CURBSTONE COACHES Robic excited about team's opportunities

Despite a 7-12 season record the Penguins could still host a league tournament game.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Youngstown State men's basketball coach John Robic is excited about his team's opportunities the remainder of this season.
Robic, in his fifth season, has the Penguins battling for a possible Horizon League tournament game at home next month.
"We're playing very well right now," Robic told the Curbstone Coaches Monday at their noon luncheon meeting.
"We've actually been playing very well since the Christmas break, although the wins haven't started coming until lately."
Rough schedule early
Robic said the Penguins didn't get a break with the schedule.
"We played four of our first six league games on the road," he said. "The schedule now turns in our favor as we have four of our last six at home, and three of the top four teams in the standings will come to our place."
The Penguins are 7-12 overall and 3-6 in the Horizon League, tied for sixth place with Detroit, which will play host to YSU Thursday night.
"We swept Cleveland State, a first for us in the Horizon League, and we beat Loyola at home for our other league win," said Robic.
"We're not going to finish 1, 2 or 3 in the standings, but we do have a good shot at finishing 4, 5 or 6 and hosting a first round league tournament game," he said.
Bracket Buster game
The Penguins will also participate in the ESPN's Bracket Buster event Feb. 21 where they will play at Bowling Green.
"We're not the most talented team in the Horizon League and we may never be, but that's why we have to work that much harder than everybody else," said Robic.
"There were many opportunities for this team to just pack it up early in the season, but they never did," he said. "If there is one thing that I'll never complain about it's their effort that they've given all season long."
There are 16 players on the YSU roster, but four of them are not playing -- three because of injuries and one who did not meet the academic requirements to be eligible.
Robic lost 6-foot-7 senior forward Jamel Porter before the season with injuries, while freshmen Craig Anderson and John Barber are being redshirted. Forward Dwight Holmes is getting academically eligible for next season.
Transfer already aboard
"We also have 6-10 transfer Michael Adams from Jacksonville, Fla., enrolled in school and practicing with the team," Robic said.
"He and 6-10 Colin LaForme of Hamilton, Ontario, will join the team next season as our two recruits."
The Penguins will lose three other seniors, including 6-8 center Adam Bauman, one of the league's top post players who is averaging over 12 points per game.
Seniors TeJay Anderson and Bill Mallernee are the other seniors on the team. Mallernee is a non-scholarship player, so the Penguins have only two scholarships open for next season.
"We look for players who want to be part of this program and everybody we have here now falls into that category," said Robic.
Jahnke hobbling
Sophomore guard Andy Jahnke, possibly the best pure shooter on the Penguin team, might not be available for Thursday's game, said Robic.
"He bruised his hip in practice and did not work out today [Monday] so we'll have to wait and see if he can go on Thursday," he said.
Next week the Curbstoners will continue with the Youngstown State connection, as baseball coach Mike Florak will be the featured speaker.
mollica@vindy.com