Poon...welcome back...
any thoughts about this...
last meeting I thought Clev. St. "D" had a chance to lead them victory..
they are as good or better than Butler but not if they are not at full strength
Cleveland State and Butler square off for Horizon League supremacy tomorrow. The game is a rematch of last year's finals and features Butler's youngsters versus the Vikings grizzled veterans. The Bulldogs have managed two wins in two tries against the Vikings this season but the games were both settled by just 2 points. The Bulldogs hit a game winning 3 pointer against the Vikings in their meeting in December, a game that saw CSU blow a sizable lead at home. Then, the Vikings had the Bulldogs on the ropes just 10 days ago but couldn't hold on to a slim lead late in the game as Butler prevailed.
The injury bug reared its ugly head for the Vikings, which leaves the team without starting forward D'Aundray Brown who had been the team's defensive stopper and a key person on the glass for the squad. It looks like Butler guard Shelvin Mack will return to action after what looked like could sideline for the championship game. Mack needed IV's after the game as he had suffered dehydration which led to cramps in the Bulldogs victory over Wright State over the weekend. Mack has returned to practice.
Will the third time be the charm for the Vikings? Here are the players that will likely make a key difference in tomorrow's big game:
Cleveland State
J'Nathan Bullock is the heart and soul of the Cleveland State Vikings. If you were a fan of a young Charles Barkley, you will like the way that the 4 year senior plays the game. An undersized senior in height, he makes up for it with brute strength and also has a nice touch on outside shots. Bullock (15.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg) has remained the only constant 4 years as he starred on the team was, to be it politely, not too good before the addition of head coach Gary Waters. If the Vikings manage the mild upset at Hinkle Fieldhouse, it wouldn't be too shocking to see the school honor him by retiring his number for the 4 years of great play that he has provided the University. Named on the first team All Horizon League team.
Senior point guard Cedric Jackson (10.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.4 apg) is in short a stat stuffer. Jackson's line can read something like 10 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals. Jackson does also have a penchant for turning the ball over which reads as a negative on the box score. The St John's transfer who has played the last two seasons for the Vikings and has been one of the brightest stars in the Horizon League. Jackson was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and second team All-Horizon League. The transfer from St John's is second in the entire nation in steals.
Sophomore Norris Cole has been dubbed "the future" by his elder teammates has come a long way. Playing for Dayton Dunbar with higher more sought after players from recruiters, the only team to offer Cole a scholarship at the Division I level. He opted to play basketball at Cleveland State instead of playing quarterback for Division III's Walsh Jesuit and Vikings fans and coach Waters couldn't be happier. Increasingly becoming more and more of a scoring threat, Cole (13.2, 2.6, 2.4) has hit big shot after big shot this year in crucial parts of the game. It was widely regarded as a snub that he was not named on the All-Horizon second team as many observers felt he had the credentials to be included.
Butler
Sophomore Matt Howard (14.6 PPG 6.8 Rebounds) was the lone starter back for Butler this season. Last year he was the top scoring freshman in the Horizon League and has picked up where he left off this season with another solid season. Howard is the leading scorer on the team and is as fundamentally sound as they come.
Freshman Gordon Hayward is tipped to be an NBA player one day. If your watching the game and you can't make out who that is it is the one who looks like he was just plucked from an Indiana farm and hasn't started to shave. Once you see Hayward play, you will 6' 8'' guard/forward is so highly regarded.Athletic, a great outside shot, and smart court presence will make you want to watch Hayward every time that he is on national television and may be like another Hoosier State native Larry Bird if he sticks around Butler long enough as he could lead the mid-major Bulldogs to the Final Four one day.
Shelvin Mack scored (11.5 pps 4.2 Reb 3.5 assists) may turn out to be most important component in the game. The starting guard will be needed to contain the Vikings quickness and if he isn't 100% after going down in the Wright State win it could be a long night for the Bulldogs. The freshman from Lexington will need to contain CSU's Jackson which may be the key battle of the evening.
So what will happen when the two teams collide tomorrow? I predict that the Vikings will prevail by a score of 60-54. CSU has had one foot in the grave in the HL Conference Tourney (against UIC) but lived to see another day. The team is playing its best basketball of the season despite the loss of Brown and are ready to avenge the two tough losses from earlier in the year.
Television: 9 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN
Announcers: Ron Franklin and Fran Fraschilla
Radio: AM 1220 with the voice of the Vikings Al Pawlowski on the call
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