Northern Kentucky Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Norse

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 17: Head coach John Brannen of the Northern Kentucky Norse looks on during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Schedule Overview

The non-conference schedule for Northern Kentucky is interesting, as they have some games with other high powered mid-major teams as well as two games with traditional powers. The Norse have a schedule that has games they can win. Even the games against the Power-5 schools are games they should be in and have a chance to win late.

The schedule opens with ETSU, who they play twice in the season. ETSU is one of the most athletic teams in college basketball and this will be a tough test. The home game to start the year will help, but they also have to travel to ETSU to play them again in early December.

Northern Kentucky also plays Memphis and Texas A&M. Many slate Memphis to have a down year in the American Conference and Northern Kentucky may win this game. If the Norse could pull off the upset here, it would be a program-defining win against a traditional powerhouse from a major basketball conference.

The game in College Station may be one that is similar to the one the Norse played against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. The game should be close throughout and Northern Kentucky will be tough for the Aggies to dispatch. Texas A&M should still win this game, but they will be happy when Northern Kentucky leaves town.

The conference portion of the schedule has a few standout games for the Norse and for the Horizon League. The schedule opens with conference newcomer IUPUI, then games with Illinois-Chicago and Oakland (away). This is a tough opening stretch.

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Projected Finish

Northern Kentucky is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Horizon League. They look to build off of the momentum they gained by winning the conference tournament last year. The Horizon league is going to be a strong conference once again this year. Three teams are going to be battling for the league crown: Illinois-Chicago, Oakland, and Northern Kentucky.

If Northern Kentucky can get past the lack of depth and height, they should finish second in the league. The Horizon is probably only going to get one team in the tournament this year unless one team has an exceptional year and gets some very good wins. The reality is that the conference regular season winner will play in the NIT if they do not win the conference tournament. If the Norse wish to return to the Big Dance they are going to have to make another run in the Horizon League conference tournament.