NKyTribune staff
SAINT THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands — Northern Kentucky University players and coaches enjoyed their tour of Saint Thomas and also provided a glimpse of what Norse fans can expect during the 2019-20 basketball season.
NKU finished with a 3-0 record during its tour, including a 91-68 victory over the British Virgin Islands National Team on Saturday. Tyler Sharpe netted 22 points to lead NKU in the finale.
Tyler Sharpe netted 22 points to lead NKU past the British Virgin Islands National Team. (Photo by Bryan McEldowney, NKU Athletics Communications)
Last season, Sharpe averaged a career-best 14.4 points per game as NKU captured the Horizon League championship. He also buried 90 shots from 3-point range to rank 79th nationally in that category.
NKU’s Dantez Walton averaged 16.0 points per game on the trip. He converted 66.7 percent of his shots from the field, including 8-for-16 from 3-point range. Trevon Faulkner and Tre Cobbs led NKU with 12 assists during the trip, while Sharpe and Bryson Langdon each dished out 10 assists.
Faulkner, the 2018 Kentucky Mr. Basketball, added 11 points in the final game against the British Virgin Islands National Team. The Mercer County graduate poured in 22 points during the opener of the trip against the U.S. Virgin Islands National Team and averaged 15.0 points per contest.
In the final game against the British Virgin Islands National Team, NKU’s Silas Adheke finished with seven points, six rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals. (Photo by Bryan McEldowney, NKU Athletics Communications)
Adham Eleeda, a transfer from Sheridan College in Wyoming, converted 4-for-10 from 3-point range en route to 15 points in the finale. The 6-foot-5 Eleeda averaged 9.0 points per game during the trip. While at Sheridan College last season, Eleeda drained 129 shots from 3-point range and finished third nationally in that category in NJCAA Division I.
As a team, NKU assisted on 61 of its 89 made field goals during the three games.
LOUISVILLE VOLLEYBALL PICKED THIRD IN ACC: University of Louisville senior outside hitter Melanie McHenry headlines the list of preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference volleyball stars, and the Cardinals have been chosen third in the preseason poll of the ACC coaches.
McHenry led Louisville with 383 kills last season and was named honorable mention All-American. She enters her senior year with 1,131 career kills.
Louisville posted a 22-9 record last season, including a 14-4 mark in the ACC. The Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Tournament and swept Dayton in the opening round. Illinois then eliminated Louisville with a four-set victory in the second round.
Pitt was picked to win its third straight ACC title in a vote of the league’s 15 head coaches. The two-time reigning ACC champion Panthers received 13 first-place votes and 195 points, as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Florida State received two first-place votes and 174 points. Louisville (167 points), Notre Dame (164) and North Carolina (120) were slated third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Syracuse was picked sixth with 118 points, followed by Duke (113), Clemson (105), N.C. State (101) and Miami with 90. Georgia Tech (86 points), Boston College (52), Virginia Tech (39), Virginia (33) and Wake Forest (18) round out the poll.
2019 ACC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Pitt (195 points, 13 First-Place Votes)
2. Florida State (174, 2 First-Place Votes)
3. Louisville (167)
4. Notre Dame (164)
5. North Carolina (120)
6. Syracuse (118)
7. Duke (113)
8. Clemson (105)
9. N.C. State (101)
10. Miami (90)
11. Georgia Tech (86)
12. Boston College (52)
13. Virginia Tech (39)
14. Virginia (33)
15. Wake Forest (18)
(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications, Louisville sports information and staff reports)
