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Penn State next for men
YOUNGSTOWN
Under head coach Jerry Slocum, the Youngstown State men’s basketball team has faced its share of “big boy” teams.
Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, UCLA, Notre Dame, Maryland, North Carolina State and Pittsburgh all took on YSU over the past five seasons.
The Penguins have yet to knock off one of the powerhouses.
They’ll get another chance on Wednesday. After racking up three straight wins to kickoff the 2011-12 season in undefeated fashion, the Penguins have another chance to battle a Goliath in Penn State (4-1). Tip off is set for at 7 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa.
The Penguins have, however, remained fairly competitive in match-ups with teams that are regulars in the brackets that are passed around in office pools, year after year.
YSU has been outscored by an average of 21 points in those eight previous games against notoriously tough teams. Its best offensive output came on Nov. 24, 2007 when they fell to ND, 87-75.
“The benefit of those is eventually you hope the guys get used to those kind of games and play more relaxed and play with more confidence to believe that you can do something special,” Slocum said Monday.
“We’re going to be who we are, Slocum said. “I think we have the ability to score the basketball a little better than we have in the past.”
On the young season, the Penguins have netted an average of 70.6 points per contest which is exactly the number put up after three games last season.
But the nature of games, thus far, has been more rewarding and productive. In a win at Samford, the Penguins and Bulldogs were tied at the three-minute mark.
Against UC Riverside at home, the Penguins trailed by four at the three minute mark before YSU pulled out a win in over time.
It’s been the perseverance down the stretch that pleases Slocum the most.
“All the time that they’ve put in is showing the benefit and that’s what you hope in close games like that,” he said. “The kids are rewarded for all their work and they’ve done a really good job of that.”
A bigger prize will be getting in a position to contain star Nittany Lion guard Tim Frazier. The Houston native stands just 6-foot-1 but boasts a 34-inch vertical leap.
The junior averages 20 points a game and has already dished out 33 assists. In PSU’s latest victory over South Florida, Frazier scored 27 of its 53 points.
“[Frazier] likes to push it,” forward Damian Eargle said. “I think if we can get back on defense and stop that guy, we’ll be fine.”
Eargle just missed the program’s first triple-double against Riverside by netting 11 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks. For inspiration in Wednesday’s game, the Warren Harding graduate looks back to last year’s 62-60 upset victory over eventual NCAA runner-up Butler.
“Just like the Butler game, everyone is expecting us to lose,” he said. “It just excites us more to play this game. I’m sure the energy will be there.”