| Penguins learning how to succeed |
| Wednesday, September 22 2010 |
| Courtesy of: JON MOFFETT Vindicator sports staff |
| There may not be a lot of actual basketball taking place on Youngstown State’s campus just yet. But there is plenty of learning going on. And that’s fine with men’s coach Jerry Slocum. “This time of the year is a great time for me because you’re involved with teaching, which is what I love to do,” Slocum said. “Basically, this is a teacher’s paradise because what you’re doing is talking and teaching about fundamentals, which has been fun for me for 35 years.” Per NCAA regulations, the team is restricted to two hours of court time per week, Slocum said. And even then, he is limited to instructing four players at a time. Slocum will be able to meet with the entire team from Sept. 15 until Oct. 14, but still for only two hours each week, he said. Full squad practices begin Oct. 15. “What we’re doing now is basically just trying to work through our fundamentals,” Slocum said. “We’re working on some shooting stuff, defensive footwork and maybe some of the offense that you’re going to use, and the systems you’re going to end up using.” Slocum said these sessions are “off the charts important” for his players, especially the newcomers. “This time that you get to spend with some guys you’ve recruited, you try to build a relationship with them in terms of life and basketball,” he said. “And this is the best time to get them.” He added that until classes began Aug. 23, it was up to the players to see visit him in his office. He was not able to approach them during the summer. Slocum said there isn’t a basketball coach in America who “doesn’t envy football’s ability to have two-a-days” for a few weeks during the summer without class. Though Slocum is not new to YSU — he is entering his sixth season at the school — the team will have many new faces. The Penguins lost six players from last year’s 8-22 team. But Slocum said he is counting on several players from last year’s squad, as well as some new faces, to contribute this year. And the outlook is good, Slocum said. “We have basically a whole new group,” he said. “You look at your weaknesses and what you need to do better. You try to address that through recruiting, and I think this group is [much] better at shooting the basketball.” Shooting the ball, Slocum said, was the Achilles heel for the Penguins last year. Ten of last year’s losses were by eight points or fewer. And Slocum said a few more percentage points from the free throw line or the field could have changed the outcome for a handful of those games. “We tried to address those kinds of needs, and we really feel those needs have been addressed,” he said. “We’ve probably got seven or eight guys in our program who can shoot the 3, and are really good shooters. That was a major concern for us, and I think our staff did a great job addressing that in the offseason.” Perhaps the most difficult thing to deal with in college athletics is the turnover, Slocum said. The team lost standout guard, and team leader, DeAndre Mays to graduation. But several players, including senior Vytas Sulskis and junior Ashen Ward, have assumed leadership roles already. Slocum said it’s encouraging to see that so early. “Those guys have been tremendous,” he said. “They’ve been a godsend in terms of how much they have led us, set the tone for us, worked hard every day and been vocal in terms of leadership. “I’m not sure, to be honest with you, since I’ve been here that I’ve had two better leaders than these two guys. Obviously it’s early, but it’s been tremendous.” Sulskis, a native of Lithuania, and Ward, from Cleveland, were both key contributors last year. Sulskis was second in total points with 340, Behind Mays’ 427. Ward’s 78 percent from the free throw line led the team. Slocum said he and the team are just ready for the ball to drop for real. “Obviously it’s early in the year, but they’ve been extremely positive and the hardest working group since I’ve been here,” he said. “For me, it’s time to go.” The Penguins open the season at home against Samford on Nov. 12 at 7:05 p.m. |