Busting Brackets
Fansided

Horizon League Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

By Bryan Mauro

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 20: A general view of basketballs before the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Michigan State Spartans during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 20: A general view of basketballs before the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Michigan State Spartans during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – DECEMBER 19: Sidney Umude #5 of the Youngstown State Penguins reacts after being whistled for a foul during the second half of a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on December 19, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won 105-46. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – DECEMBER 19: Sidney Umude #5 of the Youngstown State Penguins reacts after being whistled for a foul during the second half of a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on December 19, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won 105-46. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

10. Youngstown State Penguins

Youngstown, Ohio is home to a basketball team that has never experienced much success. That basketball team also happens to have one of the better mascots in all of College sports. The Penguins as they are aptly named live up to their moniker by being cold from the floor many nights. Head Coach Jarrod Calhoun enters his second season in Youngstown. This season is going to be another season in which the Penguins do not win many games.

The Penguins roster is filled with question marks. This year more so than ever, as both of their leading scorers are no longer at the university. Sophomore Garrett Covington is the player who should take the next step. The Penguins are going to rely on Covington to do everything. The wing can carry the scoring load for a team desperately in need of a star. The difference here with every other team is that there is no supporting cast for Covington to fall back on.

The program in Youngstown seems to be in a forever rebuilding mode. The school has never made the NCAA tournament and is not going to for what appears to be a long time. Youngstown State were able to win 6 games in the conference last year, but without their two double-digit scorers, that number seems like a reach this year.  The Penguins are searching for any player to step up and help Covington shoulder the scoring load. Youngstown State does have a former NBA players son in John Sally Jr, on their team. That story and his pedigree with an NBA dad is going to be an interesting story to follow for the year.  Coach Calhoun hopes this team exceeds expectations and winning 8 overall games next year would be an accomplishment.