Niemi makes a point by putting team first

By Pete Mollica

The Finland native said he wants to keep playing basketball after YSU.

YOUNGSTOWN — Mikko Niemi came to Youngstown State four years ago from Finland where he was a star on the Finland 20-under National Team, which won the Finnish A-Championship in 2002 when he was just a junior in high school.

Niemi averaged 18 points and 6.3 rebounds during that tournament championship run, but since he’s been a Penguin he’s never really come close to those numbers.

The 6-2 senior guard from Kangasala, Finland, has played a lot of basketball for the Penguins the past three seasons, but he hasn’t scored a lot of points. One reason is that he rarely shoots the basketball.

Niemi played in 24 games as a freshman here, starting one, then played in all 31 games as a sophomore and started two games. He started 10 games last year and played in all 30.

But going into Thursday’s Horizon League contest at Detroit, Niemi has scored just 77 points in 92 game.

Niemi played behind some pretty talented guards during his first three seasons with the Penguins — two behind standouts Quin Humphrey and Keston Roberts and last year behind Byron Davis.

This season Niemi has seen limited action, playing in just seven of the team’s first 11 games, although he did start last Monday’s contest against Lock Haven.

He still hasn’t scored this year, but then again he’s only taken two shots in the seven games.

Niemi has accepted his role with this year’s team. Head coach Jerry Slocum brought in seven new players this year and several were guards who are now starting.

“I’m not really concerned about my role,” said Niemi. “My only concern is helping this team win games and doing whatever it is the coaches want me to do.”

The Penguins are coming off an 81-60 win over Lock Haven, a Division II team, but Niemi said it’s not who they played, but how they played which is the difference.

“We’ve made some great strides to date and we are still learning to play together,” he added.

“Our offense has never really been a problem, but our defense has and that really seemed to come together in the second half against Lock Haven.”

Since joining the Penguins, Niemi’s career best has been eight points against UIC last season, while he’s also had a six-rebound game against Loyola, but to him his best efforts are when he’s dishing out assists or making steals.

His best in those categories was seven assists against Weber State in 2007 and four steals against Slippery Rock in 2005.

Even though his playing time has been limited with the Penguins, Niemi feels his basketball days are far from over.

“I know that when I graduate from here next summer that I’ll be going back home to Finland where I’ll be playing basketball with some team,” he added.

“I know that I still have a few good years left for this game and I’ve made enough contacts back home to know there will be a spot for me.”