At 11-0, the Vikings are starting to get some national attention. And they're loving it.
View full sizeCleveland State's Joe Latas has to fight through the arms of West Virginia Tech's Roi Buchbinder to get to a loose ball during the second half of Tuesday night's game at the Wolstein Center.Brad Bournival
Special to The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After Tuesday's win over West Virginia Tech, Cleveland State sits just five wins away from its win total from last year.
At 11-0, the Vikings are starting to get some national attention. And they're loving it.
"I'm always excited when our team and our players get recognition," coach Gary Waters sad. "It's all about the letters across your chest and Cleveland State."
In a conference that boasts last year's national runner-up Butler, the Vikings are six spots out of the Associated Press' top 25 and eight out in the coaches poll. Waters is aware the season is in its infancy, but the squad has the nation's best record and is moving up the ranks.
No.1 in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major poll, Cleveland State isn't interested in making noise there -- it is looking for a lot more.
"We don't look a lot into it," guard Norris Cole said. "We figure if we work hard, it'll pay off."
Cole rising: With 24 points Tuesday, Cole pushed past Darren Tillis (1978-82) into seventh place in CSU's career scoring list, with 1,434. The 6-2 senior needs 139 more points to unseat Theo Dixon (1997-02) for sixth. Ken "The Mouse" McFadden (1985-89) holds the record with 2,256.
It's been a while: CSU swept Green Bay and Milwaukee for the first time on the road since 1999-2000. While the win snapped a 10-game losing streak to Milwaukee, the Vikings have owned Ohio schools. With victories over Akron and Kent State this season, CSU has won seven straight against teams from the Buckeye State -- it's last loss was Dec. 22, 2009 against Ohio State.
The Vikings have won nine in a row at the Wolstein Center -- seven this season.
RPI on the rise: With wins over six RPI top-100 teams -- four in the top 50 -- the Vikings' current ranking is No. 16. With a game against No. 12 West Virginia on Dec. 18, that ranking could be even higher. CSU's first crack comes at Butler on the road Jan. 7.
Stone Cole-d stats: Cole is on the cusp of moving in the top 10 ranks of many categories at CSU. He's two behind No. 6 Anthony Jackson (1997-01) in games played with 115. Three more starts will move him past Tillis (83) and into fifth. He slipped by Eric Mudd (1983-88) in minutes played for eighth with 3,194. Cole needs just 22 more field goals to pass Dixon for ninth in career field goals (519).