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YOUNGSTOWN -- You can bet Jerrod Calhoun was ecstatic to hear the news.
The Youngstown State men's basketball coach picked up his sophomore point guard after hearing he's back at practice starting today.
Jeremiah Ferguson, who broke his nose in the first half of the Nov. 11 opener against Kent State, is not playing in tonight's game against Westminster, starting at 7 p.m., at the Beeghly Center, but he’s likely to return Friday.
"I gave him a big hug and said, 'I can't wait to get you back on the court because we need bodies,' " said Calhoun, whose team is 1-2.
Senior point guard Francisco Santiago has been battling a hyperextended knee all season and is wearing a protective brace. Santiago practice time is limited.
Ferguson is playing with a protective mask, which makes it hard for him to sleep. He's sitting up in a rocking chair at night.
"Anything on your face, it's a pain in the butt," Calhoun said. "Who wants to have a broken nose? I feel bad for him."
BACK IN ACTION: Junior Tyree Robinson was out of Saturday's loss at Canisius.
He didn't play because of academic reasons.
Robinson is back for tonight's game.
"We addressed those," Calhoun said. "We'll move on from those. I think Tyree learned a lesson. I think there's nothing worse than letting your teammates down, forget your coaches. But when you care about your teammate and you don't fulfill your student-athlete obligation, then as the head coach I can't allow you to play."
ON THE BENCH: YSU assistant coach Paul Molinari returns after serving a four-game suspension. Tonight is his last game of the suspension.
He returns to the bench Friday as the Penguins start three games in three days in the Sanford Pentagon Tournament in South Dakota against Northern Colorado, Southern Mississippi and host South Dakota.
Molinari committed a Level III violation.
According to the NCAA, a Level III violation is "Violations that are isolated or limited in nature; provide no more than a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage; and do not include more than a minimal impermissible benefit. Multiple Level IV violations may collectively be considered a breach of conduct."
The incident was self-reported by YSU and the penalty was self-imposed. The NCAA has considered the case closed.
"I think it was an honest mistake," Calhoun said.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: YSU Director of Men's Basketball Player Personnel Kevin Bruinsma said YSU is hosting Western Michigan and playing in the Fordham multi-team exempt event in 2018-19 with Fordham (Bronx, N.Y.), Florida International and Columbia. Heidelberg is the on-campus game to be held at YSU.
This is an addition to the West Virginia three-game series to start in 2018 in Morgantown, be at the Covelli Centre in 2019 and end in 2020 in Morgantown.