Duo set to rid Penguins of losing stigma

Sophomores Bohannon, Covington determined to reverse trend

YOUNGSTOWN -- Naz Bohannon felt uncomfortable at the mere mention, seemingly squirming in his seat placed in the film room inside the Beeghly Center.

The passion that lies deep inside the Lorain native is infectious, spreading throughout those who call the Dom Rosselli Court home.

This 6-foot-6 sophomore forward couldn't let every ounce of his 230-pound frame bear it any longer.

Losing, it's something the Youngstown State men's basketball has had its fair share of over the years. An 8-24 season was more than Bohannon could bear.

"Last year I almost drove myself crazy," said Bohannon, a second-team, all-Horizon League pre-season selection. "I've never done it in my life and I don't plan on doing it again. I'm truly getting hot thinking about it now. I love to win, but not more than I hate losing."

Garrett Covington, a 6-5 sophomore forward from Carmel, Ind., found it difficult being one of the youngest players on the team. Leadership was not to be found.

He and Bohannon had to do something, even though they were freshmen.

This season, there's a new batch of players, while some have left the program. Covington said this is one of the best teams he's played on, as far as competitiveness goes.

"I feel we got so close and then it's whatever," said Covington, whose team starts the season Tuesday at Pittsburgh. "I feel the willingness to win wasn't all the way there as opposed to this year. Everybody has bought in. Our culture has shifted so much in the best direction possible.

"I think everyone has the right attitude and is ready to win."

YSU second-year coach Jerrod Calhoun has full faith in Bohannon and Covington, expecting them to be all-league players.

"The biggest thing in college athletics is that experience, year-to-year development," Calhoun said.

"Those two guys have been awesome, each in their own way. They've all gotten better individually. Really they've gotten better at understanding the system and what the preseason looks like compared to the season."

Bohannon is the boisterous one, creating huddles and voicing his displeasure when something goes awry. Covington would rather show how to get things done. There's a balance, but not a good-cop-bad-cop scenario.

"We have two different ways of leading," Covington said. "I think that's kind of special because you need that."

Losing for this team is hopefully dissipating as the culture starts to take a foothold in this YSU program, even though the Penguins were picked ninth out of 10 teams in the Horizon League pre-season poll.

"I like being picked at the bottom," Calhoun said. "There's nothing wrong with that. It's just what the coaches and the media pick you. We don't look too much into that. You can use it as motivation, certainly as a group. That's where they think we are.

"I didn't come to Youngstown to finish ninth. That's not what we plan on doing."

Bohannon never wanted to make the trip from Lorain to Youngstown to perpetuate the stigma of losing. He's been a winner with the Lorain Titans and before his high school days. He's not about to make a 180 on his perspective.

"I legit have a hatred for losing," Bohannon said. "By any means necessary, I want to win. With me, I don't care if I go and not score, as long as I'm doing something to help us win.

"When we win, everybody's happy. Fans are happy. School is happy. Coach is happy. Players are happy. Nobody wants to lose."