Nine Weeks from Yesterday

[Norm Peterson]

Northern Kentucky.

 

OK, from the files of "Norm Can't Wait," I bring you ...

 

Nickname: "The Norse."  (An interesting mascot for a school located south of the Mason-Dixon line.)

 

Head Coach:  He's been there 10 years.  You won't recognize his name but it's Dave Bezold, for what it's worth.

 

Fun Fact:  NKU is in their 3rd season transitioning to D1.

 

Last year:  9-21.  They lost by 1 point at Purdue in their first game of the season and lost by 4 at Florida Gulf Coast early in the year before getting trounced by 20 against FGCU in their last game of the season.  Their biggest win came in OT at Tulane where they prevailed 91-86.

 

The good news (for them):  They return their starting lineup basically intact, including a pair of guards who both scored in double figures a year ago.

 

The not-so-good news:  Their tallest player is 6'7"; their tallest starter is 6'6"; and their starting front line goes 6'6", 6'4", 6'3".  Which goes along with a backcourt that goes 6'2", 5'9".  (Compares very favorably in size to Lincoln High's varsity boys.)

 

The bad news:  They gave 21 minutes/game and 16 starts last year to a shooting guard who nails treys at a 17.5% clip.  Buuuuut ... he was their 4th leading rebounder and 2nd on the team in fouls.  So, there is that.  AND he returns!  For his junior year.

 

A year ago, they put up 68.1 points/game but gave up 73.7, which is why they only won 9 games on the season. 

 

Bottom line:  They probably suck pretty badly and if this game is competitive past the first media timeout, Coach Miles would have to be a little pissed.  As would the fans.  Had Serge stuck it out another year, he probably could have seen pretty good minutes in this game.

 

Prediction:   We win.  (What?  You were expecting a score?  OK, how about this:  Runzas?  Clowdy with a strong chance of Runzas.  Keep an eye out for triple digits.)

[AuroranHusker]

Well, the "Norse" are from 'Northern' Kentucky!

[TheKamdyMan]

They have a great location being right on the Kentucky/Ohio border close to Cincinnati so if they get some talent they could be formidable in that league.

 

As for the Norse, they are the Norsemen, which are Vikings and is their mascot at games.  My college was in the same league before they made the jump.

[hhcmatt]

 

Bottom line:  They probably suck pretty badly and if this game is competitive past the first media timeout, Coach Miles would have to be a little pissed.  As would the fans.  Had Serge stuck it out another year, he probably could have seen pretty good minutes in this game.

 

 

They bring back a team that was awful on defense and not great on offense.  Should be a bloodbath