2017–18 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team

2017–18 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball
Horizon League regular season champions
NIT, First round
ConferenceHorizon League
Record22–10 (15–3 Horizon)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Sean Dwyer
  • Tim Morris
  • Chris Shumate
Home arenaBB&T Arena
Seasons
2017–18 Horizon League men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Northern Kentucky 15 – 3   .833 22 – 10   .688
Wright State † 14 – 4   .778 25 – 10   .714
UIC 12 – 6   .667 20 – 16   .556
Oakland 10 – 8   .556 19 – 14   .576
Milwaukee 8 – 10   .444 16 – 17   .485
IUPUI 8 – 10   .444 11 – 19   .367
Green Bay 7 – 11   .389 13 – 20   .394
Cleveland State 6 – 12   .333 12 – 23   .343
Youngstown State 6 – 12   .333 8 – 24   .250
Detroit 4 – 14   .222 8 – 24   .250
† 2018 Horizon League Tournament winner

The 2017–18 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team represented Northern Kentucky University (NKU) during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Norse, led by third-year head coach John Brannen, played their home games at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky as members of the Horizon League. They finished the season 22–10, 15–3 in Horizon League play to win the Horizon League regular season championship. They were upset in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League tournament by No. 8 seed Cleveland State. As a regular season league champion who failed to win their league tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Louisville.

The Norse shared their home arena, BB&T Arena, with the University of Cincinnati's men's basketball team during the season while Cincinnati's home arena, Fifth Third Arena, underwent renovations during the season.[1]

Previous season

The Norse finished the 2016–17 season 24–11, 13–6 in Horizon League play to finish in a tie for third place. As the No. 4 seed in the Horizon League tournament, they defeated Wright State,[2] Youngstown State,[3] and Milwaukee[4] to win the Horizon League tournament.[5] They received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in the school's first year of eligibility after its transition to a Division I school.[6] They lost in the first round to Kentucky.[7]

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Brandon Maxwell 2 G 6'2" 190 Sophomore Orlando, FL Transferred
Blake Spellman 3 G 5'11" 180 Freshman Lee's Summit, MO Transferred to Central Missouri
Brennan Gillis 13 F 6'7" 215 Sophomore Indianapolis, IN Left the team for personal reasons
Matt Rosenwinkel 22 G 6'2" 230 Senior Rochelle, IL Walk-on; graduated
Cole Murray 25 G 6'7" 210 Senior Delphi, IN Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Tyler Sharpe 15 G 6'1" 185 Sophomore Louisville, KY Transferred from Louisville. Under NCAA transfer rules, Sharpe will have to sit out for the 2017–18 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.

Recruiting class of 2017

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Paul Djoko
PG 		France Champagne Châlons-reims Basket 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg)  
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 0
Chris Vogt
C 		Mayfield, KY Graves County High School 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 215 lb (98 kg)  
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 0
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 19, 2017.

Roster

2017–18 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 1 Jordan Garnett 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Warren Central High School Indianapolis, Indiana
G 2 Paul Djoko 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Champagne Châlons-Reims Basket Strasbourg, France
G 3 Tre Cobbs 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Lima Central Catholic High School Lima, Ohio
F 4 Jeff Garrett 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Jr Oldsmar Christian School
Alabama 		Gadsden, Alabama
F 5 Jalen Tate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) RS Fr Pickerington High School Central Pickerington, Ohio
G 11 Mason Faulkner 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Caverna High School Glasgow, Kentucky
G 15 Tyler Sharpe Current redshirt 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Bullitt East High School
Louisville 		Mt. Washington, Kentucky
G 20 Nick Ayers (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Simon Kenton High School Independence, Kentucky
F 22 Darian Childress (W) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Fern Creek High School Louisville, Kentucky
F 23 Carson Williams 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Owen County High School Owenton, Kentucky
G 30 Lavone Holland II 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Ballard High School
Coffeyville Community College 		Louisville, Kentucky
G 32 Dantez Walton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Lima Central Catholic High School Lima, Ohio
C 33 Chris Vogt 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Fr Graves County High School Mayfield, Kentucky
F/C 34 Drew McDonald 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Jr Newport Central Catholic High School Cold Spring, Kentucky
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 1, 2017

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 4, 2017*
2:30 pm 		Urbana W 81–26 
 17 – McDonald   8 – Garrett   7 – Faulkner  BB&T Arena (2,713)
Highland Heights, KY
Non-conference regular season
November 10, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		East Tennessee State W 81–63  1–0
  22 – McDonald   10 – McDonald   5 – Faulkner/Holland  BB&T Arena (3,586)
Highland Heights, KY
November 12, 2017*
1:00 pm, ESPN3 		Wilmington (OH) W 93–65  2–0
  18 – McDonald   15 – Garrett   5 – Walton  BB&T Arena (2,491)
Highland Heights, KY
November 17, 2017*
5:00 pm 		vs. James Madison
The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase Quarterfinals 		W 87–78  3–0
  24 – Holland   7 – Williams   5 – Holland  Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium 
Nassau, Bahamas
November 18, 2017*
8:00 pm 		vs. Iona
The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase Semifinals 		W 85–72  4–0
  20 – Williams   6 – Williams   5 – Garnett/Holland  Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium (417)
Nassau, Bahamas
November 19, 2017*
8:00 pm 		vs. Vermont
The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase Championship 		L 64–66  4–1
  14 – Holland   6 – McDonald   5 – Holland  Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium (477)
Nassau, Bahamas
November 25, 2017*
6:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Memphis L 74–76  4–2
  19 – Holland   8 – McDonald   8 – Holland  FedExForum (5,369)
Memphis, TN
November 29, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Berea W 112–33  5–2
  18 – Williams   8 – Garrett   7 – Faulkner  BB&T Arena (2,506)
Highland Heights, KY
December 2, 2017*
7:00 pm, CW Cincinnati 		Morehead State W 86–49  6–2
  22 – McDonald   7 – Garrett   4 – Holland  BB&T Arena (4,064)
Highland Heights, KY
December 6, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at East Tennessee State L 71–84  6–3
  22 – Williams   6 – McDonald   5 – Holland  Freedom Hall Civic Center (3,484)
Johnson City, TN
December 10, 2017*
6:00 pm, CW Cincinnati 		Eastern Kentucky W 91–63  7–3
  23 – McDonald   9 – McDonald   6 – Faulkner  BB&T Arena (3,622)
Highland Heights, KY
December 17, 2017*
12:00 pm, ESPN3 		at UMBC L 75–76  7–4
  24 – McDonald   11 – McDonald   6 – Holland  Retriever Activities Center (781)
Catonsville, MD
December 19, 2017*
8:00 pm, SECN+ 		at No. 8 Texas A&M L 58–64  7–5
  16 – McDonald   11 – McDonald   7 – Holland  Reed Arena (6,595)
College Station, TX
Horizon League regular season
December 28, 2017
7:30 pm, ESPN3 		IUPUI W 77–59  8–5
(1–0) 		 27 – McDonald   10 – McDonald   8 – Holland  BB&T Arena (4,203)
Highland Heights, KY
December 30, 2017
7:00 pm, CW Cincinnati 		UIC W 86–51  9–5
(2–0) 		 19 – McDonald   12 – McDonald   5 – Holland/Tate  BB&T Arena (3,688)
Highland Heights, KY
January 5, 2018
9:00 pm, ESPN2 		at Oakland W 87–83  10–5
(3–0) 		 21 – Williams   12 – McDonald   3 – Holland  Athletics Center O'rena (3,411)
Rochester, MI
January 7, 2018
2:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Detroit W 56–54  11–5
(4–0) 		 16 – McDonald   9 – McDonald   3 – Garnett  Calihan Hall (1,061)
Detroit, MI
January 11, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Wright State L 81–84  11–6
(4–1) 		 22 – Holland   10 – McDonald   5 – Holland  BB&T Arena (4,987)
Highland Heights, KY
January 15, 2018
7:30 pm, ESPN3 		Cleveland State W 70–55  12–6
(5–1) 		 16 – Faulkner   9 – Williams   5 – McDonald  BB&T Arena (3,812)
Highland Heights, KY
January 18, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Milwaukee W 91–64  13–6
(6–1) 		 25 – McDonald   12 – McDonald   10 – Holland  UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena (1,009)
Milwaukee, WI
January 20, 2018
1:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Green Bay W 77–65  14–6
(7–1) 		 16 – Holland   6 – Garnett/Holland   4 – Garnett/Holland  Resch Center (3,119)
Green Bay, WI
January 26, 2018
9:00 pm, ESPNU 		Oakland L 70–83  14–7
(7–2) 		 19 – McDonald   10 – McDonald   5 – Faulkner  BB&T Arena (5,362)
Highland Heights, KY
January 28, 2018
1:00 pm, CW Cincinnati 		Detroit W 72–44  15–7
(8–2) 		 13 – Williams   13 – McDonald   5 – Tate  BB&T Arena (3,696)
Highland Heights, KY
February 1, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Youngstown State W 95–84  16–7
(9–2) 		 26 – McDonald   16 – McDonald   6 – Garnett  Beeghly Center (1,391)
Youngstown, OH
February 3, 2018
3:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Cleveland State W 78–61  17–7
(10–2) 		 21 – Holland   11 – Williams   7 – McDonald  Wolstein Center (1,853)
Cleveland, OH
February 8, 2018
7:30 pm, ESPN3 		Milwaukee W 54–52  18–7
(11–2) 		 16 – McDonald   10 – McDonald   6 – Holland  BB&T Arena (4,819)
Highland Heights, KY
February 10, 2018
7:00 pm, CW Cincinnati 		Green Bay W 86–80  19–7
(12–2) 		 19 – Sharpe   15 – McDonald   6 – Garnett  BB&T Arena (6,455)
Highland Heights, KY
February 16, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Wright State L 67–69  19–8
(12–3) 		 16 – Sharpe   12 – McDonald   4 – Holland  Nutter Center (7,205)
Fairborn, OH
February 19, 2018
7:30 pm, ESPN3 		Youngstown State W 70–51  20–8
(13–3) 		 27 – McDonald   12 – McDonald   4 – Holland  BB&T Arena (4,001)
Highland Heights, KY
February 23, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPN3 		at UIC W 79–72  21–8
(14–3) 		 25 – Holland   7 – McDonald   3 – Faulkner/Holland/Tate  UIC Pavilion (3,168)
Chicago, IL
February 25, 2018
1:00 pm, ESPN3 		at IUPUI W 75–56  22–8
(15–3) 		 17 – Holland   11 – McDonald   3 – Holland  Indiana Farmers Coliseum (1,534)
Indianapolis, IN
Horizon League tournament
March 3, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPN3 		(1) vs. (8) Cleveland State
Quarterfinals 		L 80–89  22–9
  24 – McDonald   13 – McDonald   5 – Holland  Little Caesars Arena (6,726)
Detroit, MI
NIT
March 13, 2018*
7:00 pm, ESPN 		(7) at (2) Louisville
First round – Baylor Bracket 		L 58–66  22–10
  19 – McDonald   13 – McDonald   3 – Tate  KFC Yum! Center (9,974)
Louisville, KY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

References

  1. ^ "UC will play 2017–18 basketball season at BB&T Arena". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  2. ^ Northerner, Matt Sexton | The (March 6, 2017). "NKU beats Wright State 82–77 in Horizon League tournament". WCPO. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  3. ^ "Northern Kentucky downs Youngstown State | Horizon League". www.horizonleague.org. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "UWM Panthers fall to N. Kentucky in Horizon League tournament championship game". FOX6Now.com. March 8, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  5. ^ "NKU goes dancing in first year of eligibility". SBNation.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. ^ "A historic run: NKU savors tournament even in defeat". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  7. ^ "Freshmen lead Kentucky over Northern Kentucky: NCAA Tournament first round". OregonLive.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.