Guins Visit Valparaiso in First Round of Horizon League Championship

[IAA Fan]

The ninth-seeded Youngstown State men's basketball team (9-20, 2-16 Horizon League) takes on the fourth-seeded Valparaiso Crusaders (21-10, 12-6 Horizon League) in the first round of the 2011 Horizon League Championship on Tuesday, March 1. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. EST at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

Tipoff Notes
• This is the 32nd meeting between Youngstown State and Valparaiso in a series that dates back to 1989. The Crusaders own a 24-7 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last 12 contest. The Crusaders swept the season series from the Penguins, winning 79-55 in Valparaiso on Jan. 7 and 86-76 in overtime in Youngstown on Feb. 5. The last time the Guins defeated the Crusaders was a on Jan. 15, 2000, at the Beeghly Center. The last time the Guins won at Valparaiso was a 69-66 win on Jan. 24, 1998.

• The Guins and Crusaders have met twice in the postseason when both were members of the Mid-Continent Conference. Valparaiso defeated the Guins in the 1998 Mid-Con championship game, 67-48, and in the 1995 second round, 77-52.

• Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is one of 18 active coaches with more than 600 career victories. He currently ranks tied for sixth among active Division I coaches with 638 career wins. Valparaiso Head Coach Homer Drew also has 638 career victories.

• Sophomore Damian Eargle was named to the 2011 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. Eargle is averaging 11 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor. Eargle also led the Horizon League in blocks per game and his 86 blocked shots ranks second on the Youngstown State single-season list, yet was left on the league's all-defensive team by the league's coaches. He also ranks seventh in the Horizon League in rebounding and seventh with 4.0 defensive rebounds per game. The 6-foot-7 forward has scored in double figures 14 times and posted two double-doubles.

• With nine 3-pointers made against Green Bay on Feb. 24, the Guins have pushed the school 3-point record to 232 3-pointers made. The Guins have also set the 3-pointers attempted mark at 690. The old record was 578 set in 2005-06.

• Sophomore Blake Allen scored a career-high 26 points with a career-best six 3-pointers in a 94-87 overtime loss to Milwaukee on Feb. 26.

• Over the last 11 games, freshman Kendrick Perry has been one of the Guins' most productive players. Perry is averaging 13 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game during that span. He has scored in double figures eight times and is shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point range. He also owns an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.8.

• Senior Vytas Sulskis has played in every game since he arrived at Youngstown State. He currently ranks second with 119 games played. After the first tournament game, Sulskis will tie John Barber (2003-08) for the most games played in a career.

• With a block against Milwaukee on Feb. 26, sophomore Damian Eargle moved into second place on the Youngstown State single-season blocks list with 86. The only other player in school histor to record at least 85 blocks was Ricky Tunstall, who posted 138 in 1982-83. Eargle passed Tunstall for second on the list as well. In 1983-84, Tunstall blocked 83 shots.

• Senior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With two 3-pointers against Milwaukee on Feb. 26, Sulskis has 43 3-pointers made this season and ranks second all-time with 169 career 3-pointers. He just surpassed Quin Humphrey (165, 2003-07) and Mike Alcorn (166, 1990-94). Sulskis' season-high for 3-pointers made was 46 in 2007-08.

• Junior Ashen Ward scored 23 points with six 3-pointers made against Bowling Green on Feb. 19. He leads the team with 50 3-pointers made this season and ranks sixth in the Horizon League with 1.9 3-pointers made per game. Ward has also surpassed his career total of 47 3-pointers made entering the 2010-11 season. He has 97 career 3-pointers made.

• After dishing out a three assists against Milwaukee, freshman Kendrick Perry pushed his total to 117 assists on the season. He ranks fourth in the Horizon League with 4.0 assists per game and leads the league with a 2.2 assists-to-turnover ratio (117-to-54). This is the third straight season and the fifth time in the last six years a YSU player has tallied at least 100 assists.

• The Guins set a single-game record with 35 3-point attempts against Detroit on Feb. 16. The previous record was 33 set earlier this season against Samford on Nov. 12 and tied against Akron on Nov. 20, and Wilberforce on Jan. 11.

• Sophomore Damian Eargle tied a career high with 25 points in the 91-79 loss at Detroit on Feb. 16. The last time Eargle scored 25 points in a game was against Appalachian State in 2009 when he played at UNC-Greensboro. Eargle posted 11 rebounds and five blocks against the Titans.

• Senior Vytas Sulskis ranks 16th on the YSU all-time scoring list with 1,300 career points and is just the 16th player in school history to score at least 1,300 points in a career. He became the 32nd player in school history to reach 1,000 points in a career after scoring 22 against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 27.

• Senior Vytas Sulskis tied a career high with 26 points against Wright State on Feb. 7. He made nine straight field goals and six consecutive 3-pointers against the Raiders.

• With 26 points against Wright State on Feb. 7, senior Vytas Sulskis recorded his sixth 20-point performance of the season.

• The Guins' 11 3-pointers made against Bowling Green on Feb. 19 marked the ninth time this season they have made at least 10 3-pointers in a game. The Guins have also tried at least 20 3-pointers in 22 out of 29 games this season.

• Against Butler on Jan. 9, Youngstown State tied a single-game record with 14 3-pointers. It marked the fifth time that has been done in school history. The last time YSU made 14 3-pointers was against UIC in 2007.

• Junior Ashen Ward set a career-high with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor, including seven 3-pointers, in the Guins' 71-69 win over UIC on Dec. 30.

• With its 94-87 overtime loss to Milwaukee on Feb. 26, Youngstown State has now lost 11 straight games that have gone into extra periods. The last time the Guins on in overtime was against Chicago State in 2001.

A Win Will
• Improve YSU to 10-20 overall.

• Mark YSU's first road win of the season

• Mark the program's eighth win over Valparaiso and the first since 2000.

• Snap a 12-game losing streak to Valparaiso.

• Mark YSU first Horizon League Tournament win since 2007 and the first road tournament win since 2003.

• Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum's 639th career victory and his 59th at Youngstown State.

• Mark YSU's 993rd victory in the program's history.

The Valparaiso Series
This is the 32nd meeting between Youngstown State and Valparaiso in a series that dates back to 1989. The Crusaders own a 24-7 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last 12 contest. The Crusaders swept the season series from the Penguins, winning 79-55 in Valparaiso on Jan. 7 and 86-76 in overtime in Youngstown on Feb. 5. The last time the Guins defeated the Crusaders was a on Jan. 15, 2000, at the Beeghly Center. The last time the Guins won at Valparaiso was a 69-66 win on Jan. 24, 1998.

Guins in the HL Tournament
The Penguins own a Horizon League tournament record of 2-9 since joining the league in 2001-02. The Guins' two wins came against Green Bay, 66-61, on March 4, 2003, in Green Bay, Wis., and against Detroit, 82-80, on Feb. 27, 2007.

Last Time Out
Sophomore Blake Allen scored a career-high 26 points to lead four Guins scoring in double figures in a 94-87 overtime loss to Milwaukee on Feb. 26. Senior Vytas Sulskis scored 18 points while sophomore Damian Eargle posted 17 points and freshman Kendrick Perry added 13 points.

Sulskis Moves into Second
Senior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With two 3-pointers against Milwaukee on Feb. 26, Sulskis has 43 3-pointers made this season and ranks second on that list with 169. Sulskis' season-high for 3-pointers made was 46 in 2007-08.

Scoring Uprising
The Guins are averaging 69 points per game this season, which is the most since the 2000-01 campaign. The last time the Guins averaged more than 70 points per game was during the 2000-01 season. The Guins have scored at least 70 points 14 times this season and own a record of 6-8 in those games. It is also the most times scoring at least 70 since the 2000-01 season when they scored at least 70 in 15 games.

3-Point Record Expansion
With nine 3-pointers made against Green Bay on Feb. 24, the Guins pushed their 3-point record to 232.

Ward Taking Aim
Junior Ashen Ward leads the team with 50 3-pointers made this season and ranks sixth in the Horizon League with 1.8 3-pointers made per game. He is the first player to make at least 50 3-pointers in a season since Quin Humphrey in 2006-07. Entering this season, Ward had made 47 3-pointers. He has made 97 3-pointers in his career.

February Close Encounters
In the last 16 games the Guins have played in the month of February, 12 have been decided by eight points or less and seven have been decided by four points or less. Over the last four Februarys, the Guins have played in 12 games that have been decided by four points or less and own a record of 5-7 in those contests.

Close Shaves
Since the Guins' Jan. 9 game at Butler, five of the last 14 games have been decided by five-points or less and 10 have been decided by 10 points or less. The Guins own records of 1-4 and 2-8 in those games, respectively.

Slocum In Elite Company
Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is one of just 10 active Division I head coaches with at least 600 career victories. Slocum currently ranks tied for sixth on that list with 638 career coaching victories.

To the Point
Youngstown State's two point guards - Blake Allen and Kendrick Perry - are two of the best in the Horizon League at taking care of the ball. The two have combined for 189 assists and committed just 87 turnovers for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.2.

Sulskis Now 16th
Senior Vytas Sulskis ranks 16th on the YSU all-time scoring list with 1,300 career points and is just the 16th player in school history to score at least 1,300 points in a career. He became the 32nd player in school history to reach 1,000 points in a career after scoring 22 against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 27.

Eargle Climbing Blocks Chart
Sophomore Damian Eargle is quickly climbing the YSU single-season blocks chart. His 86 blocked shots rank second on the single-season list. Only Ricky Tunstall, in 1982-83 and 1983-84, has blocked more shots in a season. He is just the second player in school to post at least 80 blocks in a season.

Penguin Block Party
As a team, the Guins have 142 blocks, almost doubling the 71 by their opponents. It also ranks as the second most in school history - just 25 shy of the school record.

Guins Tied School Mark
With their 14 3-pointers against Butler on Jan. 9, the Guins tied a school record for most 3-pointers in a game. It marked the fifth time in school history that has been accomplished. The last time the Guins made that many 3-pointers was against UIC on Feb. 3, 2007.

Last to Score 30
With 30 points against Loyola on Jan. 9, 2010, DeAndre Mays set a career-high and became the first player to score at least 30 points since Keston Roberts scored 31 against Detroit on Feb. 27, 2007. Mays' performance was the 10th time under Jerry Slocum a player has scored at least 30 points in a game. YSU had just 10 30-point plus performances from Feb. 1988 to Dec. 2005.

Guins Sign Zuiker
Youngstown State signed 6-foot-9 forward Cale Zuiker (ZIKE-er) to a national letter of intent during the early signing period. Last season as a junior, Zuiker, who scored 312 points last year, was a unanimous First-Team All-Wisconsin Valley Conference selection after averaging 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and three blocks per game.

[Pita]

Our best to YSU.....hey, they could be the victor of tonights game.
It could happen.

Can't believe, the lack of spirit of the fans who post here.

GO PENGUINS.......we'll be watching.
ll

[IAA Fan]

10-2 run guins!!!

[IAA Fan]

6 TO's and a 12-0 run for Valpo!!! What the Frick!? All of our point are up close ...then all of the sudden we try to shoot three's and make nothing but fouls.

[Dmorton]

This is another game that could have been won!  Get some damn big guys so we don't keep getting hammered and the boards.  Eargle can't do it all himself.  What does Slocum against reccruiting 6-9, 6-10 inside players?

[ItalianPenguin]

This is another game that could have been won!  Get some damn big guys so we don't keep getting hammered and the boards.  Eargle can't do it all himself.  What does Slocum against reccruiting 6-9, 6-10 inside players?

What on God's green earth makes you think he doesn't want good 6-9, 6-10 kids? They aren't falling over each other to come to YSU. How many have we had over the last, say, 20 years?

[YSUGO]

This is another game that could have been won!  Get some damn big guys so we don't keep getting hammered and the boards.  Eargle can't do it all himself.  What does Slocum against reccruiting 6-9, 6-10 inside players?

What on God's green earth makes you think he doesn't want good 6-9, 6-10 kids? They aren't falling over each other to come to YSU. How many have we had over the last, say, 20 years?

I respect your opinion...but how does a school like Valpo get kids like that...

[ItalianPenguin]

Valpo's a basketball school---YSU is a football school. If you're a solid mid-major player and you have your choice of those two schools, where are you going? On the recruiting visit, they'll show you the Drew kid making the 27 footer to win an NCAA game against Ole Miss. We can show you Jeff Covington making layups in 1976. Your move.

[IAA Fan]

I agree IP. I thought Slocum did a good job of substitutions early, that kept the pace up. Also we made a couple of bad shots early, that went in. That confused them. Valpo was afraid to go inside against us in the first 10-minutes. They kept passing the ball back outside and did not make the shots. Then in the second half they just stopped and shot ...they went in.

[Wick250]

Scalzo had a column in the Vindicator today in which he was honest and pulled no punches.  He reported that Slocum would be back for his option year, but he also suggested that Slocum was not the long-term solution.  Scalzo pointed out his lack of enthusiasm with fans and media and the customary high turnover rate during his tenure.

Scalzo also bluntly made two points that our bland media usually ignore.  First, this is "a poor recruiting area."  I still bump into people that believe that we should be recruiting the junk that comes out of our local high schools.  Second, he cited our "weak tradition."  Those of us that followed the Dom teams from South High fieldhouse to the two near Ohio Valley conference tournament misses (by Rice but with Dom's players) might be offended by that statement.  But it is true.  That success was ancient history.  Face it.  We have stunk for about 25 years!

Finally, Scalzo noted the lack of concern for this constant losing by the general public.  This is the most dangerous problem.  Most casual fans are beyond caring.  Most of our football fans don't even follow the basketball team, forget about attending games.  And Scalzo implies: how do you increase the financial commitment when nobody seems to care?  As distasteful as his comments are to the true fans on this site, they are right on the mark.

[ysubigred]

Scalzo had a column in the Vindicator today in which he was honest and pulled no punches.  He reported that Slocum would be back for his option year, but he also suggested that Slocum was not the long-term solution.  Scalzo pointed out his lack of enthusiasm with fans and media and the customary high turnover rate during his tenure.

Scalzo also bluntly made two points that our bland media usually ignore.  First, this is "a poor recruiting area."  I still bump into people that believe that we should be recruiting the junk that comes out of our local high schools.  Second, he cited our "weak tradition."  Those of us that followed the Dom teams from South High fieldhouse to the two near Ohio Valley conference tournament misses (by Rice but with Dom's players) might be offended by that statement.  But it is true.  That success was ancient history.  Face it.  We have stunk for about 25 years!

Finally, Scalzo noted the lack of concern for this constant losing by the general public.  This is the most dangerous problem.  Most casual fans are beyond caring.  Most of our football fans don't even follow the basketball team, forget about attending games.  And Scalzo implies: how do you increase the financial commitment when nobody seems to care?  As distasteful as his comments are to the true fans on this site, they are right on the mark.

Ditto.  I'm one of those fans that love to see basketball end because spring football is about to start    Would love to see the Guins make it to the big dance before I die tho......... 

[Dmorton]

Whether you say Slocum can not recruit big guys or not, the fact remains it is why we lost half the games we lost.  How many offensive rebounds did Valpo and Milwaukee, Cleveland St. have against us.  I could easily count five to seven a game.  It does not take an Einstein to see where our problems were this year!  Hint:  It wasn't guard play!  I was post play, even though Eargle is a beast at 6-7.

[Dmorton]

YSUPride says it best on the other site in reply to (YSU basketball future bright).  We'll lose a couple of guys off the team, not play any defense and have no big men of consequence.  Another 20-loss season next year.  Our recruiting will look Div II against other teams in the Horizon.