Both YSU teams are in early slumps

The prognosis for the Youngstown State basketball programs isn't looking too good.
The men are 1-5 with four straight losses, and the women are 2-4 and have lost three straight.
Both teams are having trouble defensively, especially the men, who are allowing 86.8 points per game in their five losses.
On Saturday, the Penguins dropped a 79-65 decision to Toledo, a team that they matched up well with on paper and one that also was struggling this season.
Lacking: But YSU's lack of aggressiveness on defense and lack of a strong, big man inside just couldn't control the more athletic Rockets.
The Penguins gave up too many uncontested baskets, mostly under the hoop where Toledo scored 50 of its 79 points, including 23 buckets which were either lay-ups or converted offensive rebounds.
Coach John Robic knows the limits of this year's team, which is young and inexperienced. He's said all along that the Penguins must hold opponents to under 70 points if they are going to have a chance to win.
Thus far this year, they have done that just once, beating Division II Slippery Rock 99-67.
Ineligible: It's true the Penguins have been hampered in the early goings playing without 6-foot-6 sophomore TeJay Anderson and 6-5, 280-pound power forward Khari McQueen, both academically ineligible for the first quarter of school.
That quarter ends this week, and it is possible that both players will be ready to play for Saturday's home game against Kent State, a team that recently took Kentucky to the wire.
The schedule definitely isn't helping the Penguins, but Robic wants his team going up against the best, and that's why he's made as tough a schedule as YSU ever has played.
After Kent State, the Penguins have a home game with Robert Morris, another team they should be capable of beating. But then YSU goes back on the road to play former Mid-Continent Conference rivals Missouri-Kansas City and Western Illinois.
Unless a major breakthrough comes about quickly, the Penguins could find themselves with, at best, a 2-8 record entering their first game in the Horizon League.
Robic knows that he'll be losing senior guards Ryan Patton and Rafael Cruz after this year, so already he's signed two talented guards to take their places. But now he's got to find a talented big man to go with them, or things are not going to get a whole lot better in the future.
Women: The YSU women, on the other hand, appear to have the talent this season, but the problem is that all are either freshmen or sophomores and they're making a lot of mistakes.
Freshman forward Jen Perugini (6-2) already has proved herself as both a rebounder and scorer, while freshman forward Barbora Fabianova, who has played just three games after rehabilitating an injured ankle, is starting to round into shape.
This year the problem seems to be in the back-court. Junior transfer Maggie Johnson started the season with some strong performances, but then she twisted an ankle and hasn't been the same.
Sophomore Cathy Hanek hasn't been able to find the shooting range, and senior Monica Vicarel is a solid defensive player, but doesn't add much to the offense.
Need help: Perugini and sophomore Heather Harris have been carrying the load offensively, but they need help from Hanek and senior center Jen Horner, who has been inconsistent all season.
Coach Ed DiGregorio knows that his team is young, plus the Penguins are in the middle of a nine-game road trip and must play at Valparaiso tonight, and three more tough non-league games before opening the Horizon League at Cleveland State.
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.