Cleveland State Vikings: Uncharted 'Waters' in November and First To 10-0

The Cleveland State men's basketball team has started off hot, and the team is going into December with an undefeated record for the first time during the Gary Waters era as coach.

Taking a walk down memory lane, the Vikings have had some success in November under Coach Waters, but nothing like what is happening this season.

Going back to Waters' first season as coach in 2006-2007, the Vikings went 6-3 going into December, but ended up having a tough season finishing last in the Horizon League with a 3-13 record and 10-21 overall.

The following season, Water once again lead his team to a hot start with a 5-3 record though the Vikings wound up losing to Butler in the Horizon League Tournament despite finishing third in the league with a 12-6 record and 21-13 overall record.

In year three, the Vikings started off 5-2 going into December, and the 2008-2009 season was by far the best for Coach Waters and his team during his tenure since the Vikings won the Horizon League Tournament beating their rivals Butler in the championship game.

After winning the League Title, the Vikings moved onto the NCAA Tournament, and in the first round upset a No. 12 ranked Wake Forest team, rocking the landscape of the NCAA.

The ride was short since they lost to Arizona in the second round of the tournament, but it suddenly put the Cleveland State basketball program on the map.

Going into the 2009-2010 season, expectations were high due to a tournament appearance, but the schedule makers also decided to challenge the Vikings too.

Starting off 4-4 going into December one year ago, the Vikings had a rough go and saw the runner-up of the NCAA Tournament come from the Horizon League in the form of Butler.

Fast-forward to this year and their 2010-2011 season, and the Vikings are a perfect 7-0 going into December, and the sky is the limit since Butler's schedule is already hurting them being the national runner-up one year ago, and this could be the year that a very seasoned Vikings team can make another run into the NCAA Tournament at season's end.

In conclusion, the Vikings are really making strides this season, and they are the first collegiate team in the nation to go 10-0 this season after beating Milwaukee 82-59 on December 4.

Watch out Horizon League, the Vikings mean business this season led by senior guard Norris Cole, who is averaging over 21 points per game this season and that is 25th in the nation, too.

Article also in print for The Cleveland Stater on December 6, 2010.  Vol. 12, Issue 7.