UK Basketball Preview – Know Your Enemy: Cleveland State Vikings

GAME 5 – 11/24/2009

4:30 PM EST – CANCUN, MEXICO

CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS (3-1)

TV – CBS COLLEGE SPORTS

FIRST MEETING BETWEEN TEAMS

The Cleveland State Vikings are a team that won’t be swayed by the Kentucky name and legacy when they meet up Tuesday afternoon in the Cancun Challenge. The Vikings are coming off a 26-11 season in which they upset the #11 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 84-69 in the first round of the NCAA Tourney. The Vikings have lost three starters and their top bench player from last year’s team which also beat Syracuse on the road and knocked off Butler. Granted, this will not be the same Cleveland State team, but like Coach Cal, Cleveland State coach Gary Waters has the task of blending his returning players with a talented mix of transfers and freshmen.

THE STARTERS

G- NORRIS COLE – JR – 6’2 – 175
21 ppg, 2.3 reb, 2.8 assists

G- D’AUNDRAY BROWN – JR – 6’4 – 185

8.5 ppg, 4 reb. 1 assist

G- TREVOR HARMON – SO – 6’1 – 170

8.3 ppg, 1.3 reb, 2 assists

F- AARON POGUE – SO – 6’9 – 275
8.0 ppg, 6.5 reb, 1.8 assists

F- TIM KAMCZYC – FR – 6’7 – 200
5.0 ppg, 3.8 reb, .8 assists

This team is obviously Norris’s and he should provide an interesting matchup for John Wall. Norris is the biggest 3-point shot for Cleveland State and has hit 7 -12 so far this season. He is a playmaker as well and can score from virtually everywhere on the court. Pogue is also a player the watch. He was a top 50 recruit coming out of HS, and spent last season at a community college. He is one of the top newcomers to Cleveland State this year. Trevor Harmon is second in 3-pointers and is 6 of 20 for the season. Kamczyc is a former walk on that earned a scholarship this season and he has been in and out of the starting lineup.

Cleveland State just played the infamous Sam Houston State Bearkats and handled them 80-65. The Bearkats had 11 3-pointers against Cleveland State. Another name for Cleveland State that we may hear is Kevin James, who was a 3rd team All American JUCO transfer. James averaged 23.4 points last year and connected on 48% of his 3-pointers. He is only playing 10 minutes a game right now, but if the Vikings want to play “bombs away”, his number may be called.

OUTLOOK

If this game had occurred with last year’s Cleveland State team, it would be a cause for concern, bu this years edition lost too much to be a giant killer again this season. I am not saying there is no reason to worry, but the Viking’s big men are their weak point and I can’t see them giving Patterson, Cousins, Orton, and company much company. This is a team that gets it’s points through transition and jumpers and not especially a long range team and that also plays into the Wildcat’s favor.

The Vikings do have 10 players that average right at 10 minutes a game and it’s obvious that Coach Waters wants to play a “40 minutes of hell” game, throwing lots of different bodies and looks at the Wildcats. Unfortunately, there are too many new faces that Waters is trying to get to gel and UK will is not a good team you want to try to get chemistry against. I do think that the Vikings will be full of spirit and fight and may keep it close most of the first half, but in the end, talent will win over heart and UK should cruise into the finals with a 87-65 win.

Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans