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Big stage awaits Penguins
By STEVE WILAJ
youngstown
Saturday’s upcoming game with No. 11 Purdue — Youngstown State men’s basketball’s first matchup with a ranked team in five years — got head coach Jerry Slocum thinking on Monday about past marquee opponents the Penguins faced over his 11-year tenure.
One that immediately came to mind was YSU’s 2007 season opener at No. 2 UCLA.
John Wooden, the legendary former Bruins head coach, was still alive and in attendance. Meanwhile, a couple future NBA All-Stars — Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook — donned the well-known blue-and-gold UCLA jerseys.
“One of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had here in terms of playing these kinda games,” Slocum said. “There’s definitely an enjoyment to those games in terms of being able to play up.
“But then the horn goes off and reality hits. You better bring your A-game and work hard to compete.”
When the Penguins (4-5) visit Purdue (8-0) Saturday at 2 p.m., Slocum knows the chances of YSU pulling the upset and earning its first win against a ranked opponent since 1952 are slim.
No doubt, it’s a money-game for a reason, as the university is receiving $90,000 for the Penguins’ participation. The Penguins’ other two money games this month are at Michigan on Dec. 19 ($90,000) and at Notre Dame on Dec. 21 ($87,000). So while the 700-club coach wants his young team to enjoy the big-time atmosphere like he did in ‘07 at UCLA (a 31-point loss), he also has bigger goals for YSU against the Boilermakers.
“Just to keep on getting better,” said Slocum, who isn’t fond of how the difficult stretch was scheduled. “We’re clearly not where we want to be.
“You’re hoping that you get in these games and the kids will do the little things you have to do to be competitive and to grow into that kind of competitiveness,” Slocum said. “If nothing else, you have to look at it and say, ‘if we can go into a Purdue, Notre Dame and Michigan and play hard and get better — going on the road to Detroit and Oakland to start [Horizon League] play — it should give you a sense you can compete.”
Don’t tell those hindered expectations to sophomore guard Cameron Morse, though.
The Penguins’ second-leading scorer (15.1 PPG) called the matchup with a Big Ten opponent a dream game, adding that YSU’s players should embrace the big stage.
“You know. playing against [Purdue], you can possibly get your name out there,” Morse said. “Everybody’s watching. So it’s just a good way to step up and show what you got.
“For me personally, this is a dream come true because, coming out of high school, I was overlooked,” Morse said. “This game right here, you can prove yourself and let people know who Youngstown really is and that we can play with anybody out there.”
However, YSU (coming off an ugly loss to American at home on Friday) certainly has a tall task against Purdue — in every sense.
The undefeated Boilermakers’ leading scorer is 7-foot-2 Isaac Haas (14.6 PPG), while their top rebounder is 6-foot-9 Caleb Swanigans (8.8 RPG). Plus they bring seven-foot A.J. Hammons (12.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG) off the bench.
“That’s what puts more of a sting into our effort on Friday night — knowing what’s coming,” Slocum said. “You’re not only playing three of the next four on the road, but three of four against teams that are clearly NCAA [Tournament] teams. Purdue might be a top-5 team in the country. They have a couple future first round draft picks in their bigs.
“If there’s a bright side to it, the bright side is it’s getting you ready for league play when you have seven out of 10 on the road to start.”