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Surprising Butler hopes to remain undefeated vs. Cleveland State

Dec 2, 2006 - 3:54 PM Cleveland St (5-3) at No. 18 Butler (8-0) 8:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Butler has had success against some of the top teams in the country. On Saturday, they will face a lesser opponent.

After being picked to finish sixth in the conference preseason rankings, the surprising 18th-ranked Bulldogs will face off with Cleveland State.

In the rankings for the first time this season after winning the NIT Season Tip-Off last week, Butler was beginning a stretch in which five of their next six games are against teams from the state of Indiana. The Vikings are their lone out-of-state opponent.

Butler has already defeated Notre Dame, Indiana, then-No. 22 Tennessee and No. 21 Gonzaga. However, Cleveland State was picked to finish last in the Horizon League in 2006-07.

On Wednesday, Mike Green scored 16 points and the Bulldogs took control early en route to a 60-47 triumph over Valparaiso.

The Vikings lost three of four contests to start the season but have won four straight since then. Cleveland State went 10-of-22 from the arc en route to a 66-59 victory over Kent State on Wednesday.

Butler is 19-5 all time against the Vikings and has won 11 of the last 13 matchups.