Rivalry Renewed: Cleveland State and Butler
Vikes and Bulldogs Meet This Week
Rob Ivory
Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: Sports
The Cleveland State basketball squad has not had an easy time against the current leaders of the Horizon League. In fact, during the last decade, Butler has beaten CSU 17 out of 21 times, yet the Vikings remain more confident than ever.
That confidence comes from the motivation that Coach Waters has instilled in not only his players and his assistant coaches, but in the entire Vikings nation.
"We pride ourselves in taking care of our home court," junior guard Norris Cole said.
That theme: "Protect This House," has been the single reason why the Vikings have become so deadly in the Horizon League this year as the Vikes have won their first five contests at home in the Horizon League with their latest win coming against in-state rival Youngstown State, 77-69 last week.
Last year's matchups against the Bulldogs had to be the best series that the Vikings have been involved with in awhile. Despite dropping both regular season decisions, the Vikings were able to get their ticket punched to the big dance with a win over Butler on the Bulldogs' home court. That win over Butler gave the Vikings their second trip to the NCAA Tournament as well as the Vikings' first ever Horizon League Championship.
On December 4, 2008, the Vikings took the Bulldogs into the half winning 27-20 at the Wolstein Center. But it would be a Zach Hahn of Butler who would hit a three-pointer as time expired to give Butler the win. The Vikings could not hit anything from the floor, as they went 15-58 (.259), yet the highest scorers of the night belonged to the Vikings as Cedric Jackson and George Tandy had 11 and 10 points, respectively, as they led all scorers in the game.
Less than three months later, the Vikings again looked like they were going to upset the nationally ranked team as the Vikings scored a dozen straight points to take a two point lead with four minutes left to go. Cleveland State would be plagued, yet again, by a last minute shot the Vikings fell to Butler. Ronald Nored got an offensive rebound and put the Bulldogs up by two with just 53 seconds to go. Vikings' Norris Cole had a chance with a three pointer, but missed and the Vikes dropped another close one, 58-56.
That confidence comes from the motivation that Coach Waters has instilled in not only his players and his assistant coaches, but in the entire Vikings nation.
"We pride ourselves in taking care of our home court," junior guard Norris Cole said.
That theme: "Protect This House," has been the single reason why the Vikings have become so deadly in the Horizon League this year as the Vikes have won their first five contests at home in the Horizon League with their latest win coming against in-state rival Youngstown State, 77-69 last week.
Last year's matchups against the Bulldogs had to be the best series that the Vikings have been involved with in awhile. Despite dropping both regular season decisions, the Vikings were able to get their ticket punched to the big dance with a win over Butler on the Bulldogs' home court. That win over Butler gave the Vikings their second trip to the NCAA Tournament as well as the Vikings' first ever Horizon League Championship.
On December 4, 2008, the Vikings took the Bulldogs into the half winning 27-20 at the Wolstein Center. But it would be a Zach Hahn of Butler who would hit a three-pointer as time expired to give Butler the win. The Vikings could not hit anything from the floor, as they went 15-58 (.259), yet the highest scorers of the night belonged to the Vikings as Cedric Jackson and George Tandy had 11 and 10 points, respectively, as they led all scorers in the game.
Less than three months later, the Vikings again looked like they were going to upset the nationally ranked team as the Vikings scored a dozen straight points to take a two point lead with four minutes left to go. Cleveland State would be plagued, yet again, by a last minute shot the Vikings fell to Butler. Ronald Nored got an offensive rebound and put the Bulldogs up by two with just 53 seconds to go. Vikings' Norris Cole had a chance with a three pointer, but missed and the Vikes dropped another close one, 58-56.
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