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Youngstown State university men’s basketball | More news and notes
Reserve reservations: Youngstown State’s two biggest weaknesses heading into the Horizon League tournament are its rebounding (the Penguins are last in the league in rebounding margin at minus-4.2) and its bench. YSU is 9-0 when it out-rebounds its opponent, 6-13 when it doesn’t and 0-1 when the totals are equal. “We’ve got to rebound the basketball,” YSU coach Jerry Slocum said. “If we don’t, it’s going to be a short run for us.” Although YSU would have to win four games in eight days to capture the tournament title, Slocum isn’t quite as concerned about his bench. The Penguin reserves are averaging just 8.3 points per game — just 12 percent of YSU’s per-game average — and no reserve is averaging even 10 minutes per game. “I think we’ve gotten good play off our bench this year,” said Slocum, referring specifically to sophomore forward Josh Chojnacki, sophomore guard Nate Perry and freshman guard Shawn Amiker. “It just hasn’t been consistent play.” Slocum admitted there’s a disagreement about how many minutes the reserves should play. “Maybe not in their mind, but in my mind, two, four, six, seven minutes are really important,” Slocum said. “And in their mind, well, 12-14-16 is more like it, Coach. The value of three or four or five solid minutes with no turnovers and a couple of offensive rebounds and good basketball play is really, really, really crucial. And I think they’re capable of it.”
Contract update: Slocum has two years remaining on his contract at about $130,000 per year. That figure is the lowest among the team’s 10 head coaches and is lower than several assistants in the league, according to YSU athletic director Ron Strollo. Slocum coached the 2010-11 season knowing it was the last on his contract and was then extended three years soon after last season. He responded with the Penguins’ best season since joining the Horizon League in 2001-02. “I’m very happy here,” Slocum said. “I love YSU. If I have one regret in my professional life, it’s that this [success] didn’t happen three or four years ago.”
Ticket info: Tickets for tonight’s game against Green Bay will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Stambaugh Stadium ticket office. Adult tickets cost $8 (general admission) and $12 (reserved). Those prices drop to $4 and $6 for children 12-and-younger. YSU students get in free with their ID. For details, call 330-941-1YSU.