Rivalry Renewed: Cleveland State and Butler

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.

After beating Detroit, UIC, and Green Bay in the Horizon League Championship, it was a rematch of the 2007-2008 Horizon League semi-Finals Game as the Vikes and the Bulldogs squared off again at the Hinkle FieldHouse.

This time, the Vikings would not let their fans down.

Cedric Jackson scored 19 points and added eight assists and seven rebounds as the Vikings would beat Butler for their first trip to the big dance since 1986. Jackson, who would be named the tournament's MVP, would be one of three Vikes to score in double digits (Montgomery and Bullock as well). That 57-54 win would be the Vikings' 25th win of the year which would tie the second-highest season total in school history.

Now that we have changed decades and the Vikings' program has been on the rise, it is time for the Cleveland State community to come out in full force and help the team 'Protect This House.' With less than a week away to the best rivalry in the Horizon League, it is time to paint the Bulldogs Viking green with envy.