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Mieskoski's Weekly News and Notes: Vikings Ready For Rematch With Rival Youngstown State
By: Tom Mieskoski
When Cleveland State (19-8, 10-5 Horizon League) faces in-state rival Youngstown State (10-15, 7-8) tonight at 7 p.m. at the Wolstein Center, the Vikings won't overlook the Penguins this time around, not after YSU's 64-60 upset win at the Beeghly Center on Jan. 17.
In the first meeting, YSU played on the emotion of their biggest crowd (6, 249) in 20 years, as the Penguins led the entire game. While the Vikings struggled, shooting 38 percent (22-for-58) from the field, 11.8 percent (2-for-17) from 3-point distance, and turned the ball over 19 times, which led to 17 points for YSU.
"I think we took them for granted. They embarrassed us in our minds," said CSU coach Gary Waters. "Our guys really know that was a tough game and realized that was a tough game. Youngstown is coming in here thinking they are going to win. We are not going to take them lightly at all and will come after them as hard as we can."
Both teams are coming into tonight's game as the two hottest teams in the Horizon League with CSU winning six straight and YSU winning four in a roll.
Waters credits YSU's turnaround to their talented group of junior-college transfers.
"Youngstown State in my estimation have two of the better players in the league in DeAndre Mays and Sirlester Martin,"said Waters. "Mays might be one of the top three point guards in this league and people don't know about him. And Martin lit our post guys up like they weren't even on the floor.
"Then they have Kelvin Bright, who is their leading scorer (12.3 points), Jack Liles can score between 10 or 12 points, and they have a kid (Vytas Sulskis) who comes off the bench to score 10."
Waters said for CSU to have a chance to win tonight they must defend. "They really execute on offense. If you don't take them off of their execution. They have a chance to beat you," said Waters. "They play zone to make you want to shoot the ball."
Saturday, the Vikings will travel to Wichita State as part of ESPN's BracketBusters. After tonight's game, Waters said they will start preparing for WSU. "This league is so important down the stretch, we got to keep our mind focused on that. We haven't talked one day about (WSU). We can't let that game get in our way," he said.
20-20:
With a win tonight, CSU could have its first back-to-back 20 win seasons since the Vikings had four straight 20-win years from 1984-85 to 1987-88.
"To do it in back-to-back seasons shows we are starting to move forward," said Waters. "Now other people are starting to look at us like recruits that you have struggled with before. They now see this program is starting to have success. If we would have done it one-time they would say we were one-team wonders."
Cole Honored:
Sophomore guard Norris Cole was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Monday (Feb.16), after averaging 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in CSU's two wins last week against Milwaukee and Green Bay.
"Norris is playing good basketball right now. He's playing with confidence and consistency," said Waters. "Some people have success because teams are focusing on other people now. I don't think teams are putting their best guy on Norris, yet."
Waters on Jeremy Montgomery:
Some people wonder why back-up freshmen point guard Jeremy Montgomery's playing time has diminished so much after scoring a career-high 21 points at UIC on Feb. 5. Waters says it's because of his lack of defense.
"If he's getting scored on all the time. That's a problem. Just because you can score points, if you are giving up the same amount of points on the other end. You're not gaining anything," said Waters. "What happens, you have to learn (to play defense) in your first year. (Because) if you play him in games today, he will have the problem for the next four years. You have to send that message right now. If you want to play. You have to play defense. If they don't take care of it today. They will never take care of it."
Waters on Trevon Harmon:
The other freshmen guard Trevon Harmon has seen his playing time increase because of his much improved defense.
"Trey's loving defense. He has made the biggest adjustments and improvements on the defensive end, I have seen in a long time. He's literally understanding what to do (on the job). The reason, I'm so impressed by his defense is because it's only been half-a-year," said Waters. "He's got a hitch (on his shot) that I need to work on in the off season."
Waters on Cedric Jackson:
In Cedric Jackson's last two games he's averaging 11 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists. While Jackson's points per game (9.7 this season and 13.9 last season) and shooting percentage (FG% .356, .419; FT% .595, .686; 3pt% .250, .390) are down from a year ago. His rebounding (5.8, 4.9), assists (5.6, 4.9) and steals (3.0, 2.6) are up from last season. And he has also cut down on the number of turnovers from a year ago (3.5, 3.9 and 1.60 assists/turnover ratio this season, 1.28 last season).
Waters credits Jackson's turnaround to a conversation he had with him earlier in the season. "We just pointed out the things that he's doing well and he needs to accentuate those things even more because that can help our team," said Waters. "We still fell he doesn't need to score 10 points to dominate a game. Not many kids can do that."
Mid-Major poll:
CSU's two big home wins against Milwaukee and Green Bay last week, helped the Vikings jump eight spots to No. 14 in CollegeInsiders.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll.
RPI Update:
According to RealTime RPI.com, as of Feb.18 (11:20 a.m.), CSU has an RPI of 73, which is the third-best in the Horizon League, trailing only Butler (21) and Green Bay (72).
Overall, the Horizon League is rated the 11th best conference in the country, behind the Missouri Valley Conference (10th) and ahead of the Western Athletic Conference (12).
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