Horizon Title Game Preview
INDIANAPOLIS - You couldn't blame Gary Waters and his Cleveland State baskeball team if they feel a little lonely tonight. If the Vikings are to earn the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1986, they'll have to do it as the visiting team here at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, against the host No. 12 Butler Bulldogs. And the crowd here at Hinkle won't be alone in rooting for Butler tonight. So will every other bubble team in the country.
That's life in March and life in these mid-major conference tournaments. Butler will dance regardless of the outcome of this game, but if Cleveland State pulls the upset, the Horizon league will earn a surprise second bid. And that unexpected outcome would cost some bubble team - are you listening Syracuse, Ohio State, Oregon, Arizona St.? - a spot in the field. The same thing happened last night in the West Coast Conference when San Diego stole a bid by beating Gonzaga in the championship game. San Diego, however, had the strength of a home-court advantage aiding its cause. Cleveland State has just the opposite. And that's why Gary Waters and the Vikings might be feelings a bit out place here at Hinkle.
The two schools split their regular-season series, with Cleveland State winning 56-52 in Cleveland and Butler escaping 51-46 at home. Based on the value-every-possession style of both of those games, you'd have to figure that this one won't be much different. We'll be live-blogging at each media time-out and at halftime, so keep it here for updates from ESPN First Take's favorite arena. We're about 15 minutes from tip-off in the Horizon League Championship game.
