The Cauldron

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN)-The 2007-2008 Cleveland State men's basketball team had their hopes of reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 22 years ripped away from them at historic Hinkle Field House after losing to the Butler Bulldogs 70-55 in the Horizon League Tournament Championship game. While they may have lost the game, they held their heads high as they came ever so close to reaching "The Big Dance".

Yes, the Viking faithful who made the 344- mile trip were sad while a number of CSU players openly wept, but it was not merely because the team fell short to the 10th ranked team in the nation. It was more because their miracle season was brought to a sudden halt, in a season where nobody ever gave them a chance. Remember, before the season began they were chosen to finish ninth in the ten team conference. Wow!

At the beginning of the season, Head Coach Gary Waters instilled a motto into the team that he hoped could help establish a great foundation. It was crucial for a program that had not had a winning season since 2001. It was simple: "Flip the Script".

The new motto, an attempt to put an end to the 12 losing seasons and four coaching changes since Cleveland State's miracle Sweet 16 run in 1986. It reflected upon Coach Waters' first season, in which the Vikings went 10-21, and to invert those numbers this season to attain a 20-win season. Finally, the motto represented changing the losing culture mindset that has surrounded Cleveland State basketball for 19 years.

Well, it worked. Cleveland State finished the season with a record of 21-12, ended up with the second best regular season conference record, reached the Horizon League Championship final, and had some of the best attendance numbers in over eight years.

Team leadership: In covering over 20 out of the team's 33 games, it was evident throughout the entire season who the team leaders were. It all began with First Team All-Horizon League forward J'Nathan Bullock and Second Team All-Horizon League choice and All-Newcomer Team point guard Cedric Jackson.

All season, Bullock used his ox-like strength to overpower most forwards grabbing rebounds, playing in the post, and even squaring up and knocking down jump shots and occasional three-pointers to lead the team the entire season with 15.0 ppg. While Bullock gave the team its offense, Jackson provided a cat-like spark that Cleveland State basketball has not seen since Ken "Mouse" McFadden. "C-Jack", as his teammates call him, averaged 14.0 ppg and had 163 assists. The St. John's transfer led the Horizon League Conference with 86 steals as well.

Two valuable freshmen: In two years freshmen D'Aundray Brown and Norris Cole will be the leaders of this Viking program. This season they settled for helping propel CSU basketball to another level by having an instant impact at the guard and forward positions. While Cole saw his minutes at guard increase as the season progressed coming off the bench, Brown started at forward in the Vikings last 12 games and did not disappoint. Cole's ability to consistently score from anywhere inside the three-point arc coupled with Brown's tenacious defense and unselfish offensive mindset makes these two freshmen integral pieces for Coach Waters' plan in building a powerhouse basketball program.

It begins with coaching: All season long six individuals stuck with this team through many great moments while attempting to forget the not-so-great ones. Of course Waters deserves the credit for bringing in a number of new players and while winning basketball games this season, which may never be forgotten. Everywhere he has been as a head coach, Kent State, then Rutgers, and starting now at Cleveland State, successful teams have seemed to automatically follow with Coach Waters at the helm. There are a number of other coaches who work tirelessly in practice to make the players CSU puts on the floor prepared and ready to play. These coaches who seldom get the credit they deserve are Associate Head Coach Jayson Gee, assistants Larry DeSimpelare, Jermain Kimbrough, and Bill Buck, as well as graduate manager Kevin Sapara. All of them work hard devoting endless hours and time into making CSU a winner once again on the hardwood.

Frustrating times: As bad as the final loss to Butler may have been, there were some other moments this season that left people wondering, "What the heck is going on here?" The worst of these may have been a 78-68 home loss to Cal State Northridge; strange because the Vikings played well at home all season. Another damper to this unforgettable season was losing four conference games in a row on the road after starting a perfect 7-0 in the Horizon League. Perhaps the most frustrating of these was an 80- 63 loss to Ohio State at Quicken Loans Arena. The Vikings played their worst game of the season, while Jon Diebler of the Buckeyes had his best game of the season going 5-of-6 from threepoint range. Nevertheless, the Vikings were able to rebound from these funks very nicely, and made the season one to be remembered.

Don't forget the managers: Also with the team on a daily basis in Cleveland and on the road were managers David Amata and Eric "E" Whetstone who did everything from running the time clock in practice to making sure the clean team jerseys made it to wherever the team was playing at the time.

Farewell to seniors: Neither forward Kevin Francis nor Breyohn Watson played four years at Cleveland State, nevertheless their leadership on and off the floor during their senior campaign will never be forgotten. Both Francis and Watson came in last season having transferred from other schools. Their impact was felt immediately from the moment they downed Viking jerseys.

In two seasons with Cleveland State, Francis came off the bench more than any other player besides sophomore Joe Davis, and gave the Vikings a lift any time he was called upon. Watson started at shooting guard this season, using his long, athletic body to shut down some of the most prolific scorers in the country including Ohio State's Jamar Butler, Central Michigan's Giordan Watson, and Butler's A.J. Graves. While being a great defensive presence, Watson still hit memorable shots when his team needed him to. His three-pointer against Florida State lifted the Vikings over the Seminoles. His three-pointer against Valparaiso in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament helped CSU get by the Crusaders for the third time in just one season.

Quality wins: This season the team enjoyed wins over some top teams nationally as well as a number of quality conference victories. After beating Big East Conference foe South Florida 73-70 in the first game of the season, the Vikings defeated yet another ACC opponent, just as it had done the year before, shocking Florida State 69-66 in overtime. In conference play the Vikings had perhaps their biggest victory of the season defeating then No. 12 nationally ranked Butler 56-52 in Cleveland. Another memorable victory came when Kevin Francis hit a three-point shot with nine seconds left to defeat Wright State 65-63 in Fairborn, Ohio. In the ESPNU BracketBusters contest, Cleveland State destroyed Marist 59-44. They also defeated Valpo three times, once at home, once at Valparaiso, and once at Hinkle Field House.

Next season: Can anyone fault the Vikings for being excited for next season already? Despite losing Watson and Francis, the team returns everyone else and more. The team already landed California blue-chip recruit Trevor Harmon and returns leaders Bullock and Jackson, freshmen sensations Brown and Cole, and impact players Joe Davis, Chris Moore and George Tandy.

The team will host the # 22 nationally ranked Kansas State at the Wolstein Center as well as # 25 Kent State. Other non-conference games are still being scheduled, but rumors are flying around of possibly playing West Virginia, Cincinnati, and even Michigan State.

The reality: College basketball has finally returned to downtown Cleveland. With crowds of 17,540 and 5,640 coming out this season to see the Vikings play, it is evident that Cleveland will support a winner. Well, Waters delivered over 20 wins this season and was one win away from his team playing in the final field of 65.

The men's basketball program has been resurrected at CSU, now it's time for this once sleeping giant to come alive into something this institution has never had, a consistent winner.

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