Great to be back in Cleveland, and even better to be back here for the Horizon League opener between the CSU Vikings and Northern Kentucky. These two squads were each picked to be in the top three of the league and have considerable experience.
PREGAME
Game Notes: NKU
- Seeking revenge after being swept here last year (B2B format), included an OT loss
- Norse rank 31st in 3-point FG% (39.5), 33rd in made treys/gm(10.2)
- NKU brought back 91% of its scoring from LY, ready for a Horizon run.
- Top steals team in HL
Game notes: Cleveland State
- Horizon League pick to win league, with 30 first-place votes
- D'Moi Hodge has been CSU's top offensive threat, averaging a team-best 12.3 points per, including a 27-point game against Canisius
- Vikings lead the Horizon with a 1.36 Ast/TO margin
Starting Lineups:
NKU
2 Vinson, Sam
3 Warrick, Marques
4 Nelson, Adrian
14 Sims, Seybian
22 Faulkner, Trevon
CSU
5 Gomillion, Tre
22 Parker, Deshon
24 Patton, Torrey
35 Johnson, Deante
55 Hodge, D'Moi
FIRST HALF ACTION
A lesser-known freshman emerging in the Horizon League is Sam Vinson. Vinson has already won FOTW twice in three weeks. Vinson just demonstrated beautiful vision and delivered a hook-pass on time to a cutting Adrian Nelson. Norse had the early 5-4 lead at the first break. However, the lead would not last long.
Cleveland State enforced their style of play from about the 15-minute mark forward. Forced a recent shot clock violation on the Norse. CSU has limited NKU to 7-for-21 shooting and owning things in the paint with an 18-8 edge down low. 6:27 remains until Half, CSU leads 26-18.
The Vikings roll continues as a 16-3 run for Cleveland State led to an NKU timeout. Vikings are really bringing high energy and defensive intensity. CSU is running a clinic defensively in the way they anticipate the passing lanes and contest essentially every shot by NKU. Really impressive to see up close. Vikings’ lead is now 32-18.
A frustrated Darrin Horn argues about a shot-clock issue. Horn’s Norse were frustrated early and often tonight.
As we approach Halftime, NKU was just 3-for-18 from distance. If you remember in the game notes, this Norse bunch is an excellent perimeter shooting team. CSU has truly contested every one of those 16 shots. This is a Norse team who is used to having success behind the arc. Clearly a frustrated bunch.
Halftime: Cleveland State 39, NKU 25.
2ND HALF
Tre Gomillion took a rough spill directly onto his back, which looked brutally painful. He's clearly tough as nails, like the rest of his CSU teammates. Got up from that fall somehow, and sunk both free throws. CSU up 43-28 early in the 2nd Half.
The Vikings continue to dominate. CSU is up 56-38 at this point. An 8-0 run here stretched the 10-point lead up to 18, the largest of the evening for the Vikings. Spider Johnson continues to play well, adding a nifty layup during that sequence.
It’s now getting late in the game, and CSU has a ridiculous 46-14 edge in the paint. The styles of the teams certainly would tell you that CSU is the team preferring to get easy looks from close, and NKU a team looking to find open shooters. But still, come on - this is a lopsided figure.
All Cleveland State tonight, 72-58 winners over NKU. CSU goes to 1-0 in league play and has won five straight games. Torrey Patton - 20 D'Moi Hodge - 15 Deante Johnson - 14.
FINAL - Cleveland State 72, Northern Kentucky 68
POSTGAME
Torrey Patton, Spider Johnson, and D'Moi Hodge came into the Media room and were sitting there chopping it up before we get started with official postgame festivities. It was really fun to hear them talk about the game among themselves and they added comments on some of the NKU players - which I won’t share here.
Torrey Patton, Spider Johnson, and D'Moi Hodge.
About five minutes later, Head Coach Dennis Gates came in for what will go down as a memorable press conference in my book. Gates took the time to answer probably ten or more questions, and had about a three-minute opening statement. I certainly appreciate all of the time he took to describe tonight’s game in thorough detail. I even more appreciate the way Gates talked about what this Cleveland State program is all about. Here was Coach Dennis Gates opening comments:
Dennis Gates would late go on to describe a defensive award that the team gives out every night. He talked about how everyone wants a piece of that award and to earn Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Award. The same award that the conference gave to Tre Gomillion last season. Gates pointed out that Gomillion didn’t even win the team DPOY Award last year because they grade on an entirely different scale. That got me curious, so I asked Coach Gates, “What do you do differently behind the scenes to play this style and to keep these guys constantly hungry?”
Gates gave a full answer. He was quick to point out that they brought in Ryan Sharbaugh to be the team's defensive coordinator and more specifically how Sharbaugh trains the players on “being annoying.” It’s an actual thing CSU focuses a lot on. In hindsight, it really showed tonight. D’Moi Hodge added that they watch a ton of film on opposing offenses and embrace being dogs out there on the court.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cleveland State - Impossible to not be impressed by them. So much of what they do is what I love to see in a team in terms of playing excellent team basketball. They are one of the top assists teams with truly balanced scoring. And of course, the energy on defense is one of the best I’ve seen in person. Just amazing. The only concern is with games being Thursdays and Saturdays in the Horizon League, will game two slow them down a bit with fatigue? I’d say no for the home games, but on the road, it could be a challenge. Otherwise, there is a ton to like here.
Northern Kentucky - The Norse are better than what they showed tonight. But this was just a brutal matchup for them. Sam Vinson looks like a real good prospect. Coach Horn is still trying to find his better rotations and unfortunately didn’t make much progress today. With a lot of time, and a lot of league games (22!!), I trust that NKU will find their rhythm on both ends of the floor. Certainly a top half of the league team, with a ceiling of 3rd Place in all likelihood.
That’s all from Cleveland, thank you for following.