By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter
Despite his team’s 72-44 victory against Detroit Mercy on Sunday, Northern Kentucky University head coach John Brannen saw much about the Norse’s performance that needs improvement.
NKU head coach John Brannen talks with his team during the Norse’s 72-44 win over Detroit Mercy. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)
After a 1-1 homestand last week, NKU begins a two-game road trip Thursday night at Youngstown State. The Norse are 15-7 overall, 8-2 in the Horizon League and a game behind Wright State (9-1) in the standings.
Brannen said his team is still trying to work itself out of a recent offensive funk, but the ultimate goal is to be fine-tuned by the first week of March.
“We’re in a league where you need to play your best basketball March 2-6,” he said, referring to the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament that goes to the Horizon League Tournament champion. “We’re not getting to the free-throw line enough. We’re not playing efficiently enough offensively right now.”
NKU shot 45.8 percent from the field against Detroit Mercy, but the Norse only attempted eight free throws. Two nights earlier against Oakland, NKU converted just 41.5 percent of its shots from the field. The Norse also finished 6-for-25 from 3-point range in an 83-70 loss.
Drew McDonald, NKU’s leading scorer at 16.6 points per game, was 5-for-7 from the field against Detroit Mercy and made a pair of 3-pointers. That followed a 7-for-18 performance against Oakland, including 0-for-6 from 3-point range.
“It was nice to see the ball go through the basket,” McDonald said after Sunday’s win. “It’s a little frustrating missing shots when you’re working on your shot every day at practice, getting in the gym by yourself. Hopefully this will get me going.”
NKU’s Drew McDonald (left) has 26 career double-doubles, including eight in the past 12 games. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)
NKU held Detroit Mercy to 19.4 percent shooting from the field in the first half Sunday. It marked the lowest field-goal percentage in a half for an NKU opponent since Feb. 7, 2015, when the Norse held Lipscomb to 18.2 percent during the first 20 minutes of a 77-60 win at BB&T Arena.
“We defended, that was the story of the game,” Brannen said.
Youngstown State (6-17 overall, 4-6 Horizon League) is under the direction of first-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun, who previously built Fairmont State (W.Va.) into an NCAA Division II national powerhouse. Calhoun spent five seasons at Fairmont State and compiled a record of 124-38, with five 20-win seasons and a Division II national runner-up finish last March. He was also named the 2017 Basketball Times National Coach of the Year.
The Penguins began 3-0 in Horizon League play this season, including a road win at Cleveland State. Cameron Morse (14.5 ppg) and Braun Hartfield (14.3 ppg) both average double figures for Youngstown State. Morse has knocked down 55 shots from 3-point range, while Hartfield is 35-for-96 from behind the arc.
Youngstown State holds a 9-5 lead in the all-time series, but NKU defeated the Penguins twice last season in three meetings. The teams split the regular-season series in 2017, with each winning at home. NKU then defeated Youngstown State during the Horizon League Tournament semifinals, 84-74, at Detroit.
McDonald led the Norse with 26 points, while teammate Lavone Holland II added 20 points. Morse scored 28 points to lead Youngstown State.
NORSE NOTES: Youngstown State has won all three meetings at the Beeghly Center during NKU’s Division I era…Brannen, last season’s Horizon League Coach of the Year, has 49 wins as a head coach (48 at NKU, one at Alabama)…NKU sits 74th on KenPom.com, which is tops in the Horizon League…The Norse are 25th in the CollegeInsider.Com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll and receiving votes in the Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings…NKU is 18th in the nation in 2-point field goal percent (57.1).
WHAT: Northern Kentucky (15-7, 8-2 HL) at Youngstown State (6-17, 4-6 HL)
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Youngstown, Ohio
ARENA: Beeghly Center (6,300 capacity)
TV: ESPN3
RADIO: ESPN 1530
SERIES: Youngstown State leads, 9-5
NKU/DETROIT MERCY PHOTO GALLERY
Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport
