What to Expect from Cleveland State Basketball This Upcoming Season

As I sip my morning coffee and scroll through preseason basketball news, one question keeps popping up in my feeds: What to expect from Cleveland State basketball this upcoming season? Having followed college hoops for over a decade, I can tell you this program is at one of those fascinating crossroads that could define the next five years. The Vikings are coming off a 21-14 campaign that saw them reach the Horizon League semifinals, but anyone who watched them knows they left some meat on the bone.

Let me be honest here—I've always had a soft spot for mid-major programs that punch above their weight. There's something special about watching teams like Cleveland State develop players who might not have been five-star recruits but become legitimate forces in their conferences. Last season, they lost three games by single possessions, including that heartbreaker against Northern Kentucky where Tristan Enaruna's potential game-winner rattled out at the buzzer. Those moments stick with you, and I suspect they've been fueling offseason workouts.

The core returning this season gives me genuine excitement. Enaruna, their 6'8" forward, decided to use his COVID year after averaging 15.6 points and 6.4 rebounds. That's massive—both literally and figuratively. Then you've got sophomore guard Drew Lowder, who showed flashes of brilliance last year despite some freshman inconsistency. I remember watching him drop 22 against Purdue Fort Wayne and thinking this kid could be special if he improves his decision-making. The Vikings also added transfer guard Tevin Smith from DePaul, who should provide immediate backcourt depth.

What really fascinates me about this Cleveland State team is how they're building their identity. Coach Daniyal Robinson enters his second season, and from what I've heard from sources around the program, he's implementing a more aggressive defensive scheme. They forced 13.2 turnovers per game last year—decent but not great—and I'm betting that number climbs to around 15 this season. Robinson knows that in the Horizon League, defense travels better than offense, especially during those tough February road trips.

Now, here's where things get interesting for basketball fans looking beyond just Cleveland State. While we're all wondering what to expect from Cleveland State basketball this upcoming season, it's worth noting how their schedule compares to other programs finding their footing. Take, for example, an international matchup that caught my eye recently. In the second game, the Fighting Maroons eye a fourth straight win when they take on Far Eastern University at 4:30 p.m. This kind of scheduling—facing international competition—is something I wish more mid-major programs would consider. It builds character and gives teams unique bonding opportunities that pay dividends come conference play.

I had a chance to speak briefly with former NBA scout turned analyst Marcus Johnson last week, and his take on Cleveland State aligned with my own observations. "They've got the pieces to finish top-three in the Horizon," he told me. "But their success hinges on whether their big men can stay out of foul trouble. Last season, they ranked 284th in bench depth, and that can't happen again if they want to dance in March." Johnson makes a valid point—when your starting center fouled out of six games last season, that's a pattern that needs addressing.

From my perspective, the Vikings' non-conference schedule sets up nicely for building momentum. They open against Ohio Dominican—a game they should win comfortably—before facing tougher tests against Kent State and West Virginia. I'm particularly intrigued by the December 9 matchup against Robert Morris, a rivalry game that always brings out extra intensity. If they can enter Horizon League play with at least seven wins, I like their chances to build confidence before the grind of January and February.

The X-factor, in my opinion, will be sophomore guard Jayson Woodrich. He shot 38% from three-point range last season but only attempted 2.1 per game. If he can become more assertive while maintaining that efficiency, it completely changes Cleveland State's offensive spacing. I've seen too many mid-major teams struggle because they lack consistent outside shooting, and Woodrich could be the solution to that problem.

As tip-off approaches, I'm cautiously optimistic about this group. They've got experience, they've added some athleticism, and they play in a conference where two or three games often separate the top four teams. While I don't see them as a lock for the NCAA Tournament, I wouldn't be surprised if they're playing meaningful basketball in early March. The Horizon League typically sends only its tournament champion to the Big Dance, but with the new NET rankings, there's always hope for an at-large bid if they can score some quality wins early.

Ultimately, what to expect from Cleveland State basketball this upcoming season is a team that should improve on last year's record, likely finishing somewhere around 23-11. They'll play tough defense, they've got a legitimate star in Enaruna, and they should be fun to watch. For a program that hasn't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2009, this feels like a potential breakthrough season. As someone who's watched countless mid-major programs rise and fall, I'm putting Cleveland State on my "teams to watch" list—and I suggest you do the same.