GAME NOTES: A rematch of the 2009 title game in the Horizon League Tournament is on tap today in the semifinal round of the 2011 version of the event, as the second-seeded Butler Bulldogs clash with third-seeded Cleveland State at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee.
Cleveland State, which won the title two years ago with a surprising 57-54 victory over the Bulldogs, is the third seed in this year's tournament even though the squad was tied with both Butler and Milwaukee atop the league standings at 13-5. Because of tiebreakers, CSU had to travel the long road to get to the semis, first defeating Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday by a score of 73-61 and then taking out Wright State yesterday in a 73-59 final.
As for the Bulldogs, the team that carried the torch for the Horizon League all the way to the NCAA title game against Dukes last year, they closed out this season strong with seven straight wins in the month of February. Playing in the semifinals of the tournament for the 13th time in 15 years, the Bulldogs own six championships and a record of 28-25 overall after topping Wright State last year, 70-45, for the trophy.
As far as the all-time series between these two teams is concerned, Butler is now ahead by a 29-7 margin after sweeping the season series in 2010-11.
The winner of this meeting heads to the championship round on Tuesday night and will face the survivor of the Valparaiso/Milwaukee contest for the right to represent the Horizon League in the NCAA Tournament.
Jeremy Montgomery scored a game-high 16 points, leading four players in double figures, as the Cleveland State Vikings recorded the 14-point win over the Wright State Raiders in the second round of the tourney on Friday afternoon. Norris Cole added 15 points and six rebounds for the third-seeded Vikings, followed by Trevon Harmon and Josh McCoy with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Cleveland State, which led by as many as 23 points late in the contest, held the Raiders to just 36.2 percent from the field and 6-of-20 behind the three- point line in the matchup. Even though he had a game below his own standards yesterday, Cole is still the player to watch for the Vikings as he leads them in scoring (21.5 ppg), assists (178) and steals (72) and is also first on the glass (6.0 rpg) as well. Obviously one player can't do it all for a team at this stage of the season, which is why Harmon (13.4 ppg) and Montgomery (12.2 ppg) are also crucial to the squad's success now.
The Bulldogs may not have the same talent on the roster as they did last season when they made their improbable run all the way to the final game of the year against Duke, but still the squad has plenty of quality performers who can get the job done. Butler, which has won at least 20 games now for the sixth straight season and 13th time in the last 15 campaigns overall, follows the lead of Matt Howard who paces the group with his 16.8 ppg and is also first on the unit with close to eight rebounds per game. Sounds like a typical big man of course, but what makes Howard so unique is that he is more than comfortable stretching the limits on offense and letting loose with the occasional three-pointer, which he is hitting at a 44.6 percent clip right now. Shelvin Mack checks in with 15.3 ppg and is responsible for 111 assists in an effort to get his teammates involved in the action.
Perhaps Cole was laying low yesterday in order to unleash his biggest and best effort against the Bulldogs tonight. Whatever the reason for his sub-par performance, expect to see him rise to the challenge this time around and give the Vikings a fighting chance.
GAME NOTES: A rematch of the 2009 title game in the Horizon League Tournament is on tap today in the semifinal round of the 2011 version of the event, as the second-seeded Butler Bulldogs clash with third-seeded Cleveland State at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee.
Horizon League Tournament Semifinals Preview: Cleveland St. V. Butler
Sports Network | March 5, 2011
GAME NOTES: A rematch of the 2009 title game in the Horizon League Tournament is on tap today in the semifinal round of the 2011 version of the event, as the second-seeded Butler Bulldogs clash with third-seeded Cleveland State at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee.
Cleveland State, which won the title two years ago with a surprising 57-54 victory over the Bulldogs, is the third seed in this year's tournament even though the squad was tied with both Butler and Milwaukee atop the league standings at 13-5. Because of tiebreakers, CSU had to travel the long road to get to the semis, first defeating Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday by a score of 73-61 and then taking out Wright State yesterday in a 73-59 final.
As for the Bulldogs, the team that carried the torch for the Horizon League all the way to the NCAA title game against Dukes last year, they closed out this season strong with seven straight wins in the month of February. Playing in the semifinals of the tournament for the 13th time in 15 years, the Bulldogs own six championships and a record of 28-25 overall after topping Wright State last year, 70-45, for the trophy.
As far as the all-time series between these two teams is concerned, Butler is now ahead by a 29-7 margin after sweeping the season series in 2010-11.
The winner of this meeting heads to the championship round on Tuesday night and will face the survivor of the Valparaiso/Milwaukee contest for the right to represent the Horizon League in the NCAA Tournament.
Jeremy Montgomery scored a game-high 16 points, leading four players in double figures, as the Cleveland State Vikings recorded the 14-point win over the Wright State Raiders in the second round of the tourney on Friday afternoon. Norris Cole added 15 points and six rebounds for the third-seeded Vikings, followed by Trevon Harmon and Josh McCoy with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Cleveland State, which led by as many as 23 points late in the contest, held the Raiders to just 36.2 percent from the field and 6-of-20 behind the three- point line in the matchup. Even though he had a game below his own standards yesterday, Cole is still the player to watch for the Vikings as he leads them in scoring (21.5 ppg), assists (178) and steals (72) and is also first on the glass (6.0 rpg) as well. Obviously one player can't do it all for a team at this stage of the season, which is why Harmon (13.4 ppg) and Montgomery (12.2 ppg) are also crucial to the squad's success now.
The Bulldogs may not have the same talent on the roster as they did last season when they made their improbable run all the way to the final game of the year against Duke, but still the squad has plenty of quality performers who can get the job done. Butler, which has won at least 20 games now for the sixth straight season and 13th time in the last 15 campaigns overall, follows the lead of Matt Howard who paces the group with his 16.8 ppg and is also first on the unit with close to eight rebounds per game. Sounds like a typical big man of course, but what makes Howard so unique is that he is more than comfortable stretching the limits on offense and letting loose with the occasional three-pointer, which he is hitting at a 44.6 percent clip right now. Shelvin Mack checks in with 15.3 ppg and is responsible for 111 assists in an effort to get his teammates involved in the action.
Perhaps Cole was laying low yesterday in order to unleash his biggest and best effort against the Bulldogs tonight. Whatever the reason for his sub-par performance, expect to see him rise to the challenge this time around and give the Vikings a fighting chance.
GAME NOTES: A rematch of the 2009 title game in the Horizon League Tournament is on tap today in the semifinal round of the 2011 version of the event, as the second-seeded Butler Bulldogs clash with third-seeded Cleveland State at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee.
FACTS & STATS: Site: U.S. Cellular Arena (12,700) -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Television: ESPN3.com. Home Record: CSU 16-2, Butler 12-2. Away Record: CSU 9-5, Butler 6-6. Neutral Record: CSU 1-0, Butler 3-1. Conference Record: CSU 13-5, Butler 13-5. Series Record: Butler leads, 29-7.
Saturday, March 5th, 6:00 p.m. (et).
Mar 05 2:00p by Brad Wells