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Slocum: Better defense, better depth for YSU
Preseason focus
new for Penguins
youngstown
There has been an emphasis in preseason workouts this year for the Youngstown State men’s basketball team. And that’s defense.
“It’s a lot different this year,” YSU junior Cameron Morse said. “Our whole offseason 90 percent of it was defense, denials, getting up on the ball, shadowing the ball, nothing but defense.”
That defensive focus should be more than welcome for YSU fans who saw a team which gave up more than 90 points on 12 different occasions, not counting overtime contests. Four of those times fans found out if the scoreboard allowed for triple digits.
“We’ve done a lot less scrimmaging this year,” junior Francisco Santiago said. “Last year was a lot of up and down all the time, running offense, shooting a lot. This year we really started working on defense and I think it’s a lot better for us.”
If defense can get turned around from last year, the other strength YSU has at least on paper will be experience. The Penguins will boast four seniors and six juniors as well as six players who will be in their third year at YSU.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been able to stand up here knowing what we have,” YSU head coach Jerry Slocum said. “I think we’re really good in the backcourt, I think our fours are good and our depth is much, much better than we’ve had since I’ve been here. We can play 10 guys any night. I’m really encouraged.”
Slocum didn’t mince words when it came to talent. He called this the best offseason the Penguins have had since he took over as head coach.
“We’re just much, much different and we’re much, much better [from last year],” Slocum said. “It’s been the most productive summer and fall that I’ve had since I’ve been here. This group is dialed in. It’s been a pleasure to watch them be self motivated rather than them be outside motivated all the time.”
Players have said they’ve noticed a bit more emphasis on transition offense this year, but Slocum says that’s all based on how well his Penguins can guard.
“We always want to play fast but you can play faster when you defend better,” Slocum said. “You don’t have to take the ball out of the net as much.”
The schedule is highlighted by an early game at home against Akron in the Northeast Ohio Coaches Against Cancer doubleheader, a three-day tournament in Mobile, Ala., and two road tests against Michigan State and Ohio State. Most of all Slocum said he likes how this year’s schedule is more balanced so his team won’t be on the road for weeks at a time to open the season.
“After the tournament I think the schedule is fair,” Slocum said. “The scheudule becomes more like one at home, two on the road, two at home, one on the road. It balances out better than what we’ve had in the past.”
For many of the players, their eyes got big seeing teams like the Spartans and Buckeyes on their schedule.
“I like the challenge,” senior Matt Donlan said. “I want to play the good teams in those big arenas. I know this team is ready and I’m excited for that.”
From a Horizon League perspective, three teams typically toward the top of the standings — Valparaiso, Wright State and Milwaukee — all hired new coaches in the offseason, eliminating some of the familiarity with league opponents.
“It’s interesting that you don’t know what you’re getting in terms of styles of play,” Slocum said. “You don’t really know the new coaches in terms of what their emphasis is. I think it’s a year of transition in the league.”
How much improvement the Penguins show this year remains to be seen, but Slocum and the players believe this year some of the pieces are falling into the right places.
“This is a totally different group from where we were a year ago both physically in terms of the locker room but more experience and commitment wise,” Slocum said.