The future is now. Cleveland State seniors gave Norris Cole the nickname "The Future" last year as they could see that then sophomore would be the leader of the young Vikings in the coming years. Cole showed what they were talking about this evening leading the Vikings with 38 points in a 78-64 win over Florida A&M this evening. It was the most points that the Dayton Dunbar product has scored at any level. Cole said after the game:

"I took it as it came. I wanted to have the offense under control and take what the defense gave me. The shot was falling today and my teammates were coming to me and the shots were falling tonight."

Head coach Gary Waters noted:

"Norris' play today was tremendous. He controlled the offense and he scored some points and that shows that good things are ahead for him if he can continue to do those two things. He took control of the game out there and played the best that I have ever seen him play this year. Not only did he play well offensively, but he defended against their best player. But we can't win against the big boys with Norris scoring 38."

The Cleveland State Vikings hosted Division III school Wilmington College this afternoon in their home opener. The Vikings defeated the Quakers but played sloppy ball committing 20 turnovers. The Vikings were also rebounded 35-25 in the contest. Wilmington only hit 14 of 35 free throws in the loss and one wonders if the final of 99-74 could of been closer with better shooting from the charity stripe.

Wilmington's Tyler Ledford led all scores with 24. D'Aundray Brown and Jared Cunningham both netted 14 in the victory.

After the opening night letdown on Friday night, a Division III school looks like the perfect opponent to get the Cleveland State Vikings back on track this season. Gary Waters' men will host Wilmington College tomorrow at 11:30 am and hope to attract the downtown lunch crowd. The game will be a tune up of sorts for a busy week that will see the Vikings host Florida A&M and Sam Houston State as part of the Cancun Challenge later this week. Things don't get easier from there as the Vikings head south to Mexico to play in the challenge against Kentucky on Tuesday and then either Stanford or Virginia the next day.

Click here for the game notes on the contest against Wilmington tomorrow.

Click here for the stats so far on the young season for the Vikings.

Wilmington (16-10 in 2008-09) at Cleveland State (0-1)
Date: Monday, November 16, 2009
Time: 11:30 a.m. EST
Site: Goodman Arena (8,500), Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Radio: WHKW 1220 AM (Cleveland), WHKZ, 1440 AM (Warren) (Al Pawlowski)
Series: First Meeting
Promo: Business Man's Special

Cleveland State head coach Gary Waters has given the disclaimer not to judge his 2009-2010 team early and that is a good thing. The young Vikings took one on the chin tonight in Western New York falling to St. Bonaventure 72-62. The Vikings had only one lead all evening (2-0) and allowed an astounding 17-22 (77.3%) shooting from the floor in the first half in the loss.

Norris Cole lead the Vikings with 13 points in the losing effort. Aaaron Pogue and Jared Cunnigham both scored 11 points and grabbed 9 boards in solid debuts as Vikings. Trevon Harmon, who had a hot hand all preseason went scoreless and heralded sophomore Nigel Ajere was notably absent from the contest leaving the frontcourt of the Vikings thin.

The Bonnies shot 16 more free throws in the contest than the Vikings in the victory and were led by Jonathan Hall's 20 points and 8 boards. Heralded center Andrew Nicholson added 17 points and 7 rebounds.

The Vikings will host Division III sqaud Wilmington at 11:30 a.m. on Monday for the teams home opener.

The Cleveland State basketball program starts its regular season tonight against Saint Bonaventure. Bonaventure loos like it will be an improved team this season after a .500 finish last season. The Bonnies feature Andrew Nicholson who stands 6' 9'' and was the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year last season. The Vikings are finding themselves learning on the fly with only two starters back and four players who gave big contributions in a season that won over the city with wins against ranked opponents such as Syracuse, Butler, and Wake Forest, who fell to the underdog Vikings in dramatic fashion in the NCAA Tournament last season.

WHKW, 1220 AM The Word in Cleveland will once again serve as the flagship station of the Viking Basketball Radio Network for the 2009-10 season as part of an agreement between Cleveland State and Salem Communications. The announcement was made on Friday by CSU Director of Athletics Lee Reed.

In addition, the Vikings will get additional exposure under the agreement as WHKZ, 1440 AM The Word in Warren will also broadcast the games.

"The Cleveland State athletic department is happy to continue our partnership with Salem Communications and have WHKW and WHKZ serve as our primary broadcast outlets this year for Viking basketball," Reed said. "This partnership ensures that Viking fans have a high quality, regular radio destination for CSU Basketball."

Salem Communications General Manager Mark Jaycox noted, "We are excited to be teaming up again with such a great institution and we look forward to another great season of Viking basketball on board The Word 1220 AM."

Under the agreement, every game during the 2009-10 season will be aired live on both stations and streamed live on the internet via whkwradio.com. The broadcasts will include a 30-minute pre-game show.

The Cleveland State Vikings have signed two high school players in the early signing period. Joining Gary Waters and CO are Ludovic Ndaye & Devon Long.

"The addition of Devon and Ludovic have assured that the Cleveland State Basketball program will continue to be successful," Waters said. "They will both help to provide us with stability on the interior along with rebounding and scoring. More importantly, they continue the progression of building size within the program.

"I am excited to have these two young men in the Viking Basketball program because they will help us to continue the tradition that we have established," Waters added.

Ndaye is a from Montreal currently playing prep basketball in Arizona. He stands 6-9 with a 220 pound frame and averaged 12.1 point and 6.2 rebounds a game at Westwind Prep in Phoenix.

On the incoming freshman from Canada, Waters stated:

"Ludovic is a big, strong post player who will fit into our defensive scheme because of his ability to score both inside and on the perimeter, rebound and be a stopper inside. He is another athletic performer who will help us elevate our post game."

The Cleveland State Vikings tip-off their awaited 2009-2010 season tomorrow night in Western New York where they face Saint Bonaventure. Gametime for the contest is set for 7 p.m.

Here is the information regarding the two teams:

Cleveland State (26-11 in 2008-09) at St. Bonaventure (15-15)
Date: Friday, November 13, 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Site: Reilly Center (5,780), Olean, NY
Radio: WHKW 1220 AM (Cleveland), WHKZ, 1440 AM (Warren) (Al Pawlowski)
**No Televsion coverage of the contest**
Series: SBU Leads 5-0
Last Meeting: @SBU 81, CSU 67 (1/28/03)
CLICK HERE FOR THE GAME NOTES

The Vikings start their home season in interesting fashion hosting Division III foe Wilmington in a game that will start before noon.
Here is the ticketing information you need to know about the businessman’s special against Wilmington on Monday that kicks off the Vikings home schedule:

« Monday, November 16th vs. Wilmington
« Game time is 11:30 a.m.
« $10 Gets you an admission ticket and a voucher for a hot dog, drink, and chips.
« Anyone attending is able to bring their lunch in with them
« $5 vouchers for a hot dog, drink, and chips will be available for purchase at the Box Office

It was a big day yesterday for Ohio State basketball when Thad Matta landed what scout.com and espn.com are calling the best recruiting class in country. The Buckeyes number one recruit is s 6-foot-9 power forward Jared Sullinger from Columbus' Northland High School. J.D. Weatherspoon, Sullinger's teammate at Northland who plays small forward, also signed with the Buckeyes.

Deshaun Thomas, a 6-7 native of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and guards Lenzelle Smith Jr., a 6-4 from Zion, Ill., Aaron Craft from Findlay Liberty-Benton and 6-4 Jordan Sibert of Cincinnati also picked the Buckeyes yesterday.

Here are some clips of the incoming Buckeyes: