Mid-major Focus: Northern Kentucky Norse of the Horizon League

The Horizon League comes into focus this week as we dive into the Northern Kentucky Norse for our weekly look at mid-major programs.

One hallmark of the Horizon League over the last 10 years is turnover. A conference that once featured the likes of Butler and Xavier is now led by teams like Wright State and Illinois-Chicago. Another team that has been a force in the league recently is Northern Kentucky. An extremely young program, the Norse have only been around since 2012. In that span, they have been involved in the Atlantic-Sun conference and now the Horizon League.

In what was only their second season in the conference, Northern Kentucky came out on top of the Horizon League Tournament. Though they lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the world was put on alert. Now, the Norse sit on top of the conference again as the conference tournament approaches. If Northern Kentucky is able to capture the automatic bid again, they would become the first back-to-back champion since Butler in 2010 and 2011.

Currently 12-2 in the Horizon League, the Norse hold a one game advantage over Wright State. The Raiders did defeat the Norse earlier this season, but they still have one game left to play against one another, on Friday. That game, which can be seen on ESPNU, will most likely determine the conference’s regular season champion. Wright State only won by three points in the first match-up, though it was a home game for Northern Kentucky.

Statistically speaking, the Norse are one of the best mid-major defensive teams in the entire country. They only give up 65 points per game, which is 32nd best in America. That mark is even better in the Horizon League, surrendering only 63 points per game. Of their 14 conference games, they have held opponents under 60 points six times. Within those six performances was a contest where they only gave up 44 points to Detroit.

On other side of the ball, the Norse score and distribute at a very high level too. The team pours in nearly 80 points per game. Much of this large scoring mark has to do with Northern Kentucky’s 17 assists per game. That number is 22nd best in the entire country, and obviously best in the Horizon League. Unselfish play is what has made the Norse so incredibly successful over the course of the last two seasons.

Junior forward Drew McDonald leads the way in the scoring column most nights. The 6-foot-7 Kentucky native averages roughly 17 points and 9 rebounds per game. Though McDonald loves to shoot the three-point shot, he has not been efficient from that distance this season. He takes exactly five long-range shots a game, but only puts in 31 percent of those. While those numbers cannot be helpful, his overall shooting clip sits at 47 percent.

Lavone Holland II and Carson Williams round out the rest of the consistent Norse offensive performers. Holland, one of only three seniors on the roster, puts in 13 points and 4 assists per game. As for Williams, the sophomore forward also averages nearly 13 points per game on 61 percent shooting. That mark is the best in the Horizon League. He also leads the league in effective field goal and true shooting percentages. Add all of that up and you have the highest rated offensive player in the conference in Williams.

Next: Breaking down the Bracket preview

With only four games remaining in the team’s regular season, Northern Kentucky has one of the most daunting remaining schedules. As referenced earlier, they still have a game against Wright State and a game against Illinois-Chicago. If they can get over both of those obstacles, they will be the Horizon League regular season champions. Not bad for a program that is playing in only its sixth season.