2016–17 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team

2016–17 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball
NCAA tournament, First Round
ConferenceHorizon League
Record24–11 (12–6 Horizon)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Sean Dwyer
  • Tim Morris
  • Chris Shumate
Home arenaBB&T Arena
Seasons
2016–17 Horizon League men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Oakland 14 – 4   .778 25 – 9   .735
Valparaiso 14 – 4   .778 24 – 9   .727
Green Bay 12 – 6   .667 18 – 14   .563
Northern Kentucky † 12 – 6   .667 24 – 11   .686
Wright State 11 – 7   .611 20 – 12   .625
UIC 7 – 11   .389 17 – 19   .472
Detroit 6 – 12   .333 8 – 23   .258
Cleveland State 5 – 13   .278 9 – 22   .290
Youngstown State 5 – 13   .278 13 – 21   .382
Milwaukee 4 – 14   .222 11 – 24   .314
† 2017 Horizon League Tournament winner

The 2016–17 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team represented Northern Kentucky University (NKU) during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Norse, led by second-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 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,[1] Youngstown State,[2] and Milwaukee[3] to win the Horizon League tournament.[4] 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.[5] They lost in the first round to Kentucky.[6]

Previous season

The Norse finished the 2015–16 season 9–21, 5–13 in Horizon League play to finish in eighth place. They lost in the first round of the Horizon League tournament to Milwaukee.

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Tyler White 3 G 6'3" 185 Senior Lima, OH Graduated
Deontae Cole 4 F 6'6" 210 Junior Toledo, OH Graduate transferred to Mount Vernon Nazarene
Jake Giesler 20 F 6'7" 235 RS Senior Fort Thomas, KY Graduated
Jalen Billups 21 F/C 6'6" 245 RS Senior Cincinnati, OH Graduated
Todd Johnson 23 G 5'9" 175 Senior Elkhart, IN Graduated
Jared Bryant 32 F/C 6'7" 255 RS Senior Cincinnati, OH Graduated
Skyler Kolli 33 G 5'10" 150 Freshman Indianapolis, IN Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Dean Danos 44 G 5'11" 175 Junior Oak Lawn, IL Left the team for personal reasons

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Brandon Maxwell 2 G 6'1" 175 Sophomore Orlando, FL Junior college transferred from Daytona State College

Recruiting class of 2016

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Carson Williams
#53 SF 		Owenton, KY Owen County High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Aug 26, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Blake Spellman
PG 		Lee's Summit, MO Lee's Summit High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Aug 10, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Mason Faulkner
SG 		Glasgow, KY Caverna High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) N/A  
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Jalen Tate
SF 		Pickerington, OH Pickerington Central High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg)  
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Dantez Walton
SF 		Lima, OH Lima Central Catholic High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) N/A  
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
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:

  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 19, 2016.

Roster

2016–17 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) Jr Warren Central High School Indianapolis, Indiana
G 2 Brandon Maxwell 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Daytona State College Orlando, Florida
G 3 Blake Spellman 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Lee's Summit High School Lee's Summit, Missouri
F 4 Jeff Garrett 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS So Alabama Gadsden, Alabama
F 5 Jalen Tate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Pickerington High School Central Pickerington, Ohio
G 10 Tre Cobbs 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Lima Central Catholic High School Lima, Ohio
G 11 Mason Faulkner 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Caverna High School Glasgow, Kentucky
F 13 Brennan Gillis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Ben Davis High School Indianapolis, Indiana
G 20 Nick Ayers 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Simon Kenton High School Independence, Kentucky
G 22 Matt Rosenwinkel (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Sr Rochelle Township High School Rochelle, Illinois
F 23 Carson Williams 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr Owen County High School Owenton, Kentucky
G 25 Cole Murray 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Delphi Community High School Delphi, Indiana
G 30 Lavone Holland II 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Coffeyville Community College Louisville, Kentucky
G 32 Dantez Walton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Lima Central Catholic High School Lima, Ohio
F/C 34 Drew McDonald 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) So 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

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
11/04/2016*
8:00 pm 		Wilmington W 102–54 
BB&T Arena (1,750)
Highland Heights, KY
Non-conference regular season
11/11/2016*
7:00 pm 		Earlham W 95–56  1–0
 BB&T Arena (1,868)
Highland Heights, KY
11/13/2016*
6:00 pm 		at Illinois L 64–79  1–1
 State Farm Center (10,888)
Champaign, IL
11/18/2016*
5:00 pm 		vs. Austin Peay
Tarkett Sports Classic 		L 69–77  1–2
 Millett Hall 
Oxford, OH
11/19/2016*
1:30 pm 		vs. Delaware
Tarkett Sports Classic 		W 74–53  2–2
 Millett Hall 
Oxford, OH
11/20/2016*
2:00 pm 		at Miami (OH)
Tarkett Sports Classic 		W 79–70  3–2
 Millett Hall (1,229)
Oxford, OH
11/26/2016*
7:00 pm 		North Carolina Central L 74–82  3–3
 BB&T Arena (2,141)
Highland Heights, KY
11/30/2016*
7:00 pm 		at Morehead State W 84–79  4–3
 Ellis Johnson Arena (3,110)
Morehead, KY
12/03/2016*
6:00 pm 		at Norfolk State W 72–61  5–3
 Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall (1,261)
Norfolk, VA
12/07/2016*
7:00 pm 		Eastern Illinois W 80–70  6–3
 BB&T Arena (1,965)
Highland Heights, KY
12/10/2016*
3:00 pm 		at Southeast Missouri State W 80–66  7–3
 Show Me Center (1,379)
Cape Girardeau, MO
12/18/2016*
1:00 pm, ESPN3 		Eastern Washington W 70–48  8–3
 BB&T Arena (2,026)
Highland Heights, KY
12/21/2016*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Brescia W 97–73  9–3
 BB&T Arena (1,665)
Highland Heights, KY
12/23/2016*
4:00 pm, RTPT 		at No. 11 West Virginia L 61–92  9–4
 WVU Coliseum (10,197)
Morgantown, WV
Horizon League regular season
12/29/2016
7:30 pm, ESPN3 		at Detroit W 81–70  10–4
(1–0) 		Calihan Hall (1,299)
Detroit, MI
12/31/2016
3:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Oakland L 65–76  10–5
(1–1) 		Athletics Center O'rena (2,417)
Rochester, MI
01/05/2017
7:30 pm, ESPN3 		Youngstown State W 83–70  11–5
(2–1) 		BB&T Arena (2,632)
Highland Heights, KY
01/07/2017
1:00 pm, ESPN3 		Cleveland State W 83–75  12–5
(3–1) 		BB&T Arena (2,723)
Highland Heights, KY
01/10/2017
8:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Green Bay L 71–80  12–6
(3–2) 		Resch Center (2,063)
Green Bay, WI
01/12/2017
8:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Milwaukee L 58–68  12–7
(3–3) 		UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena (1,389)
Milwaukee, WI
01/20/2017
7:00 pm 		Oakland W 79–70  12–8
(3–4) 		BB&T Arena (4,784)
Highland Heights, KY
01/22/2017
1:00 pm 		Detroit W 101–87  13–8
(4–4) 		BB&T Arena (2,083)
Highland Heights, KY
01/27/2017
8:00 pm 		at UIC W 79–62  14–8
(5–4) 		UIC Pavilion (2,898)
Chicago, IL
01/29/2017
2:30 pm, ESPN3 		at Valparaiso L 58–65  14–9
(5–5) 		Athletics–Recreation Center (3,578)
Valparaiso, IN
02/04/2017
7:00 pm 		at Wright State W 83–79  15–9
(6–5) 		Nutter Center (5,993)
Dayton, OH
02/09/2017
7:30 pm 		Green Bay W 69–67  16–9
(7–5) 		BB&T Arena (3,416)
Highland Heights, KY
02/11/2017
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Milwaukee W 69–63  17–9
(8–5) 		BB&T Arena (4,963)
Highland Heights, KY
02/16/2017
7:45 pm, ESPN3 		at Cleveland State W 62–60  18–9
(9–5) 		Wolstein Center (1,247)
Cleveland, OH
02/18/2017
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Youngstown State L 77–81  18–10
(9–6) 		Beeghly Center (4,609)
Youngstown, OH
02/21/2017
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Wright State W 83–76  19–10
(10–6) 		BB&T Arena (2,908)
Highland Heights, KY
02/24/2017
7:30 pm, ESPN3 		UIC W 90–82  20–10
(11–6) 		BB&T Arena (3,025)
Highland Heights, KY
02/26/2017
1:00 pm, ESPN3 		Valparaiso W 82–78  21–10
(12–6) 		BB&T Arena (3,304)
Highland Heights, KY
Horizon League tournament
03/05/2017
7:30 pm, ESPN3 		(4) vs. (5) Wright State
Quarterfinals 		W 82–77  22–10
 Joe Louis Arena (5,654)
Detroit, MI
03/06/2017
7:00 pm, ESPNU 		(4) vs. (9) Youngstown State
Semifinals 		W 84–74  23–10
 Joe Louis Arena (3,708)
Detroit, MI
03/07/2017
7:00 pm, ESPN 		(4) vs. (10) Milwaukee
Championship 		W 59–53  24–10
 Joe Louis Arena (5,929)
Detroit, MI
NCAA tournament
03/19/2017
10:07 pm, CBS 		(15 S) vs. (2 S) No. 5 Kentucky
First Round 		L 70–79  24–11
 Bankers Life Fieldhouse (18,269)
Indianapolis, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
S=South Region.
All times are in Eastern Time Source:[7][8].

References

  1. ^ Northerner, Matt Sexton | The (March 6, 2017). "NKU beats Wright State 82-77 in Horizon League tournament". WCPO. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  2. ^ "Northern Kentucky downs Youngstown State | Horizon League". www.horizonleague.org. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  3. ^ "UWM Panthers fall to N. Kentucky in Horizon League tournament championship game". FOX6Now.com. March 8, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "NKU goes dancing in first year of eligibility". SBNation.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  5. ^ "A historic run: NKU savors tournament even in defeat". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. ^ "Freshmen lead Kentucky over Northern Kentucky: NCAA Tournament first round". OregonLive.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  7. ^ "2016-17 Men's Basketball Schedule".
  8. ^ "2021-22 Northern Kentucky Norse Schedule".