Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball

Northern Kentucky Norse
2014–15 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team
University Northern Kentucky University
Conference ASUN
Location Highland Heights, KY
Head coach John Brannen (1st year)
Arena The Bank of Kentucky Center
(Capacity: 9,200)
Nickname Norse
Colors

Gold, Black, and White

                  
Uniforms
Home
Away
Alternate
NCAA Tournament runner up
(D-II) 1996, 1997
NCAA Tournament appearances
(D-II) 1978, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012[1]
Conference tournament champions
GLVC: 2003, 2009
Conference regular season champions
GLVC: 1995, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2009

The Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team represents Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky, United States. The school's team is currently transitioning to the NCAA Division I level and has been a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference since the 2012-13 school year. The Norse are currently coached by John Brannen. The program's previous coach was Dave Bezold,[2] who had an overall record of 138 wins and 72 losses.[3]

History

The program began in 1971, NKU then known as Northern Kentucky State College, and played out of a local high school gymnasium.[4] The team played its first game on November 12, 1971 against Calvary College; winning 109-65.[5]

Over the past 15 years, NKU became one of the country's premier NCAA Division II college basketball programs. The Norse won three GLVC Tournament Championships in 1994-95, 2002–03, and 2008–09; and GLVC East Division regular season champion in 2006-07, 2007–08, and 2008–09. In NCAA postseason play, NKU made 12 NCAA DII postseason appearances, including back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship in the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons.[6]

On December 8, 2011 NKU officially announced it accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Sun Conference and begin a multi-year transition to Division I beginning in 2012.[4] The Norse will begin a full Atlantic Sun Conference and Division I schedule in the 2012-13 season,[7] however the university will not be eligible for NCAA D-I postseason competition until becoming a full Division I member in 2016.[4]

The teams 2013-14 season schedule features 3 marquee games against Purdue, UK and North Carolina. This will also be the first season in which the team will host Division I non-conference home games.

Postseason

NCAA Division II tournament results

The Norse have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament 13 times. Their combined record is 17–14.

Year Round Opponent Result
1978 Regional Semfinals
Regional 3rd Place Game 		Southern Indiana
Saint Joseph's (IN) 		L 78–86
L 87–93
1995 Regional Semfinals
Regional Finals 		Quincy
Southern Indiana 		W 97–91
L 94–102
1996 Regional Semfinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship 		Northern State
Southern Indiana
Cal State Bakersfield
Virginia Union
Fort Hays State 		W 82–71
W 99–87
W 56–55
W 68–66
L 63–70
1997 Regional Semfinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship 		Quincy
Oakland
Texas A&M–Commerce
Lynn
Cal State Bakersfield 		W 82–54
W 101–87
W 79–67
W 79–58
L 56–57
1998 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional Semifinals 		Ferris State
Southern Indiana 		W 78–63
L 66–81
2000 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional Semifinals 		Northern Michigan
Kentucky Wesleyan 		W 89–57
L 62–66
2001 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals 		Grand Valley State
Southern Indiana
Kentucky Wesleyan 		W 106–102
W 93–92
L 57–59
2003 Regional Quarterfinals Findlay L 76–80
2007 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals 		Drury
Findlay
Grand Valley State 		W 73–68
W 60–56
L 42–66
2008 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional Semifinals 		Kentucky Wesleyan
Grand Valley State 		W 61–55
L 58–62
2009 Regional Quarterfinals Lake Superior State L 72–752OT
2011 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional Semifials 		Kentucky Wesleyan
Bellarmine 		W 76–74OT
L 82–87
2012 Regional Quarterfinals Findlay L 49–50

Record year-by-year

Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Northern Kentucky (Independent) (1971–1985)
1971–1972 Mote Hils 12–15
1972–1973 Mote Hils 10–16
1973–1974 Mote Hils 12–13
1974–1975 Mote Hils 12–14
1975–1976 Mote Hils 17–9
1976–1977 Mote Hils 15–10
1977–1978 Mote Hils 20–8 NCAA DII First Round
1978–1979 Mote Hils 13–14
1979–1980 Mote Hils 8–19
1980–1981 Mike Beitzel 10–15
1981–1982 Mike Beitzel 15–12
1982–1983 Mike Beitzel 22–7
1983–1984 Mike Beitzel 17–11
1984–1985 Mike Beitzel 16–11
Northern Kentucky (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1985–2012)
1985–1986 Mike Beitzel 15–13 7–9 T–5th
1986–1987 Mike Beitzel 15–13 7–9 5th
1987–1988 Mike Beitzel 15–13 6–10 T–6th
1988–1989 Ken Shields[Note 1] 17–11 8–8 T–4th
1989–1990 Ken Shields 7–21 4–14 9th
1990–1991 Ken Shields 14–15 6–12 T–8th
1991–1992 Ken Shields 13–15 8–10 7th
1992–1993 Ken Shields 11–16 4–14 T–8th
1993–1994 Ken Shields 12–14 9–9 6th
1994–1995 Ken Shields 25–4 16–2 T–1st NCAA DII Sweet Sixteen
1995–1996 Ken Shields 25–7 15–5 2nd NCAA DII Runner-up
1996–1997 Ken Shields 30–5 16–4 T–1st NCAA DII Runner-up
1997–1998 Ken Shields 23–7 15–3 2nd NCAA DII Second Round
1998–1999 Ken Shields 16–12 12–10 T–5th
1999–2000 Ken Shields 26–7 16–4 3rd NCAA DII Second Round
2000–2001 Ken Shields 27–7 15–5 3rd NCAA DII Sweet Sixteen
2001–2002 Ken Shields 19–8 15–5 T–2nd
2002–2003 Ken Shields 25–6 16–4 T–2nd
2003–2004 Ken Shields 16–15 9–11 7th
2004–2005 Dave Bezold 14–15 8–12 7th
2005–2006 Dave Bezold 17–11 12–7 2nd (East)
2006–2007 Dave Bezold 24–9 13–6 1st (East)
2007–2008 Dave Bezold 21–8 14–5 T–1st (East)
2008–2009 Dave Bezold 24–7 14–4 1st (East) NCAA DII First Round
2009–2010 Dave Bezold 17–13 8–10 4th (East)
2010–2011 Dave Bezold 21–9 12–6 T–3rd (East) NCAA DII Second Round
2011–2012 Dave Bezold 23–7 13–5 2nd (East) NCAA DII First Round
Northern Kentucky (Atlantic Sun Conference) (2012–present)
2012–2013 Dave Bezold 11–16 9–9 T–4th
2013–2014 Dave Bezold 9–21 5–13 T–8th
2014–2015 Dave Bezold 13–17 7–7 T-4th Quaterfinals A-Sun Tournament
Total: 754–516

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Facility

The Bank of Kentucky Center opened in 2008 and serves as the home arena for the NKU Norse men's and women's basketball teams. The 9,200-seat, multi-purpose arena replaced the 1,800-seat Regents Hall, which had served as the home venue since opening in 1973. Regents Halls still serves as the home of women's volleyball and the practice facility for men's and women's basketball.[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ken Shields of Northern Kentucky University is not the same person as the Canadian basketball coach by the same name.

References

  1. ↑ http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_champs_records/2010/d2/champs.pdf
  2. ↑ Russell, Shannon (October 24, 2004). "Bezold living his dream as NKU basketball coach". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Men's Basketball Team History". Northern Kentucky University. 2010-11. Retrieved December 23, 2011. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Fun in the Atlantic Sun" (PDF). =Northern Kentucky University. December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Men's Basketball Archives: 1971". Northern Kentucky University. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Records and Statistics: Division II men's basketball Championship" (PDF). NCAA. 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  7. ↑ AP Staff (December 9, 2011). "NKU jumps to Division I conference, talking with Ohio State about basketball game". The Republic. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Regents Hall". Northern Kentucky University. Retrieved December 24, 2011.

External links