03/12 Morning Minute: Phil ‘Er Up
March 12, 2008OSU Hoops: The Team To Watch?
March 12, 2008
Not to belabor the point, but most of us here at WFNY do not get the opportunity to watch the CSU Vikings games. Certainly, they don’t get much coverage in the local press either. Now had the Vikings beaten Butler on Tuesday night, that would have changed. At least temporarily.
Cleveland State lost in the Horizon league championship game to a well coached, and nationally ranked Butler team. There is no shame in this loss. The Vikings were one game away from the big tournament. There will be a post-season for CSU. It will come from the NIT. Hopefully Cleveland State will use this loss as motivation and capture the NIT title. They may have some familiar names in that tournament. Teams like Florida, Ohio State, Syracuse and Maryland could be looking at NIT bids instead of tickets to the big dance. Hard to believe that both participants from last year’s championship game could be on the outside looking in.
Cleveland State coach Gary Waters was spot on when he said to his players-
“We’ve still got a lot more basketball to play, keep your heads up. One game doesn’t change your whole season.”
For a program that hasn’t sniffed the Horizon league championship game since 1987, they accomplished something, and they have a foundation to build on. Perhaps another 20 win season will garner more attention for the Vikings. Congrats on a great regular season CSU, now go take care of business in the NIT.
2 Comments
Keep in mind that a Vikings win would’ve reduced the already thin chances of OSU making the tourney even more, as Butler likely would’ve received an at large had they not won their conference tourney.
Same goes for other Ohio schools, like Dayton.