tied with the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames for the No. 6 seed in the Horizon League with an 11-19 record overall and a 7-11 record in the Horizon League.
Because the Penguins won both regular season meetings with the Flames, they earned the home game in a No. 6 versus No. 7 seed pairing in the Horizon League postseason tournament. Unfortunately, the Penguins lost to the Flames before a packed house at Beeghly Center on March 3, ending their season with the 73-68 loss.
Some key losses for the Penguins are Jack Liles and Mikko Niemi. Liles averaged 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season. The Penguins will miss the intangibles Liles brought to the table, such as his hustle, defensive presence and shot blocking. Niemi, a solid player off the bench, brought toughness at the guard position; the Penguins will miss his tenacity.
One key addition to the team is a local prospect, freshman Sheldon Brogdon. Brogdon played basketball at Warren G. Harding High School. Freshman Lamar McKnight, who played his high school career at St. Peter Chanel High School, adds another forward to the team's mix. Freshman Eddie D'Haiti will look to contribute this season after a redshirt 2008-2009 season.
Returning this season are three junior college transfers who helped the Penguins to 11 wins last season. Seniors DeAndre Mays, Kelvin Bright and Sirlester Martin were all junior college players before they made the switch to play ball at YSU. All three were instrumental in the success the team had in winning 11 games.
"We are looking for some great things out of this group," said head coach Jerry Slocum.
A season ago, the Penguins finished tied with the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames for the No. 6 seed in the Horizon League with an 11-19 record overall and a 7-11 record in the Horizon League.
Because the Penguins won both regular season meetings with the Flames, they earned the home game in a No. 6 versus No. 7 seed pairing in the Horizon League postseason tournament. Unfortunately, the Penguins lost to the Flames before a packed house at Beeghly Center on March 3, ending their season with the 73-68 loss.
Some key losses for the Penguins are Jack Liles and Mikko Niemi. Liles averaged 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season. The Penguins will miss the intangibles Liles brought to the table, such as his hustle, defensive presence and shot blocking. Niemi, a solid player off the bench, brought toughness at the guard position; the Penguins will miss his tenacity.
One key addition to the team is a local prospect, freshman Sheldon Brogdon. Brogdon played basketball at Warren G. Harding High School. Freshman Lamar McKnight, who played his high school career at St. Peter Chanel High School, adds another forward to the team's mix. Freshman Eddie D'Haiti will look to contribute this season after a redshirt 2008-2009 season.
Returning this season are three junior college transfers who helped the Penguins to 11 wins last season. Seniors DeAndre Mays, Kelvin Bright and Sirlester Martin were all junior college players before they made the switch to play ball at YSU. All three were instrumental in the success the team had in winning 11 games.
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