2016–17 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team

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]

2016–17 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball
NCAA Tournament, First Round
ConferenceHorizon League
2016–17 record24–11 (12–6 Horizon)
Head coachJohn Brannen (2nd season)
Assistant coaches
  • Sean Dwyer
  • Tim Morris
  • Chris Shumate
Home arenaBB&T Arena
2016–17 Horizon League men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Oakland14–4 .778  25–9  .735
Valparaiso14–4 .778  24–9  .727
Green Bay12–6 .667  18–14  .563
Northern Kentucky †12–6 .667  24–11  .686
Wright State11–7 .611  20–12  .625
UIC7–11 .389  17–19  .472
Detroit6–12 .333  8–23  .258
Cleveland State5–13 .278  9–22  .290
Youngstown State5–13 .278  13–21  .382
Milwaukee4–14 .222  11–24  .314
† 2017 Horizon League Tournament winner

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
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Tyler White3G6'3"185SeniorLima, OHGraduated
Deontae Cole4F6'6"210JuniorToledo, OHGraduate transferred to Mount Vernon Nazarene
Jake Giesler20F6'7"235RS SeniorFort Thomas, KYGraduated
Jalen Billups21F/C6'6"245RS SeniorCincinnati, OHGraduated
Todd Johnson23G5'9"175SeniorElkhart, INGraduated
Jared Bryant32F/C6'7"255RS SeniorCincinnati, OHGraduated
Skyler Kolli33G5'10"150FreshmanIndianapolis, INWalk-on; left the team due to personal reasons
Dean Danos44G5'11"175JuniorOak Lawn, ILLeft the team due to personal reasons

Incoming transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Brandon Maxwell2G6'1"175SophomoreOrlando, FLJunior college transferred from Daytona State College

Recruiting class of 2016
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
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 
Recruiting 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 
Recruiting 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  
Recruiting 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)  
Recruiting 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  
Recruiting 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
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    F 1 Jordan Garnett 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrWarren Central High School Indianapolis, Indiana
    G 2 Brandon Maxwell 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoDaytona State College Orlando, Florida
    G 3 Blake Spellman 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrLee's Summit High School Lee's Summit, Missouri
    F 4 Jeff Garrett 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS SoAlabama Gadsden, Alabama
    F 5 Jalen Tate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg) FrPickerington High School Central Pickerington, Ohio
    G 10 Tre Cobbs 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrLima Central Catholic High School Lima, Ohio
    G 11 Mason Faulkner 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)165 lb (75 kg) FrCaverna High School Glasgow, Kentucky
    F 13 Brennan Gillis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) SoBen Davis High School Indianapolis, Indiana
    G 20 Nick Ayers 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) JrSimon Kenton High School Independence, Kentucky
    G 22 Matt Rosenwinkel (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)230 lb (104 kg) SrRochelle Township High School Rochelle, Illinois
    F 23 Carson Williams 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)230 lb (104 kg) FrOwen County High School Owenton, Kentucky
    G 25 Cole Murray 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg) SrDelphi Community High School Delphi, Indiana
    G 30 Lavone Holland II 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg) JrCoffeyville Community College Louisville, Kentucky
    G 32 Dantez Walton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrLima Central Catholic High School Lima, Ohio
    F/C 34 Drew McDonald 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)250 lb (113 kg) SoNewport 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 (2017-03-06). "NKU beats Wright State 82-77 in Horizon League tournament". WCPO. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    2. "Northern Kentucky downs Youngstown State | Horizon League". www.horizonleague.org. Archived from the original on 2017-10-02. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    3. "UWM Panthers fall to N. Kentucky in Horizon League Tournament Championship game". FOX6Now.com. 2017-03-08. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    4. "NKU goes dancing in first year of eligibility". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    5. "A historic run: NKU savors tournament even in defeat". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    6. "Freshmen lead Kentucky over Northern Kentucky: NCAA Tournament first round". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    7. http://www.nkunorse.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=135&path=mbball
    8. http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/94
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