43
Proof that hard work pays off
Photo
Youngstown State junior guard Blake Allen (1) has been getting in as much practice time as possible, and the extra work has paid off . The Penguins picked up two quality Horizon League wins over the weekend downing Milwaukee and Green Bay and Allen was named the conference’s Player of the Week.
Youngstown State’s Blake Allen named Horizon player of the week following two big victories
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown State men’s basketball coach Jerry Slocum often goes into his Beeghly Center office early on Sunday mornings to prepare for the week ahead.
He’s normally not alone.
“It’s in inevitable that I’ll come out, walk around and take a little bit of a break and I hear the ball bouncing,” Slocum said.
That’s junior guard Blake Allen — perfecting his shot and getting as much practice time in as possible.
“We try to talk him into not spending so much time in the gym,” Slocum said. “He’s always there. We played Saturday night and here’s Blake getting 300-400 shots off.”
That extra work has paid off. The Penguins picked up two quality Horizon League wins over the weekend downing Milwaukee and Green Bay and Allen was named the conference’s Player of the Week.
“I’ll take the two wins over any individual thing, any day,” Allen said.
The Tampa, Fla., native entered the weekend ranked eighth in the NCAA with 3.1 3-point goals per game, while his 43.1 percent mark from behind the arc was ranked 33rd nationally. Allen put up, rather than shut up against the then-league leading Panthers on Friday with a career-high, 27-point performance.
And he was pretty hot from long range.
“It was one of those days where my teammates were able to look for me and find me,” he said. “Fortunately, I was able to get a couple of them to go down.”
More than a couple, actually. He hit seven 3’s and drained three more on Sunday in a 77-47 blowout of Green Bay.
“There is nobody in our program and I’ll go as far as saying there is no one that I’ve coached — and I’ve coached a long time — that works harder than Blake,” Slocum said.
Allen said it’s been a matter of the whole team coming together and working hard. An epidemic of wanting to get better started to spread back in the summer and all the Penguins caught the bug.
“We had guys fighting to get on the shooting machine — that’s what it was,” Allen said. “In June and July, I’d be walking in and somebody would be on there. Then, I’d be leaving, and somebody else would be coming in to use it. I attribute it to a lot of hard work on everybody’s behalf.”
Slocum noticed it early on, too.
“This group has put in a lot of time shooting the basketball,” he said. “They all stayed all summer and they all wore the shooting machine out. [The 3-point shot] has been very effective for us and we’ve shot it consistently. We can put numerous guys on the floor and it’s clearly been one of our strengths.”
In 2010-11, YSU shot 33.2 percent on 3-pointers percentage. So far this season, its improved to 39.2 percent. Alone, Allen has gone from 39.2 to 41.8 percent.
“I think you play to your strengths,” Slocum explained. “If we had two 6-10 wide bodies in the post, we’d be going to that. This group has shot the 3-ball all year long.”
Allen’s player of the week honor is the first of his career and he’s the fourth Penguin to be recognized this season. YSU is the first men’s team to have four different players of the week in one season since Loyola in 1984-85.
Kendrick Perry is the only starter who has yet to earn it.
“I’m quite sure that he’s not too worried about that,” Allen said. “Obviously, he’s been tremendous all year for us. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins every weekend for the rest of the year.
“But, if we win basketball games he, as well as everybody else, will be happy.”