YSU BASKETBALL Robic pins turnaround hopes on 8 newcomers

The Penguins posted an 8-20 record in 2003-04.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- There are a lot of new faces on the 2004-05 Youngstown State men's basketball team.
Fifth-year coach John Robic hopes that several of those newcomers will help the Penguins to a winning program.
"We've got eight players on this year's team who have never played a minute of basketball for me previously," Robic said.
"They are an interesting group, very eager," he said, "and they really don't know what to expect.
The Penguins are coming off a disappointing 8-20 season last year, including 4-12 in the Horizon League.
Robic must replace the team's top three scorers and two top rebounders with the departure of Adam Bauman, TeJay Anderson through graduation, and Doug Underwood and Mike Woodard, who left the team.
"We've got 14 players on the roster and eight of them are new faces," Robic said.
Veterans
The most experienced returning players are 6-foot-7 senior Brian Radakovich (Steubenville) and 6-5 senior Khari McQueen (Springfield, Mass.).
They are joined by 5-11 junior guard Jonathan Mends (Miami), 6-2 sophomore guard Quin Humphrey (Ellenwood, Ga.), 6-2 junior guard Derrick Harris (Cambridge, Mass.) and 6-3 sophomore Allen Deep (Ellwood City, Pa).
The Penguins also have 6-6 redshirt freshman forward John Barber (Detroit), who returns after missing most of last season with a back injury. Also back is 6-6 sophomore Dwight Holmes (Columbus), who was academically ineligible last season.
Transfers
Three junior college transfers are expected to help out immediately -- 6-11 junior Mike Adams (Jacksonville, Fla.), 6-4 junior Domonique Crawford (River Rouge, Mich.) and 6-5 Zack Silverman (Fairfield, Iowa).
For the first time in several years, YSU will have a local player on the roster -- 6-3 freshman Dan Jones of Niles.
Jones, a talented shooting guard, is one of three freshmen. The others are 6-8 forward Alex Sanchez (Tenerife, Canary Islands) and 6-10 forward Colin LaForme (Hamilton, Ontario).
"We lost a lot of scoring and rebounding, but I feel confident with what we have returning," Robic said.
"We're hoping to make a jump this season and I'm not going to be happy if we don't," he said. "I like our schedule, with 15 home games, including seven of our first 10."
Philosophy change
Robic said that he's changed his coaching philosophy for this group.
"The preparation for the season has also changed," he said. "We're going to play faster, but we have to be a better defensive team. I want our kids to play and I don't want them to think as much out on the floor."
Robic is in the final season of a five-year contract, something he said he tries not to think about.
"There is nothing I can really do about it," Robic said. "It's out of my control. I'm just enjoying being around these kids every day, although it certainly doesn't help with the recruiting process.
"We've made strides since we've been here," he said. "Getting into the Horizon League was a big jump, probably bigger than we thought it would be.
"Last year, we were in 16 games decided by 10 points or less and 10 games decided by five points or less," Robic said. "We have to find a way to win those games this year."
mollica@vindy.com