Cleveland State Has Inside Track in Wide Open Horizon League Race

The Cleveland State Vikings scored an impressive victory over Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon and moved into a first place tie with Valparaiso in the Horizon League standings. The 7-2 mark at the conference midway point is the benchmark but three teams are just a game behind the Crusaders and CSU as they boast 6-3 records. Butler, Milwaukee, and the surprising Youngstown State Penguins all are gunning for two of the top seeds that will earn an automatic trip to the conference semifinals when tournament play starts.

The conference standings should start coming into focus a little better this week as Cleveland State will try to avenge a home loss to YSU this weekend in Youngstown. If the Vikings can score the road victory against the Penguins, they may have smooth sailing the rest of the way as they will only face four more road games as the season winds down. The Vikings will play two games next week against conference bottom feeders UIC and Loyola and if they play up their potential can start to get some separation from the rest of the pack.

Butler and Valpo will be in Wisconsin on the road to face the Green Bay Phoenix and  Milwaukee Panthers. The Panthers will look to rebound from their trip to Ohio which saw them lose a heartbreaker to the Penguins and a humiliating 26 point defeat against the Vikings in a battle for first place. The Wisconsin trip is a tough one and it is doubtful that the Crusaders and Bulldogs will come away unscathed from the trip. If Milwaukee sweeps the schools they are in line to compete for the regular season championship. If either Butler or Valpo can take a game in Milwaukee they are in contention for one of the top two seeds in the conference. If either sweep, they probably will be in the mix for the top two seeds in the conference race but that road will have to come through Ohio as they both have to pay visits to YSU and CSU next month. 

Lurking behind the pack is Detroit and they are likely out of the race for the two top seed but are playing for the right to host a game to make it through to the quarterfinals. The Titans begin an easier portion of their schedule and should not be overlooked coming down the stretch as they boast a slew of talent and will be a tough out once conference tournament time comes rolling around. 

With the midway point finished, it looks like 13 wins is the number to shoot for to grab one of the two top seeds. 14 victories will likely be enough for the top spot. The Vikings have the easiest road ahead of itself and a win over Youngstown State will make that road even easier. YSU won't make it easy on the CSU to come into their place and walk away with a victory but if the Vikings can tough a win out, odds are Cleveland State will be crowned Horizon League regular season champs at the end of February which would earn them the right to host the conference tournament at the Wolstein Center. 

Horizon League Standings

1. Valparaiso 7-2
Cleveland State 7-2
3. Butler 6-3
Youngstown State 6-3
Milwaukee 6-3
6. Detroit 4-5
Wright State 4-5
8. Green Bay 3-6
9. UIC 2-7
10. Loyola 0-9