Injuries curtail women’s practices

By John Bassetti

Just six of the 12 players have been able to work out on a regular basis.

YOUNGSTOWN — For someone who went to college in Florida, coming to Youngstown as the Penguins’ women’s basketball coach last season must have been quite an adjustment.

For someone who calls herself a perfectionist, having a three-win season must have been torturous.

“It doesn’t happen overnight,” Cindy Martin said during Tuesday’s media day at Beeghly Center. “I have to keep reminding myself of that because I’m a perfectionist and I want to be perfect right now, today!”

Obviously, Martin enters her second year as YSU’s coach with higher expectations.

But, there’s already a downside.

If Martin’s team had its opener today, there would be only one available sub on the bench.

After just two days of practice, Youngstown is very limited with only six healthy bodies.

“Jeff Wills is pretty busy these days,” Martin said of the trainer.

The coach said she has to be realistic about the situation that evolved since school started.

“I said it a year ago and I’ll say it again: Injuries are not an excuse, but they’re the reality right now,” Martin said.

“We’re doing our best to get the most out of those six.”

Additionally, Martin is only counting on nine when the season goes into full swing in January.

Because of the reality, the team’s goal is to qualify as the sixth seed for the Horizon League postseason tournament.

Martin said she shared a story with her players about Notre Dame winning a national title with just seven players on the roster.

“It was amazing how much chemistry, timing and cohesiveness developed because they had to play so many big minutes,” she said. “So I’m trying to look at our situation as positive: is the glass half empty or half full? We’re saying it’s half full.

“We’re going to, at least, take our short numbers and get the most out of them. We’re going to expect some big minutes from some of our ladies.”

YSU has five returners: Rachael Manuel, Kaitlyn March, Macey Nortey, Makala Gasparek and Kenya Middlebrooks.

“They know the system and are teaching it to the [seven] newcomers,” Martin said. “Our strength is having five ladies who have been in my system and who have seen the Horizon League and know how we do scouting reports and know how we do team travel.

“You don’t think about it until you reflect and I’m glad I had a chance to reflect this summer and talk to other coaches who have rebuilt their programs.

“I tell the ladies that my goal is to push them and get them to the point of reaching perfection. We’re not going to be perfect, so getting better every day is what we’re focusing on in the program.”

Despite losing the basketball I.Q. of six seniors, Martin is encouraged, in practice, by the teaching and learning process between the returning players and the newcomers.

“With those five, you have two or three on the floor with those other two or three, it’s amazing how smooth the execution is,” she said. “You think we would have skipped a beat, but we haven’t. In some ways, it’s even better because those five know what I want. They know the timing and they’re talking and communicating.”

A year ago, the Penguins finished 3-27.

Martin said she doesn’t expect her team to be picked higher than ninth or 10th in the preseason poll.

“Personally, I like being the underdog and I think we’ll be the underdog all season,” she said. “Also, our two seniors: March and Manuel, will have the best year of their careers. They’re playing well, their confidence is there and their scoring is getting better. I’m expecting some big plays from those two.”

Included in the group of six players not practicing is former Rayen School standout Tieara Jones, who has had transfer problems.

“Were in limbo with Tieara’s transfer status,” Martin said. “She’s still doing some last steps with her junior college to find out if she met her transfer requirements.”

bassetti@vindy.com