Jacob Jaros didn't know what to expect coming into his sophomore year at Geneva College.
The 6-foot-5 guard has been playing more of a power forward slot for the Golden Tornadoes this season in an expected starting role.
"It was a surprise for me," said Jaros, who averages 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds. "I worked pretty hard in the offseason. We had a couple of guys graduate. It's definitely humbling.
"I'm going to work hard at it and see what happens."
The LaBrae High School graduate has started all six games for Geneva (0-6), which has given up 84 points per game.
"Defensively, we've be struggling quite a bit," Jaros said. "We haven't struggled offensively. We're trying to get everybody in the defensive mindset.
"Hopefully, we can pull off a win this week."
Geneva is hosting Presidents' Athletic Conference foe Waynesburg University Saturday, but is travelling to Youngstown State tonight - starting at 7:05 p.m.
Geneva doesn't have big expectations for tonight's game.
"Being a Division III school, it's going to be a pretty big challenge playing a Division I team," Jaros said. "I think we're mostly going out there and have some fun. Nobody is expecting us to do anything during this game, so it's nice not to have any pressure on us at all."
Freshman guard/forward Nick Shelton (6-2), who is a Hubbard High School graduate, has played four minutes this season for the Golden Tornadoes.
He's looking forward to playing at Beeghly Center tonight.
"I've always gone to the games as a little kid," Shelton said. "I've always thought it would be, not like a dream, but be nice to play there one day.
"I really didn't think so, but it's cool I'm going to play."
Hiram College, also a Division III school, may start a new tradition for YSU (4-4) on Saturday.
The Terriers (1-3) will play the Penguins at the Covelli Centre - the first time YSU has played there.
Like Geneva, there is a Trumbull County native on the roster. Freshman 6-4 guard Cole O'Dell, who graduated from Mathews High School, comes off the bench for 1.5 points per outing.
He's not the only area player on the Hiram roster.
Khiree Gregory, a 5-11 sophomore guard from Ursuline High School, and Steve Zivoder, a 6-6 senior forward from Garfield High School, play for the Terriers. Zivoder starts for Hiram and averages eight points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
