Norris Cole, Cleveland State Fall to Butler in Horizon League Tourney Semifinals

Saturday’s matchup between the Cleveland State Vikings and the Butler Bulldogs in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament was yet another intense and memorable matchup in the rivalry between the two teams.

Despite having already played two games earlier in the week in the Horizon League Tournament, the Cleveland State Vikings had ample reason to feel good about their chances against Butler in the tournament semifinals on Saturday night.

On Friday night, the Vikings had soundly beaten the Wright State Raiders, an opponent that had given them a great deal of trouble during the regular season. During that game, the Vikings’ bench—a weakness during the regular season—had stepped up and contributed 15 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Additionally, Saturday’s matchup marked the third meeting this season between the two teams. Beating a team three consecutive times in the same season is a tough feat for any team, and Cleveland State fans were hoping that the third time would be the charm for the Vikings against Butler.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, Butler was able to prevail in a game that was extremely intense from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

Although the Bulldogs were able to extend their lead to 12 during the first half and 10 in the second half, the Vikings’ hard-nosed defense and excellent free throw shooting helped keep the game close, prevent the Bulldogs from pulling away and allow the Vikings to repeatedly cut into the Bulldogs’ lead.  

The Vikings, however, were never able to reclaim the lead from the Bulldogs.

In an intense game in which a less experienced team may have wilted under the pressure of heated postseason play, the Bulldogs were able to withstand the Vikings’ repeated rallies and come up with clutch shots from a number of different players.

Many key players on Butler’s roster played key roles during its run to the national championship game last season, and their experience showed in this game. Whenever the Vikings pulled within one or two points in the second half, Butler drew upon its vast reservoir of postseason experience and calmly made the plays that were neceessary to maintain the lead.

Shawn Vanzant, one of the Bulldogs’ many seniors, knocked down two straight shots from three-point range after the Vikings narrowed the Bulldogs’ lead to two with less than six minutes left in the second half. When the Vikings pulled to within four with three minutes to go, Matt Howard, another veteran standout for the Bulldogs, stepped up and converted a three-point play. The Vikings never came any closer.

Saturday's game marks one of the last times that Viking senior Norris Cole will ever wear a Cleveland State uniform. Cole is a finalist for the Cousy Award, given to the best point guard in college basketball. According to The Plain Dealer, Cole will also be added to the list of finalists for the Wooden Award, which is awarded to the top player in college basketball.

One of the most accomplished players in Cleveland State history who set several new school records and played a key role in the Vikings' run to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, Cole played a huge role in helping the Vikings win 26 games this season, and was also named the Horizon League Player of the Year and the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year.

Cole is also projected to be selected in the upcoming NBA draft. These accolades are even more remarkable in light of the fact that Cole only received one Division I scholarship offer coming out of high school. 

The Bulldogs will play the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Tuesday night in the Horizon League Championship game, while the Vikings will return to Cleveland and wait until their postseason fate is determined.

While many analysts and observers believe that the Vikings’ lack of wins against top teams during the regular season will keep them from being awarded an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament, the Vikings have a legitimate chance of earning a spot in the NIT. A solid run in the NIT will allow Cole to end his Cleveland State career on a high note and position the Vikings for another successful season in 2011-12.