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Calhoun’s crew on court
YSU men conduct first official practice
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
Since his March 28 hiring as Youngstown State’s 14th men’s basketball coach, Jerrod Calhoun has hit the ground running, having spent the last 187 days recruiting, speaking to a myriad of civic groups and organizations, and basically doing anything and everything he can to sell his “new-look” Penguins.
At Saturday’s first official preseason practice at Beeghly Center, Calhoun had no trouble finally getting back to the role that he relishes most and that is as coach of his young, talented but untested squad.
Calhoun and staff officially welcomed 20 roster members to Dom Rosselli Court, site of what he hopes will be numerous wins and a brand of basketball never before seen from its 13 previous head coaches.
“Last night was like the night before Christmas for me,” Calhoun said. “You wait your whole life for the chance to run a Division I program, and now you get to do what you love and that is build young men, build your team and be in the gym with them. Everyone around the country is excited about their team and all of us are certainly excited about being here at YSU.”
The Penguins will open their season Nov. 11 when they meet Kent State in a 9 p.m. tip-off in the Coaches vs. Cancer event at the University of Akron’s James A. Rhodes Arena. The host Zips will meet Cleveland State in the first game at 7 p.m.
Over the next 42 days, Calhoun added that plenty needs to be accomplished if his team is to be ready for the Golden Flashes.
“We went a little bit on Friday and over the past four or five months, I think these guys understand how hard we have to play,” Calhoun said. “Now, it’s about getting our concepts down and trying to establish what we want to do both offensively and defensively.
“With our size and length we’re going to be able to play a style that we like to play. It’s our style, it’s a different style and it’s just about getting our guys used to playing fast at both ends of the court. We like to play 10 or 11 guys each game.”
Of the 20 players that dot this year’s roster, four are seniors with Cameron Morse, Francisco Santiago, Jaylen Benton and Ryan Strollo the upperclass leaders on whom Calhoun will count.
Morse (22.9 points per game) and Santiago (11.6) return as the only two double-figure scorers from a season ago.
Morse welcomes Calhoun’s new, upbeat style.
“This type of system favors my offensive game and defensively, getting after it, creating turnovers and pushing the other team is only going to help us,’ Morse said. “Coach Calhoun has instilled a lot of confidence in me and I’m self-motivated, so I feel like this is going to be a breakout year, not just for me but my teammates as well.
“The game isn’t about slowing it down and running offensive sets, it’s about getting up and down the court, scoring and creating turnovers and I feel this system is going to work for us.”
Santiago, who is nursing a hyperextended right knee, said there’s no tomorrow for this year’s senior group as they build off having advanced to the semifinals of last year’s Horizon League tournament.
“We felt the way we were playing in the tournament last year that we were the best team and should have won it,” Santiago said. “We had the opportunity, but fell short so we’re looking now to this season after such a positive showing. I’ve been doing most of the non-contact stuff and hope to be back and ready to go in a week or so.”
Junior Tyree Robinson joins the Penguins after two highly successful seasons at Odessa (Texas) Junior College. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
“This is a whole new environment for everyone and I am excited to be a part of coach Calhoun’s program,” Robinson noted. “It’s coach’s first year, my first year so why not try to shock the world? I’m hungry, I’ll be hungry the next two years and I plan on giving it my best shot.”
Calhoun also weighed in on last week’s two-year FBI bribes and corruption probe that rocked the college basketball worl. Assistant coaches from seven Division I schools were implictaed and Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich were placed on administrative leave by the University of Louisville.
“I have been at the Division II level the past five years and the guys I recruited are just happy to have scholarships and be a part of the team,” Calhoun said. “They were happy to earn a scholarship and be able to represent their university. It’s all kind of surprising to me and obviously something we follow because this is our sport.
“We don’t have a big-time sneaker deal, don’t have a shoe contract and we’re paying for our apparel, so my thought is that it is a little surprising.”