Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball is the men's college basketball team that represents Cleveland State University. Prior to rebranding from Fenn College, they were known as the Fenn College Foxes. Cleveland State has been in Division I since 1972 and are currently led by first-year head coach Rob Summers. They have been a member of the Horizon League since 1994. Cleveland State was formerly in the Mid-Continent Conference (1982âÂÂ1994). Prior to 1982, Cleveland State was an independent program. The Vikings have appeared in three NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2021. In 1986, Cleveland State advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
The 1985âÂÂ86 season is arguably the most memorable in Vikings history, as they achieved the improbable in becoming the first ever 14th seeded team to make it to the Sweet Sixteen of the 1986 NCAA tournament. Coach Kevin Mackey's squad, led by Ken 'Mouse' McFadden and Eric Mudd, upset Bobby Knight's 3rd seeded Indiana Hoosiers, by a final of 83-79. Following a 75-69 second round win against 6th seeded St.Joseph's, the Vikings would ultimately lose to Navy 71-70 on a clutch basket in the waning seconds by future Hall of Famer, David Robinson. Cleveland State would qualify for the NIT Tournament the following two seasons, but went 23 seasons until returning to the NCAA Tournament.
On December 15, 2008, Cleveland State had their biggest regular season victory in school history, upsetting the #11 Syracuse Orange, 72-69, on a last-second, three-quarter court shot from senior guard Cedric Jackson. It was CSU's third-ever win over a Top 25 ranked opponent, and first ever on the road. They would pick up their fourth and fifth wins over Top 25 opponents later that same season when they won at #17 Butler in the championship game of the Horizon League Tournament 57-54, and then in the first round of the 2009 NCAA tournament when, as the 13th seeded team in the Midwest bracket, they routed 4th seeded and #12 Wake Forest by a final score of 84-69.
Records vs. Horizon League schools as of the end of the 2020âÂÂ2021 school year.
Records vs. Ohio schools as of the end of the 2015âÂÂ2016 school year.
AMCU/Mid Continent Player of the Year
AMCU/Mid Continent Coach of the Year
AMCU/Mid Continent Newcomer of the Year
Horizon League Player of the Year
Horizon League Newcomer of the Year
Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year
Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year
Horizon League Coach of the Year
HoopDirt.com Division I Coach of the Year
Regular Draft
Cleveland State has made three appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, having a record of 3âÂÂ3.
Cleveland State has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament six times, with the Vikings having a record of 3âÂÂ6.
The Vikings have received three College Basketball Invitational (CBI) berths. Their combined record is 3âÂÂ3.
Cleveland State has appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament twice, having a combined record of 1âÂÂ2.
Cleveland State has retired four numbers in program history.
Cleveland State has won six regular season championships (1985, 1986, 1993, 2011, 2021, 2022) and three conference tournaments (1986, 2009, 2021).
Nine Cleveland State alumni have played in the NBA, including:
The flagship station for CSU men's basketball is WARF 1350 AM, with announcer Al Pawlowski. Any CSU games WARF can't air due to conflicts slide over to sister station WTAM 1100 AM/106.9 FM.