Youngstown State closed the regular season with a frustrating two-game trip to Wisconsin, falling to Milwaukee on Wednesday night before suffering a 22-point loss at Green Bay on Saturday afternoon.
Those back-to-back defeats dropped the Penguins to the No. 9 seed in the Horizon League Tournament. YSU will now head to Moon Township, Pennsylvania, for a first-round matchup against No. 2 seed Robert Morris on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.
While the Penguins have made noticeable strides since their seven-game losing streak, consistency has remained elusive for the Penguins in a league that demands it.
At their best, Youngstown State has shown just how dangerous it can be. The Penguins dismantled Purdue Fort Wayne 90-61 on the road and picked up a statement 86-82 victory at Oakland, two performances that highlighted the team’s high ceiling.
But the season has also been defined by missed opportunities. YSU has dropped 10 games by six points or fewer, a reflection of how narrow the margin for error has been.
When the Penguins execute their game plan and play with discipline, they have the ability to beat anyone in the league. When they stray from that formula, the results can unravel quickly, as was evident during the final two games of the regular season.
Now, the Penguins return to Moon Township with an opportunity for redemption after falling to Robert Morris in last year’s Horizon League Championship.
Keys to the Game
Control the Offensive Glass
Limiting Robert Morris on the offensive boards will be critical. In the second meeting between these two teams, the Colonials dominated the glass, outrebounding YSU 36-25 and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.
Given the size advantage Robert Morris holds in the starting lineup, Youngstown State may not win the rebounding battle outright. However, the Penguins must prevent the Colonials from piling up second-chance opportunities that can quickly swing momentum.
Value Every Possession
Ball security will also be a major factor. YSU committed 22 turnovers in the first meeting with Robert Morris and 12 in the second.
Playing on the road in a hostile environment will require discipline and composure. The Penguins cannot afford to give the Colonials easy transition points off live-ball turnovers.
Protect the Paint
Containing DeSean Goode will be another major challenge. Goode has scored a combined 40 points against Youngstown State in the two regular-season matchups and has consistently made his presence felt inside.
If the Penguins want to pull off the upset, they will need to defend the interior with physicality and force Robert Morris to rely more heavily on perimeter scoring.