Published: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
YSU's last 3 league games quite important
By PETE MOLLICA
YOUNGSTOWN — Coach Jerry Slocum knows what's at stake for his Youngstown State men's basketball players in their three remaining Horizon League contests.
The Penguins (10-15, 5-8) are in a four-way tie for fifth place in the conference standings, tied with Detroit, UIC and UW-Milwaukee.
All four are a game out of fourth place which is held by UW-Green Bay (6-7).
"Every game from here out will be a meaningful one," Slocum said.
The Penguins start right off on their mission tonight when they play host to Detroit in a 7:05 tip-off at Beeghly Center.
They also have a home league game with league-leading Wright State on Feb. 22 and close out the league on Feb. 24 at Cleveland State.
In-between they will play Eastern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon as part of the ESPN Bracket Buster event at 4:30 p.m. at Beeghly.
Blew big chance
The Penguins blew a big opportunity in their last contest, which was played last Thursday in Green Bay, Wis.
YSU dropped a 55-46 game to the Phoenix and shot just 27 percent for the game.
"The Green Bay game was kind of an ugly game," Slocum said Tuesday. "Neither team shot very well, but we were terrible."
"We counted 18 uncontested shots, several of them layups that we missed in the contest," Slocum said.
"The week off has been good for us," he added. "Any time you can get rest for your body at this time of the season is only good."
Big challenge tonight
Slocum knows the Penguins have their work cut out for them tonight.
"Detroit historically is one of the best programs in the Horizon League and they are a very good team this year, a very good defensive team," he said.
The Titans (9-16, 5-8) are led by junior Brandon Cotton, a 6-0 guard who averages 18.3 points per game.
"Cotton has scored on everybody this year and it will be our job to slow him down tonight," Slocum said.
The Penguins also need some point production from its two top scorers. Quin Humphrey and Keston Roberts were shut down in the loss at Green Bay.
Humphrey had a season low six points against the Phoenix on 2-13 shooting from the field, 1-8 from 3-point range. Roberts had 13 points, but was still under his 16 point average.
Tough conference
"There are no easy games in our conference and it shows in the standings with teams five through eight all with five victories," Slocum said.
The Penguins need to finish no lower than sixth place in order to host a first round postseason tournament game at Beeghly.
About Saturday's Bracket Buster game with Eastern Kentucky, Slocum has mixed feelings.
"It's good to have another home game, but I've always been against playing non-conference games in the middle of the league season," he said.
"Next year we have to play two Bracket Buster games on the road, the return game to Eastern Kentucky and then whoever we are paired against later in the year."
Saturday's game will be part of a doubleheader as the YSU women will play UW-Milwaukee in the first game at 2:05 p.m.
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