The Northern Kentucky men’s basketball team released its 2016-17 schedule, which features 14 regular-season home contests in BB&T Arena.
In its second year as members of the Horizon League, NKU is eligible for NCAA postseason play after the NCAA recently moved the athletics department to active status following a four-year reclassification process.
“We are excited and hard at work preparing for this upcoming season,” said head coach John Brannen. “With eight first-time Division I players, our goal was to put together a schedule that would challenge us and prepare us for the rigors of Horizon League play. Going on the road to WVU, Illinois, Miami (OH) and Morehead State will provide that. Then in Horizon League play, our fans at BB&T arena will get to experience the likes of Valparaiso and Oakland, both nationally-recognized programs.”
Non-Conference Highlights
· Fans will get their first glimpse of the 2016-17 Norse on Nov. 4 when NKU hosts Wilmington in exhibition action.
· The regular-season opens with a home contest against Earlham on Nov. 11.
· Northern Kentucky heads to Illinois on Nov. 13 and West Virginia on Dec. 23 for contests against foes from the Big Ten and Big 12, respectively.
· Miami (Ohio) will host the Tarkett Sports Classic with Northern Kentucky, Delaware and Austin Peay participating in the four-team, round-robin event scheduled for Nov. 18-20 in Oxford, Ohio. NKU’s home meeting with Earlham is also part of the event.
· The Norse also host North Carolina Central (Nov. 26), Eastern Illinois (Dec. 7), Eastern Washington (Dec. 18) and Brescia (Dec. 21).
· Road contests at Morehead State (Nov. 30), Norfolk State (Dec. 3) and Southeast Missouri State (Dec. 10) also await NKU this year.
Horizon League Highlights
· NKU will host all nine other schools in the Horizon League as part of a home-and-home league slate that features 18 total games for each team.
· The league schedule opens on the road for the Norse with a trip to the Motor City, Detroit. NKU plays Detroit in its opener on Dec. 29 and follows with a New Year’s Eve tilt at Oakland.
· Fans get the first glimpse of NKU in league play on Jan. 5, when the Norse welcome Youngstown State to town.
· For the second-straight year, Northern Kentucky squares off with Milwaukee as part of homecoming festivities on Feb. 11.
· NKU will also host rival Wright State on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
· The regular-season closes on Feb. 26 with Valpo at BB&T Arena.
· Motor City Madness, the Horizon League’s championship tournament, will be held in Detroit from March 3-7 in conjunction with the women’s basketball championship.
Season Tickets
· Season tickets are on sale now. For more information, call Micki Ford (859-572-7848) or through TicketMaster.
Norse Notes
· The Norse welcome back senior Cole Murray, who ranked ninth in the nation after shooting 45.3 percent from 3-point territory last season.
· Drew McDonald returns for his sophomore campaign. The native of Cold Spring, Kentucky, and graduate of Newport Central Catholic was named to the Horizon League’s all-freshman team a year ago.
· Three double-figure scorers return from last season’s team. In addition to Murray (10.1 ppg) and McDonald (10.5 ppg), Lavone Holland II averaged 10.7 points per game, while also leading the Norse at 4.0 assists per contest.
· NKU welcomes eight newcomers to the court this year, including Mr. Kentucky Carson Williams, Ohio D-III player of the year Dantez Walton and his high school teammate Tre Cobbs, as well as incoming freshmen Blake Spellman, Jalen Tate and Mason Faulkner.
Brandon Maxwell joins the team after spending last season at Daytona State. Although officially joining the team last season, Jeff Garrett will suit up for the first time as a Norse this year.
From NKU Athletics