It is safe to say that the Youngstown State Penguins were brutal last season. YSU posted just a 5-23 record for the season and managed a paltry two wins in conference en route to a last place finish in the Horizon League. During one horrific span last season the Penguins failed to win a game for 44 days, going oh-for the month of January in the process. The extended futility ultimately led to the end of head coach John Robic’s coaching job. The Penguins new head coach, Jerry Slocum, is not accustom to losing and hopes to turn around the Penguins sooner rather than later.

Slocum has never coach in Division I basketball, but has managed 580 career wins over his 30-year head coaching career. That’s an impressive 19.3 wins per season. That last time a Slocum coached team failed to post a winning record was 18 years ago.

Junior Quin Humphrey is among the better players in the league and was named to the Horizon League’s pre-season second team. The 6’4” guard led the Penguins in most offensive categories last season scoring better than 14 points a game while shooting nearly 35% from three-point range. Humphrey was also the team leader in steals and was second on the club in rebounding with better than five boards a contest. Senior guard Derrick Harris appeared in every game last season and averaged better than 30 minutes a game. Harris shot nearly 37% from three-point range and was second on the club in steals. The departure of incumbent point guard Jon Mends means that Harris will see plenty of minutes in the quarterback position.

Slocum is excited about a couple of newcomers in the backcourt who are expected to contribute significant minutes from the start. Junior college transfer Keston Roberts is expected to add an immediate scoring threat. At 6’4” and 200 pounds Roberts is probably the most athletic Penguins player and has the ability to score off the dribble and hit the three-point shot. Roberts last played during the 2003-04 season and averaged a double-double of 16 points and ten rebounds a contest for Connors State junior college. Freshmen Mikko Niemi from Finland will most likely take over the point guard position at some point in the season for the Penguins. Niemi is a 20-year-old freshman who played for the Finnish under-20 national team and also served a year in the Finnish military.

In the frontcourt the Penguins are a bit thin, but there is some hope. Sophomore John Barber is a do-everything kind of player. He appeared in all 28 games last season and averaged better than six points and three rebounds per contest. Barber has some size and quickness that he can use to his advantage in certain situations. He gave the Loyola Ramblers a scare in the Horizon League tournament, almost leading an upset with a season high 17 points and ten rebounds. Barber is also decent shot blocker despite being a tad undersized at 6’6”. Sophomores Colin LaForme and Alex Sanchez each saw about eight minutes a contest last season and will have to play more minutes this season. LaForme is rail-thin, but at 6’10 can be effective in the Horizon League. Sanchez is a bit bulkier at 6’8” and 235 pounds.

Freshman Jack Liles is expected to see some time in the frontcourt, if not compete for a starting gig. At 6’8” and 225 pounds Lile has been described as a solid inside post presence. In high school he averaged ten points and eight rebounds his senior season.

It is safe to say the Penguins are a long way off from competing for the Horizon League title, but Slocum has a reputation in the lower levels of turning things around in a hurry. Slocum hasn’t had back-to-back sub .600 teams in more than a quarter century. If history holds true the Penguins may not be down for long in the Horizon League.

--this article reprinted with permission of the author

--for more Horizon League information, visit www.ramblermania.com