HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky men's basketball head coach John Brannen is scheduled to contribute to two local discussions of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship this week where he will offer insight into the tournament.
 
On Tuesday night Brannen will join The Enquirer's Bracket Madness, presented by Mike Castrucci Automotive Group and Starfire. Paul Dehner Jr. and Lindsay Patterson are hosting the live show at Moerlein Lager House located on Joe Nuxhall Way near the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati. Brannen is among a group that also features CBS college basketball analyst Steve Wolf and Musketeer Report publisher and Enquirer contributor Rick Broering. Bracket Madness will be broadcast live on Cincinnati.com
 
Brannen will then team with Mo Egger Thursday morning at Holy Grail, which is also located in downtown Cincinnati, from 9-9:40 to talk both NKU men's basketball and the NCAA tourney. Egger and Brannen can be heard on ESPN1530.
 
Both events are open to the public.
 
Brannen joined Local 12's Sports Authority on Sunday night to provide initial analysis of the NCAA tournament and its field of 68 teams.
 
The Norse played four teams in this year's tournament, West Virginia, Xavier, Michigan and Green Bay (twice). Brannen also boasts over 20 years of NCAA experience as both a player and coach.
 
Northern Kentucky is on the rise as a Division I program and will be fully eligible for postseason play next year after concluding the transition period this season. The Norse exceeded the preseason Horizon League polls, finishing eighth after being chosen 10^th.
 
Drew McDonald was named to the league's all-freshman team after averaging 12.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game during league play. He earned two freshman of the week honors during the season.
 
Cole Murray garnered NKU's first Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Week accolade following a 25-point outburst in Northern Kentucky's 91-83 win at Detroit that included a scintillating 7-for-10 three-point shooting display.