North Kentucky News

This Week in Northern Kentucky Athletics: January 17 – January 22

The New Year celebrations are over and we are into the heart of Norse action as this week features four home basketball games (two each for the men's and women's programs), a quick return to competition for men's and women's track & field, and the men's and women's tennis programs continue their Spring season in another jam-packed week for Northern Kentucky Athletics.
 
TUESDAY NIGHT AT DEAD LOW BREWING FOR THE NKU NORSE NATION BASKETBALL COACHES SHOW
- Tuesday at Dead Low Brewing (Live from 6-7 PM ET): Website | Listen Live
 
The Norse Nation Basketball Coaches show is back once again as NKU Athletics takes over Dead Low Brewing on Tuesday, Jan. 17. 

Join NKU basketball head coaches Darrin Horn and Camryn Whitaker every Tuesday from 6:00-7:00 PM ET for the next six weeks at the closest brewery to the NKU campus. 

Jim Kelch and Rick Broering lead the broadcast, with this week's show being available nationwide on ESPN 1530.
 
Kids eat free every Tuesday at Dead Low and fans will also be able to take advantage of a $10 pretzels and pint deal. 

Norse Nation can also enjoy Dead Low's Norse Golden Ale, a delicious craft beer available exclusively at the brewery and all home NKU men's basketball games.

Complete information for the upcoming shows can be found here. Doors open at 4 PM ET.

MEN'S BASKETBALL
- Thursday vs. Cleveland State (7 PM ET – Academic Honors Night sponsored by Groen Family McDonald's): Watch | Listen | Tickets | Live Stats
- Saturday vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (6 PM ET): Watch | Listen | Tickets | Live Stats
 
The Northern Kentucky men's basketball program returns to Truist Arena in first place with two Horizon League clashes on the docket this week. 

The Norse first host Cleveland State on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 PM ET and follow it up with a showdown against Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 6 PM ET.
 
NKU is tied for first in the Horizon with Youngstown State, Milwaukee and Cleveland State. All four teams currently sit at 6-2 in conference play.

Northern Kentucky enters the week all over the national rankings as the Norse are ranked 16th in the nation in turnover margin (4.6), 18th in steals per game (9.5), 26th in turnovers forced per game (16.88), 57th in scoring defense (allows just 64.5 points per contest) and 89th in fastbreak points (11.47).
 
On the individual side, Marques Warrick is still amongst the national leaders in scoring and ranks 20th in NCAA DI in points (363), 22nd in made field goals (130) and 37th in points per game (19.1).
 
Chris Brandon joins Warrick on the national leaderboard in rebounds (13th, 183), rebounds per game (28th, 9.6), offensive boards per contest (11th, 3.84) and double doubles (90th, four).

Sam Vinson also continues to be one of the best defensive guards in the nation with an average of 2.62 steals per game (ninth in the country) and 42 swipes overall (15th).

To go with the action on the court, Thursday's game against the Vikings will also feature NKU Athletics Academic Honors Night, sponsored by Groen Family McDonalds to celebrate the outstanding academic accomplishments acheived by all NKU student-athletes this semster.
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
- Friday vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (11 AM ET): Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
- Sunday vs. Cleveland State (1 PM ET): Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
 
Northern Kentucky is back on track after taking down Detroit Mercy last week in impressive fashion by a score of 75-51. 

NKU improves to 10-7 on the year with a 4-4 record in Horizon League action and currently sits in a tie for fifth place in the conference.

The Norse begin this week back inside Truist Arena for a pair of Horizon League matchups, beginning with Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday, Jan. 20. 

Tip for this game is scheduled for an 11 AM ET start as it will be School Day in Highland Heights and the Norse will welcome local area schools to join them inside Truist and cheer them on that morning. 

Northern Kentucky has dominated the all-time series against the Mastodons as well, leading 35-8 all-time.
 
NKU wraps up the week with a huge showdown on Sunday, Jan. 22 as league-leading Cleveland State comes to town. 

This contest is now scheduled for a 1 PM ET tip and will be one of the biggest tests of the season for the Norse. 

This matchup will also feature a clash of two of the top players in the Horizon League as Lindsey Duvall goes head-to-head with CSU's Destiny Leo.
 
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
- Friday at Bellarmine Open (F - 10 AM | T – 11 AM): Meet Information and Schedule (DOCX)
 
The Northern Kentucky track & field program will be right back in action with another trip down to Louisville for the 2023 Bellarmine Open, hosted at the Norton Health Care Sports and Learning Center on Friday, Jan 20. 

The track portion of the schedule will get underway at 10 AM ET while the student-athletes hit the track at 11 AM.
 
The Norse are coming off two highly successful meets with UK's Rod McCravy Memorial and the Commonwealth College Opener. 

NKU opened the year with four school records in early December and followed it up last week with the McCravy Memorial where they posted 21 new personal bests overall between the men's and women's squads.
 
Standout performances include Andrea Armstrong (first in the Horizon League in the 400), Olivia Kennedy (second in the 800), Julia Pohl (second in the high jump), the women's 4x400 group (second in the conference), Megan Cole (fourth in the 3000), Erin Starkes (fifth in the 60H and 200), Meredith Goff (fifth in the 60) and Natnael Weldemichael (seventh in the 3000).

A live results link should be available and will be posted on NKUNorse.com once it goes live.
 
MEN'S TENNIS
- Wednesday at Eastern Kentucky (1 PM ET): Richmond, KY
- Friday at Xavier (5 PM ET): Cincinnati, OH: Watch
 
Northern Kentucky men's tennis is coming off a 1-1 overall record to open the year, first with a win over regional rival Bellarmine at home by a score of 6-1. 

NKU saw doubles victories from both Brandon Ponomarew and Emilio Bravo and Josef Zapletal and Santiago Casamayor along with singles wins from nearly every Norse in action. 

NKU topped off the weekend with a visit to No. 2 Ohio State but ultimately fell at 4-0.
 
The Norse look to bounce right back this week with a trip to Richmond, Ky. to take on the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 1 PM ET. 

EKU has gotten the best of the Norse recently leading the series 6-0 all-time, last meeting back on Jan. 27, 2018.
 
NKU then concludes the week with a quick trip across the river to face Xavier on Friday, Jan. 20 in Cincinnati. 

The Norse will look for their first victory against the Musketeers as XU leads the series at 12-0, last meeting on Jan. 24, 2020.
 
WOMEN'S TENNIS
- Thursday at Eastern Kentucky (1 PM ET): Richmond, KY
- Friday at Xavier (1:30 PM ET): Cincinnati, OH: Watch
 
Northern Kentucky women's tennis is officially back this week as the Norse kick off the 2023 season with a pair of nonconference road contests. 

First The Norse will travel to Richmond, Ky. to take on Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, Jan. 19 to open the year at 1 PM ET inside the Greg Adams Tennis Center. 

NKU and EKU have not met since 2012 and the Colonels hold a 3-0 all-time advantage over the Norse. 
 
NKU will then wrap up this opening week against local rival Xavier in Cincinnati on Friday, Jan. 20 at Eastern Hills. 

The Musketeers have controlled this series entirely, leading the Norse at 13-0 all-time including a 6-1 victory last season in Cincinnati on Jan. 14, 2022. 

Original source can be found here