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YSU women’s coach: ‘They didn’t try’
Photo
Bob Boldon
By Jon Moffett
YOUNGSTOWN
Bob Boldon was very candid regarding his feeling about the current state of the Youngstown State women’s basketball team.
The first-year head coach called the team’s effort into question during a 86-65 loss to Cleveland State at home, a game in which the Penguins trailed by five at halftime but saw an 11-0 run push the game out of reach.
When asked how much of the loss could be credited to the team’s intensity — the reporter hesitated to use the word effort — Boldon made sure to leave no room for inference.
“We can be honest. It was a terrible effort,” he said. “They didn’t try. Mentally, they didn’t do what they were supposed to do and physically they didn’t’ do what they were supposed to do. And consequently, they gave up a bunch of points.”
He continued.
“These kids have been coddled enough in their lives, which is how they got themselves in the situation they’re in,” he said.
“Nobody wants to tell them they’re wrong. Well, they were wrong. Their effort, defensively, was poor. Mentally, physically, and I’m sure on some level emotionally, was poor.”
The Penguins remain at the bottom of the Horizon League standings — a place they have spent virtually all of the past two seasons.
The team is 1-8 in conference play and 3-17 overall. Boldon has said multiple times he expected to be better record-wise at this point.
Still, he said, what the Penguins get out of this season will depend on what they put in.
“We’re the worst team in the conference. And if we’d like to not be the worst team in the conference, we’ve got to get better,” he said. “If we’re OK with being the worst team in the conference, we’ll probably play similar defense these last nine games we we’ll finish exactly where we deserve to be, which is where we currently are.”
Boldon preached his offensive philosophies from day one. But lately it’s been defense that’s been the focus — or lack thereof.
Boldon quipped the defense comes down to effort and not necessarily ability.
“This is a team that should be better right now than it is,” he said. “I mean, we’re talking about defensive concepts that are not difficult. I actually had one of my assistants call one of the local junior high teams to see what they were practicing. I thought we could get some ideas from them.”
Boldon said everything he has seen is correctable. He added that his focus is to improve the team every day.
A few weeks ago, Boldon gave his midseason grade for the team.
At the time, he said he would give his team a “D” because it isn’t failing, but it isn’t doing very well.
When asked if he’d change that grade at this point, he said it was still a fair assessment.
“I think that’s probably where we are, and you saw that with this homestand,” he said.
“You saw us be pretty good at times, and you saw us be very bad at times. And that’s what bad teams do, they’re not consistent enough to be good for a long period of time. And until we can learn how to do that, I don’t think we deserve a better letter grade than that.”