Losing ways may change
SLIPPERY ROCK — The Rock is restless.
The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team is sick of losing. The players have grown weary of seeing losses piling up with the relentless speed of a fast break.
SRU hasn't made the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West playoffs since the 1999-2000 season. It has just one winning season in the last 16 years and is 7-47 in the last two campaigns — worst in the conference.
That dubious history made it easy for the conference's coaches to pick The Rock to finish last the PSAC West again.
Not so fast, says second-year SRU coach Jamal Palmer. The culture is changing. The losing won't be tolerated.
"It's kind of contagious, the reputation this program has here," Palmer said. "We have to change it. Somehow, someway, we have to change it. We're right at that point where we can get over that hump. We just need to go out and get it done."
SRU might be closer to winning than many think.
The Rock went 5-22 last season, but nine of those defeats came by four points or fewer or in overtime. Just a few more conference wins and SRU would have made the playoffs.
That's the goal this season for Palmer.
The Rock has a quartet of talented juniors returning, including guards Jamar Scales, who averaged 12.1 points per game last season, Erroll Robinson and Matt Schaefer, and forward Joseph Vines.
Throw in some intriguing newcomers, such as 6-foot-9 Ohio University transfer Ken Ottrix, 6-5 freshman forward Itay Levy from Israel, junior college transfer Darnell Johnson and former Rock football player and Butler graduate Jade Burka, and The Rock is taking on the look of a dark horse.
"I think we have a good group of guys coming back," Palmer said. "We can mix it up, throw guys in, take guys out and not miss a beat. We're predicted to finish seventh, but I think we can finish anywhere from fourth to higher. As long as the guys work hard, we can work our way up."
Burka, who was a standout on both the basketball court and football field at Butler, injured his knee last spring while playing for the SRU football team and decided to give basketball another try.
Palmer jumped at the chance to snag Burka, and the 6-foot-6 freshman forward hasn't disappointed.
In fact, Burka is penciled in as a starter at forward.
"Within two weeks he was in basketball shape," Palmer said. "He's working hard, doesn't talk a whole lot, but just gets it done on the glass."
Ottrix is another intriguing prospect.
He played very few minutes at Ohio University and decided to transfer to Slippery Rock. He gives Palmer a flexible option at the post.
"He's a big guy who can post up when he wants to, but I think his main strength is being able to step out and hit a jump shot anywhere on the floor," Palmer said. "He's 6-9 and longer than I am. He's real athletic."
Ultimately, Palmer points to one thing that will determine whether or not The Rock is a winner this season: defense.
"The way you turn things around is by playing defense," Palmer said. "Once you get that first win, and keep playing defense, we can get things rolling. It's something you have to have heart to stop your man. I put it on me and the coaching staff to get these guys better."
