Another week, another two games, and another predictable outcome in each for the Cleveland State Vikings.
Home Game vs. Baldwin Wallace
For their first contest in the Wolstein Center, CSU hosted the Division III Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets.
Attempting to completely forget about the brutal loss to Michigan to start their season, the Daniyal Robison led squad put out the same starters as game one. Dylan Arnett, Tevin Smith, Tahj Staveskie, Chase Robinson and Isaac Abbide took the floor looking for the first win of the young season.
Starting off quickly, a foul and two made free throws by Smith immediately put the Vikings in front. The Vikings then showed a bit of an actual full court press but that was about it for the first few minutes.
Ebrima Dibba was first off the bench for Chase Robinson but the Vikings only held a small 5-2 lead at the first media timeout.
Cole Franklin entered the game a bit before the 14 minute mark, and he would be a force the entire game. More about that later.
BW then inexplicably held a 12-11 lead after going straight to the basket again and again. They drove to the basket on multiple possessions directly before the second media timeout and CSU was looking around for answers.
Building off their first game (and the exhibition against Lourdes University) the Vikings found themselves in some early foul trouble as well. The Yellow Jackets were already in the bonus just under the 11 minute mark.
Numerous times throughout the first half, CSU built a small lead but BW continued to fight back and were only down eight points at half (43-35).
Then In the second half, BW ran out of steam just as CSU found a second gear.
Out of the half, the Vikes went on a run to go up 52-38 at the 14:57 mark but that was just the beginning.
Then continued to pile on and saw their lead balloon to 70-40 and then 80-46 before finally winning 91-53.
Key Takeaways:
- Cole Franklin was everywhere on the floor. He finished with 15 points and six rebounds but he also grabbed four steals. Every moment he was on the court was felt and he continues to show that he can score in many different ways. After the game, Coach Robinson remarked on the new Viking, “he’s a tough guy. He rebounds and he’s very unselfish.”
- The Vikings continue to find scoring from a slew of players. Arnett finished with 19 points and first year Je’Shawn Stevenson had 18 to go with Franklin’s 15. Smith also finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Without a clear number one, defenses will have to pick and choose which Vikings to guard, but there are plenty who can score.
- Free throws continue to be a shining point for the Vikings early in the season. Another good performance saw them go 14 for 19. It’s encouraging to see the team getting to the line and making shots. Coach Robinson again reiterated that it’s the fact the Vikings are able to take 19 free throws which makes him happy. “I’m just excited that we’re getting to the line[…]we have guys coming in early to get shots up and that includes free throws[.] For us to be able to get to the line and knock some free throws down, that’ll serve us well later.”
- On the opposite side of fouls, the Vikings continued to have a lot of touch fouls just due to their physical defense. Hopefully this will improve with the season but continuing to make their own free throws will help lesson how much this physical play costs them.
- The Vikings had a tough time containing BW Ray Ellington who finished with 20 points and made four of six threes. The Vikings themselves only made three three-pointers (out of 11). Hopefully that also improves or it could be tough to score against tougher defensives.
Away Game at Kansas State
Let’s start with the good news. The Vikings only lost the second half by one point. CSU put up a strong performance over the last 20 minutes to the tune of 40 points to Kansas State’s 41.
On top of that, Reece Robinson continued to impress by leading the team on the boards with seven rebounds. This might seem normal but all seven were offensive rebounds! Overall, the Vikings out-rebounded the Wildcats 31 to 25. With their hustle and ability to box out (as well as tip the ball to themselves), the Vikings should be able to use this to their advantage come conference play.
A running theme so far this season, Arnett and Stevenson finished in double figures but that’s about where the good news ends.
Yes, the Vikings played well in the second half and stuck around the Wildcats in the Little Apple (Manhattan, Kansas), but they lost the first half by 12. In the grand scheme of things, this loss was not too horrible considering another recent game (see Michigan comments above).
All-in-all the result sees the Vikings still looking for their first win against a Division I school.
Key Takeaways:
- Is it even a game for the Vikings this season if we don’t look at free throw percentage? 12 for 16 for 75%. Pretty good. Take the free points.
- Turnovers and fouls could continue to influence the game for the Vikings. They had 20 of each and for a team that isn’t scoring consistently, that could be worrisome.
- Who will grab the guard positions? Right now, Chase Robinson and Staveskie have the reins but with Stevenson scoring every game, could there be a change in the rotation soon? Coach Robinson has shown in his first few years that he isn’t afraid to start different guys at different times in the season.
- Will we see Reece Robinson starting soon as well? Throughout the first three games him and Arnett have pulled away as the big men who can grab rebounds. Maybe coming off the bench could help Abidde or maybe Coach Robinson likes the energy his son brings off the bench? Either way, I’m sure Coach Robinson is happy to have options in the front court this year.
- This team is definitely different from the last few years. They are great on the boards and inside (34 points in the paint) but maybe lack some speed (four fast break points). It might make sense to wait until conference play to make that decision though as with all the new faces, this lack of fast breaks could just be learning to play together.
Next up: CSU at Valparaiso Tonight at 8 pm
