No fan group has ever needed the preview game the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball program will offer Norse fans Oct. 14 at Truist Arena against Ohio Valley Conference team Tennessee-Martin in a 5:30 tipoff.
It’s the first preseason home exhibition for NKU in three years, since the Norse hosted Mt. Saint Joseph in November of 2023, and the first against a Division I opponent since NKU became an NCAA Division I program in 2012.
As for the unusually early start time for a Wednesday game, new NKU VP/Athletics Director Mike Odom explained: “While 7 p.m. is our typical weeknight game time, the opportunity to add a home exhibition against a Division I opponent was something we wanted to make happen for our team and our fans. With UT Martin’s travel schedule and previously scheduled commitments the following day, a 5:30 p.m. start allowed us to make the game work. We’re excited to give Norse fans an additional opportunity to see our team at Truist Arena and hope they’ll come out and get an early look at this year’s group.”
Never has a team required an introduction and “early look” any more than this year’s Norse with a 13-man roster dominated by eight new players on a far-flung international group of athletes from places as diverse as Australia, Estonia, Lithuania, Spain and Madagascar. And transfers from Niagara, SMU and East Texas A&M.
The exhibition is certainly something this new-look NKU team can use right now having lost its five leading scorers including four starters led by such multi-year regulars as LJ Wells and Dan Gherezgher and leading scorer Donovan Oday. Perth, Australia point guard Ethan Elliott is the lone returning starter.
For season ticket holders, the game will be included in all current Northern Kentucky season ticket packages.
NKU MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER
FULL NAME POS. HT. WT. YEAR HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL PREVIOUS SCHOOL
0 Willie Foster G 6-2 180 Fr. Lima, Ohio / Lima Senior High
1 Ryan Tolliver F 6-7 220 So. Hartford, Conn. / Northwest Catholic HS \
2 Eric Acker G 6-3 165 Sr. East New York, N.Y. / Eagle Academy for Young Men La Salle
4 Bryce Darbyshire G 6-4 180 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio / Sycamore HS
5 Patrick Otto Mäe F 6-9 225 Fr. Tallinn, Estonia / Tilton Prep School
6 Ethan Elliott G 6-1 190 So. Perth, Australia / Joondalup
7 Will Shortt F 6-8 230 Jr. Sydney, Australia / Auckland Grammar School Niagara
8 Gabrielius Jokubauskas G 6-5 190 Fr. Vilnius, Lithuania / Pilaite Gymnasium Rytas Vilnius
9 Davis-Ray G 6-6 195 So. St. Louis, Mo. / JSerra Catholic (Calif.) HS SMU
10 Donovan Rakotonanahary F 6-6 190 Jr. Antananarivo, Madagascar / Oak Hill Academy
13 Noah Pagotto F 6-8 215 Sr. Port Macquarie, Australia / Holy Spirit College E. Texas A&M
17 Juanma Ruiz F 6-9 200 So. Begijar, Spain / Real Betis
22 JJ Apathjang G 6-4 185 So. Salt Lake City, Utah / Judge Memorial Catholic
Talk about getting the jump on 2027
With the 2026 season barely in the books, the Florence Y’alls have already released their 2027 regular season schedule. And of course, season tickets and group ticket packages are available online now at florenceyalls.com.
No wonder the Y’alls say they’re “excited” to release this schedule. It’s the first time since the 2024 season that the Y’alls will be opening at home at Thomas More Stadium with a six-game homestand beginning May 6 with the Lake Erie Crushers the Opening Day opponent.
There’s another first here. This will be the first season for the newly rebranded National Association of Professional Baseball with the Frontier League giving itself a new name with a couple of new franchises. The rebranding comes at the hands of Covington’s BLDG brand consulting firm.
With league expansion and divisional realignment including the Kane County Cougars and Cleburne Railroaders, the Y’alls’ 2027 schedule will have a new look and a different mix of opponents.
Instead of six opponents played 12 times, the Y’alls will play Evansville, Kane County and Joliet – its Indiana and Illinois rivals – 12 times but will face Lake Erie, Schaumburg, Washington, Cleburne and Down East nine times with only six games against Windy City and three against Mississippi, three times at home.
The schedule will also allow Florence more opportunities to play teams from the Atlantic Conference. Last season, the Y’alls played 12 games against all Atlantic Conference teams while this year, they will play 21 with 12 at Thomas More Stadium, nine on the road.
And for the first time in franchise history, the Y’alls will travel to two places the team has never visited – North Carolina and Texas. Six-game road series against the Down East Bird Dawgs in Carolina and the Cleburne Railroaders in Texas are scheduled for July.
Toby Hall will be entering his second season as manager after the Y’alls improved by 12 wins on the season, earning their first playoff berth since 2021. For the complete 2027 Florence Y’alls’ schedule and additional information, visit FlorenceYalls.com.
Contact Dan Weber at dweber3440@aol.com. Follow him on X @dweber3440.