2016-17 NORTHERN KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL NOTES Northern Kentucky at Oakland Schedule Northern Kentucky University Norse (10-4 Overall, 1-0 Horizon League) Date Opponent Time (ET)/Result Oakland University Golden Grizzlies (11-3 Overall, 1-0 Horizon League) November Saturday, Dec. 31 - 3:00 p.m. (ET) The Blacktop at the O’Rena (4,000) in Rochester, Mich. 4 Wilmington (Exh.) W, 102-54 TV: ESPN3 with Neal Ruh (play-by-play), Justin Rose (analysis), Joanna Tuttle (sideline), Cortney Scott (Huddle) 11 Earlham W, 96-56 Radio: 55KRC (550 AM) with Jim Kelch (play-by-play) and Steve Moeller (analysis) 13 at Illinois L, 64-79 18 vs. Austin Peay^ L, 69-77 19 vs. Delaware^ W, 74-53 Last Game Starters 20 at Miami (Ohio)^ W, 79-70 26 North Carolina Central L, 74-82 4 23 25 30 34 30 at Morehead State W, 84-79 NKU NORSE NKU December 3 at Norfolk State W, 72-61 7 Eastern Illinois W, 80-70 10 at Southeast Missouri State W, 80-66 18 Eastern Washington W, 70-48 21 Brescia W, 97-73 Jeff Carson Cole Lavone Drew 23 at No. 11/13 West Virginia L, 61-92 Garrett Williams Murray Holland II McDonald 29 at Detroit Mercy* W, 81-70 R-So. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. 31 at Oakland* 3:00 p.m. 4.6 PPG 10.9 PPG 11.0 PPG 15.6 PPG 15.6 PPG January 6.0 RPG 6.1 RPG 2.5 RPG 2.5 RPG 7.5 RPG 5 Youngstown State* 7:30 p.m. 0.8 APG 58.9% FG 42.7% 3FG 3.5 APG 1.9 APG 7 Cleveland State* 1:00 p.m. 10 at Green Bay * 8:00 p.m. Fast-Break Points 12 at Milwaukee* 8:00 p.m. 20 Oakland* 7:00 p.m. Northern Kentucky Points 22 Detroit Mercy* 1:00 p.m. • NKU earned its 10th win of the season with an 81-70 victory at Detroit Mercy. 27 at UIC* 8:00 p.m. • Though only 14 games into the season, NKU has already surpassed last season’s win total (9). 29 at Valparaiso* 2:30 p.m. • NKU demolished Detroit Mercy on the boards, 44-31. February • In three regular-season games in the Motor City since joining the Horizon League, NKU is averaging 4 at Wright State* 7:00 p.m. 87.3 ppg and is 3-0 entering Saturday’s contest at Oakland. 9 Green Bay* 7:30 p.m. • The Norse have established themselves as one of the top rebounding teams in the country, winning 11 Milwaukee* 7:00 p.m. the rebounding battle in 13 of 14 games, including each of the last eight games to earn a ranking of 16 at Cleveland State* 7:45 p.m. 14th in rebounding margin at +9.2 and 20th in total rebounds per game (41.07). 18 at Youngstown State* 7:00 p.m. • NKU’s prowess on the boards has kept its opponents to an offensive rebounding percentage of 24.9 21 Wright State* 7:00 p.m. percent (35th in the nation according to KenPom.com), while Northern Kentucky has impacted the 24 UIC* 7:30 p.m. game on its offensive glass at 35.5 percent (35th nationally). 26 Valparaiso* 1:00 p.m. • Northern Kentucky surged into the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll for the first time ever on Dec. 19 at No. 24. NKU is currently ranked No. 25. March • NKU has nine players who set foot on a collegiate basketball court for the first time this year. Ac- 3-7 Motor City Madness & TBD cording to KenPom.com, the average experience for the Norse this year is 1.23 years, which is 310th. • After a four-year reclassification process, NKU is eligible to compete for a berth in the NCAA tourney ^ Tarkett Sports Classic (Oxford, Ohio) after receiving active status from the NCAA in August. * Horizon League Contest • NKU was picked to finish 7th in the Horizon League this season in the preseason poll. & Horizon League Championship in Detroit, Mich. Norse Points • G Cole Murray must really like Detroit Mercy’s Calihan Hall. In NKU’s two games at the Titans’ home ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS facility, he has averaged 23 ppg on the strength of 14-of-22 (64 percent) shooting from long range. • Both Murray and G Lavone Holland II tallied 21 points in the game. It marks the fourth time this Assistant AD for Communications: season in which NKU had two players score at least 20 points in the same contest. Bryan McEldowney • Murray has now reached double figures in seven of the last 10 games and is averaging 11.0 ppg Email: [email protected] on the year. Office Phone: (859) 572-5470 • Holland and F Drew McDonald are tied for the team-lead in scoring (15.6 ppg). Holland leads the team in assists (3.5 apg), while McDonald paces the Cell Phone: (937) 478-5027 team in rebounding (7.5 rpg). Fax: (859) 572-7956 • F Carson Williams, a two-time Horizon League Freshman of the Week Best Time to Reach Coach: honoree, is averaging 15.0 ppg and 8.3 rpg over the last four games. Contact Bryan McEldowney • Williams is fourth on the team in scoring at (10.9) and second in rebound- ing (6.1). Director of Comm. (Video): Brad Pope • F Jeff Garrett hauled in eight rebounds at Detroit Mercy. That marks the fifth time this season he has grabbed at least eight boards in a game. Asst. Athletic Comm. Dir.: Chloe Smith • G Mason Faulkner chipped in a career-high nine points at Detroit Mercy. Athletic Comm. GA: Melissa Powell 2016-17 NKU MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES NORTHERN KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER AND PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Alphabetical No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/High School/Previous School 20 Nick Ayers G 6-3 190 Jr. Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton 10 Tre Cobbs G 5-10 185 Fr. Lima, Ohio/Lima Central Catholic 11 Mason Faulkner G 6-1 165 Fr. Glasgow, Ky./Caverna 1 Jordan Garnett F 6-5 220 Jr. Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central 4 Jeff Garrett F 6-6 220 R-So. Gadsden, Ala./Oldsmar Christian School (Fla.)/Alabama 13 Brennan Gillis F 6-7 215 So. Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis 30 Lavone Holland II G 6-1 185 Jr. Louisville, Ky./Ballard/Coffeyville CC 2 Brandon Maxwell G 6-2 190 So. Orlando, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep/Daytona State CC 34 Drew McDonald F/C 6-7 250 So. Cold Spring, Ky./Newport Central Catholic 25 Cole Murray G 6-7 210 Sr. Delphi, Ind./Delphi 22 Matt Rosenwinkel G 6-2 230 Sr. Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township 3 Blake Spellman G 5-11 180 Fr. Lee’s Summit, Mo./Lee’s Summit 5 Jalen Tate F 6-5 170 Fr. Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central 32 Dantez Walton G 6-5 205 Fr. Lima, Ohio/Lima Central Catholic 23 Carson Williams F 6-5 230 Fr. Owenton, Ky./Owen County Numerical No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/High School/Previous School 1 Jordan Garnett F 6-5 220 Jr. Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central 2 Brandon Maxwell G 6-2 190 So. Orlando, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep/Daytona State CC 3 Blake Spellman G 5-11 180 Fr. Lee’s Summit, Mo./Lee’s Summit 4 Jeff Garrett F 6-6 220 R-So. Gadsden, Ala./Oldsmar Christian School (Fla.)/Alabama 5 Jalen Tate F 6-5 170 Fr. Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central 10 Tre Cobbs G 5-10 185 Fr. Lima, Ohio/Lima Central Catholic 11 Mason Faulkner G 6-1 165 Fr. Glasgow, Ky./Caverna 13 Brennan Gillis F 6-7 215 So. Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis 20 Nick Ayers G 6-3 190 Jr. Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton 22 Matt Rosenwinkel G 6-2 230 Sr. Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township 23 Carson Williams F 6-5 230 Fr. Owenton, Ky./Owen County 25 Cole Murray G 6-7 210 Sr. Delphi, Ind./Delphi 30 Lavone Holland II G 6-1 185 Jr. Louisville, Ky./Ballard/Coffeyville CC 32 Dantez Walton G 6-5 205 Fr. Lima, Ohio/Lima Central Catholic 34 Drew McDonald F/C 6-7 250 So. Cold Spring, Ky./Newport Central Catholic Staff Head Coach John Brannen (2nd Season, Marshall ‘97) Assistant Coach Sean Dwyer (2nd Season, Michigan State ‘09) Assistant Coach Tim Morris (1st Season, Stanford ‘08) Assistant Coach Chris Shumate (1st Season, Murray State ‘04) Dir. of Basketball Ops. Tony Rack (2nd Season, Northern Kentucky ‘12) Video Coordinator McIntyre Webb (1st Season, Michigan State ‘14) Graduate Assistant Kellen Smith (Saginaw Valley State, ‘16) Strength & Conditioning Coach Brian Boos Associate AD for Sports Med. Molly Woods 2016-17 HORIZON LEAGUE STANDINGS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE School Conference Overall Oakland 1-0 11-3 Tre Cobbs ........................................................................................... TRAY Northern Kentucky 1-0 10-4 Lavone Holland II ........................................................................ luh-VONN Green Bay 1-0 7-6 Matt Rosenwinkel ...........................................................ROSE-en-wink-uhl Dantez Walton ............................................................................... DAN-tez Youngstown State 1-0 7-7 Valparaiso 0-0 10-3 UIC 0-0 7-6 Wright State 0-1 9-5 PRESEASON ALL-HORIZON LEAGUE HONORS Cleveland State 0-1 4-9 First Team Milwaukee 0-1 4-10 Alec Peters F Sr. Valparaiso Detroit Mercy 0-1 2-11 Jalen Hayes F R-Jr. Oakland Cameron Morse G Jr. Youngstown State * Through games played Dec. 29 Dikembe Dixson F So. UIC HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL Charles Cooper G Sr. Green Bay Rank (1st) Pts Second Team 1.