UIC vs Northern Kentucky: 2020 Horizon League title game preview, TV
By Joey Loose
UIC and Northern Kentucky meet in the Horizon League championship game; will the Norse return to the NCAA Tournament again or can the Flames pull off another upset win?
TV schedule: Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 pm ET. ESPN
Arena: Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana
Though the 4-seed in the Horizon League Tournament, UIC (18-16) finds itself in the title game for the first time in sixteen years. Steve McClain’s team has not exactly been a contender in this conference, but this is their shot to sneak away with a hard-earned Tournament bid. They just whacked top-seeded Wright State by 17 in the semifinal, but can they pull off another big win over the Norse?
Among the talent on this Flames roster are a group of seniors who have been waiting for this moment. Senior guard Tarkus Ferguson (14.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg) is the big name to watch on UIC, leading the way with 25 points against Wright State. Senior guard Godwin Boahen (10.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg) is a small guard who makes his presence felt all over the court, grabbing 10 rebounds in that win. Junior forward Michael Diggins (9.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) also provides talent in the interior.
It goes without saying that the Horizon League is a one-bid conference, and UIC being in this position is a bit surprising. The Flames sit 204th in KenPom and 223rd in NET rankings. They actually rank very highly on their field goal defense but are one of the nation’s worst teams when it comes to turnovers. UIC has had some impressive performances this season, including a 30-point win at these Norse just a few weeks ago.
The tournament champions two of the last three years, Northern Kentucky (22-9) has a great chance to return to the NCAA Tournament once more. In his first season, head coach Darrin Horn has done a great job of maintaining this program’s momentum, even if this Norse team isn’t as talented as previous years. They took care of business against Green Bay in the semifinal after a double-bye; do they have one more win in them?
Former Horizon League Player of the Year Drew McDonald is gone, but there is still impressive talent on this roster. Senior forward Dantez Walton (16.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg) might be the most impressive of the group, though he missed time this season with injury. Senior guard Tyler Sharpe (14.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg) had 20 points against Green Bay while junior guard Jalen Tate (13.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) added 23 points of his own. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Trevon Faulkner (12.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg) is developing into the next stud on this team.
Northern Kentucky is 146th in KenPom and 157th in NET; which is a bit lower than their ratings from last season. They struggle mightily with defensive rebounding and hitting long-range shots, but make up for it with their defense. They don’t have any impressive wins on their resume and they are still getting their groove, but they certainly should be the favorite in this matchup.
For the Flames, their defense has carried them in their three conference tournament wins. If they pair that strength with some good shooting, then this could finally be their chance at a title. For the Norse, they need to avoid the mistakes that led to that 30-point blowout last month. Northern Kentucky’s offense was putrid and they allowed way too many good looks from 3 for the Flames.
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Two hungry teams have one shot for the NCAA Tournament bid, though one program certainly has the recent experience. That being said, don’t count out the Flames, especially considering they’ve already shown how to handle this Norse team. If their defense shows up for a second straight night, then they can frustrate Northern Kentucky, but I think the Norse make just enough shots to finish the job for a third time in four years.