YSU point guard Santiago trying to play with ACL tear

December 5, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

YSU senior’s knee

injury aggravated

YOUNGSTOWN

Fracisco Santiago’s recurring knee issues this year were worse than what Youngstown State basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun initially let on.

The senior point guard is trying to play through a torn ACL, the coach revealed on Tuesday. He tore it over the summer and further aggravated that injury last Wednesday during a 81-74 loss to Robert Morris. He did not play during last Saturday’s 89-73 loss to DePaul.

“We had him see doctors here in Youngstown and doctors in Cleveland and they all said he would be able to play,” Calhoun said. “In the Robert Morris game, someone stepped on his leg and twisted it a bit. We’re still waiting for news on whether we should shut him down or not.”

Calhoun said YSU officials have told him there’s no chance that Santiago could redshirt, having used one when he transferred to YSU before the 2014-15 season. In Calhoun’s Fairmont State days, guard Jamel Morris played through a torn ACL. Morris —who now plays in the NBA G-League— has been put in touch with Santiago to talk him through playing on a bad knee, Calhoun said.

It’s another setback for the 2-7 Penguins and with the revelation about Santiago’s knee also came concession.

“We should have taken another point guard in the 2017 class, but we felt ‘Cisco was the guy,” Calhoun said. “(Jeremiah Ferguson) could be the backup and a guy that we could groom to take over once (Santiago) leaves. Then we took Jaylin Benton really really late and he was scrambling to find a home and we thought he was our third.”

Ferguson, who had a broken nose from the season opener, is expected to be the main point guard regardless of Santiago’s status. Although he is a sophomore, Calhoun often refers to him as a freshman because he played so few minutes last season. The Chicago native has appeared in six games and started four of those this season, averaging 7.7 points per game.

“As for me stepping into that role, I’m looking forward to it, but it hurts to see him hurt,” Ferguson said. “It’s tough because this is his senior year, but you have to move forward.”

Benton looks to have his 9.3 minutes per game and 3.2 points per game go up as the senior from Southeast Missouri State becomes the new backup point guard.

“I thought Benton was really good in our last game. He could score the basketball a little bit and I think he knows his time is running out,” Calhoun said. “With Jeremiah, he’s shown flashes. But as with any guy that’s playing a lot of minutes for the first time, he makes mistakes. He has to really lock in and be a better defender. Offensively, he has to better understand what we’re trying to do and get the ball to the right people.”

The Penguins have dropped five games in a row and have yet to defeat a Division I team with a December that doesn’t look to be very forgiving. The Penguins travel to former Horizon League and current Big East member Butler. Calhoun and Bulldogs coach LaVall Jordan played against each other when the Penguins coach played for Cleveland State and Jordan played for the Bulldogs. He previously was the head coach at Milwaukee, where he was 11-24 in his lone season in charge. Butler (6-2) has won three straight.

“Here’s a coach who’s paid his dues and now he’s the head coach at Butler and they’re playing really well,” Calhoun said.