2017–18 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team

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.

2017–18 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball
Horizon League regular season champions
NIT, First round
ConferenceHorizon League
2017–18 record22–10 (15–3 Horizon)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Sean Dwyer
  • Tim Morris
  • Chris Shumate
Home arenaBB&T Arena
2017–18 Horizon League men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Northern Kentucky15–3 .833  22–10  .688
Wright State †14–4 .778  25–10  .714
UIC12–6 .667  20–16  .556
Oakland10–8 .556  19–14  .576
Milwaukee8–10 .444  16–17  .485
IUPUI8–10 .444  11–19  .367
Green Bay7–11 .389  13–20  .394
Cleveland State6–12 .333  12–23  .343
Youngstown State6–12 .333  8–24  .250
Detroit4–14 .222  8–24  .250
† 2018 Horizon League Tournament winner

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
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Brandon Maxwell2G6'2"190SophomoreOrlando, FLTransferred
Blake Spellman3G5'11"180FreshmanLee's Summit, MOTransferred to Central Missouri
Brennan Gillis13F6'7"215SophomoreIndianapolis, INLeft the team due to personal reasons
Matt Rosenwinkel22G6'2"230SeniorRochelle, ILWalk-on; graduated
Cole Murray25G6'7"210SeniorDelphi, INGraduated

Incoming transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Tyler Sharpe15G6'1"185SophomoreLouisville, KYTransferred 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
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
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)  
Recruiting 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)  
Recruiting 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
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    F 1 Jordan Garnett 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) SrWarren Central High School Indianapolis, Indiana
    G 2 Paul Djoko 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrChampagne Châlons-Reims Basket Strasbourg, France
    G 3 Tre Cobbs 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)185 lb (84 kg) SoLima Central Catholic High School Lima, Ohio
    F 4 Jeff Garrett 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS JrOldsmar Christian School
    Alabama    		 Gadsden, Alabama
    F 5 Jalen Tate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg) RS FrPickerington High School Central Pickerington, Ohio
    G 11 Mason Faulkner 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)165 lb (75 kg) FrCaverna High School Glasgow, Kentucky
    G 15 Tyler Sharpe  6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg) SoBullitt East High School
    Louisville    		 Mt. Washington, Kentucky
    G 20 Nick Ayers (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) SrSimon Kenton High School Independence, Kentucky
    F 22 Darian Childress (W) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrFern Creek High School Louisville, Kentucky
    F 23 Carson Williams 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)230 lb (104 kg) SoOwen County High School Owenton, Kentucky
    G 30 Lavone Holland II 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg) SrBallard High School
    Coffeyville Community College    		 Louisville, Kentucky
    G 32 Dantez Walton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) SoLima Central Catholic High School Lima, Ohio
    C 33 Chris Vogt 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)240 lb (109 kg) FrGraves County High School Mayfield, Kentucky
    F/C 34 Drew McDonald 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)250 lb (113 kg) JrNewport 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 2017-07-11.
    2. Northerner, Matt Sexton | The (2017-03-06). "NKU beats Wright State 82–77 in Horizon League tournament". WCPO. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    3. "Northern Kentucky downs Youngstown State | Horizon League". www.horizonleague.org. Archived from the original on 2017-10-02. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    4. "UWM Panthers fall to N. Kentucky in Horizon League Tournament Championship game". FOX6Now.com. 2017-03-08. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    5. "NKU goes dancing in first year of eligibility". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    6. "A historic run: NKU savors tournament even in defeat". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    7. "Freshmen lead Kentucky over Northern Kentucky: NCAA Tournament first round". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
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