HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – An exhibition showdown with Urbana University provides the first glimpse of the Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team. The contest is part of an afternoon doubleheader with NKU's women's team on Saturday, Nov. 4. Northern Kentucky's women host Asbury at noon, with the men set to square off with Urbana at 2:30 p.m.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (2016-17: 24-11 Overall, 6-12 Horizon League)
Urbana University Blue Knights (2016-17: 12-17 Overall, 7-15 Mountain East)
Saturday, Nov. 4 – 2:30 p.m. (ET)
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
 
Fast Break Points
• NKU was picked to finish second in the Horizon League preseason poll, garnering 10 first place votes.
• Northern Kentucky is the reigning Horizon League Tournament champion.
• The Norse reached the 2017 NCAA Tournament, where they dropped a 79-70 decision as the No. 15 seed to No. 2 seed Kentucky.
• Last year was NKU's first season eligible for the DI NCAA Tourney. The Norse became just the seventh team all-time and only the second since 1970 to earn a berth in their first year eligible.
• After closing last season ranked No. 21 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll, Northern Kentucky is ranked No. 11 in this year's preseason poll.
• The 2017-18 season opens with NKU ranked No. 127 in KenPom's ratings, a stark contrast from one season ago when the Norse opened the year at No. 277.
• NKU is one of 16 teams in the country to return at least 70 percent of its production in points (77), rebounds (84) and assists (84).
• The Norse are one of 10 NCAA Tournament participants that will play their 2017-18 season-opening game against another NCAA tourney team. NKU opens with fellow 15-seed ETSU on Nov. 10.
• Northern Kentucky's schedule this season is guaranteed to include six games against teams that competed in the postseason (ETSU, Iona/Weber State, UMBC, UIC, Oakland and Green Bay).
• Eight opponents on the schedule were also 20-win teams from a year ago (ETSU, Vermont, Coastal Carolina, Iona, Weber State, UMBC, Oakland, Wright State), although four of those teams are in the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase and NKU cannot play all four.
• F Drew McDonald is the Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year and highlights the preseason first team.
• The junior was an all-league first team, all-academic and all-tourney honoree last year after averaging 16.4 ppg and 7.7 rpg.
• G Lavone Holland II is a preseason All-Horizon League Second Team selection. He averaged 14.8 ppg and 4.1 apg as a junior.
• F Carson Williams rounds out NKU's returning double-digit scorers. He was third on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.9 rpg).
• Norse head coach John Brannen is the reigning Horizon League Coach of the Year. He garnered the accolade after leading NKU to a share of third last season despite being picked seventh in the preseason poll.
 
#NorseUp
Northern Kentucky enters the 2017-18 season following a storied 2016-17 campaign that saw the team eclipse 20 wins for the first time as a DI program (24-11 overall), finish tied for third in the Horizon League regular-season with a 12-6 mark and win three games in as many days to stake claim to the Horizon League Tournament championship en route to a berth in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
 
Scouting Urbana
Urbana is coming off of a 12-17 campaign and is under the guidance of first-year head coach Nick Dials. NKU alum and former Norse men's basketball player Anthony Monaco is Dials' lone assistant. Senior guard Carlas Jackson, who played prep basketball at Roger Bacon in Cincinnati, is the Blue Knights' leading returner, averaging 14.9 points per game last year.