Penguins go from Michigan to Ohio State

Youngstown State will take on its third Big Ten opponent tonight.
By BISON COLLINS MESSINK
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team is in Columbus today, set to tip off against Ohio State, the nation's fourth-ranked team.
It will be the Penguin's second game in three days on the road against a Big Ten opponent, after losing 65-56 at Michigan on Wednesday.
This week is a tough stretch for Youngstown, spending Thanksgiving in a hotel, away from their families, with games against Big Ten opponents on either side, but the Penguins remain focused on basketball, and improving.
"Our whole focus this week is to get better for next week, because we start league play right after [next Tuesday's] Canisius game," said Youngstown coach Jerry Slocum after the Michigan loss on Wednesday. "We'll just try to get better and work hard and do the things we have to do to get ready for that."
Youngstown junior guard Keston Roberts said on Wednesday that it's tough being on the road over Thanksgiving, but, he acknowledged, "We're here to play basketball, so we know that that comes with it."
Robert's backcourt-mate Quin Humphrey said Wednesday that the team was excited about the holiday, and their game against Ohio State. "We're just planning on eatin' good and practicing, getting ready for Ohio State.
"We're looking forward to the challenge," he said of playing the Buckeyes. "Coach [Slocum] let us know that all we can do is get better. All we got to do is go out there and play hard and let the game take care of itself."
Against Michigan, the Penguins had difficulty finding an offensive rhythm in the half-court. They turned the ball over 17 times, and a tough Michigan defense held Humphrey to just 10 points -- exactly half of what he had averaged on the season going into the game.
"It was one of those games when I couldn't get it going [with] the jumper," said Humphrey after the loss. "I had a bad shooting night, so the only thing I can do is regroup for the next game."
Michigan keyed on Humphrey defensively, which allowed Roberts to drive to the basket often, and score 18 points, which tied for the game-high with Michigan's 6-11 center Courtney Sims.
"[Michigan] pressed up a lot so a lot of driving lanes were open," said Roberts. "I was able to use the dribble to get it going."
Youngstown was at their best when they opened up on the fastbreak, a trend that the Penguins will look to continue all season.
"This year coach is trying to push the ball a lot and try to get a lot of easy shots," Roberts said.
Despite trailing Michigan 35-23 at halftime, and by as much as 27 points in the second half, the Penguins didn't hang their heads, and gave themselves something to build on as they prepare for Ohio State.
"I thought we did a good job of being mentally tough in the second half," Slocum said. "I thought we shot the ball better, we defended better. Everything we did, we did better.
"To be down 27 and battle back like that, I was proud of our effort."
To compete with the Buckeyes, Slocum knows his team will need to play like they did in the last 10 minutes of the Michigan game, when they outscored the Wolverines 20-6. They will also need a lift from Humphrey, and point guard Byron Davis, who had seven points, two assists, and four turnovers on Wednesday.