NKU men’s basketball wants to peak again in March for another tourney run

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NKU head coach Darrin Horn with veteran players, from left, Trey Robinson, Marques Warrick and Sam Vinson as Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team had preseason practice Oct. 26, 2023, at Truist Arena.

The Northern Kentucky men’s basketball team had its ups and downs last season. But in crunch time, the Norse were better than any team in the Horizon League, winning the conference tournament and challenging top seed Houston in an eventual 63-52 loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

As part of a one-bid league to the NCAA tourney, the Norse know the value of peaking late instead of peaking now.

“One of the things we’ve been able to do here is talk about where we want to get to and what we want to be about, and again that’s winning in March,” said NKU head coach Darrin Horn. “We got really close last year (against Houston) but didn’t get over the hump. It was a two-possession game coming out of the last media time out, that’s a step in its own right, to legitimately be in the game to win.”

Both NKU basketball teams had press conferences during the school’s media day Thursday at Truist Arena.

NKU junior guard Sam Vinson dribbles in practice as Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team had preseason practice Oct. 26, 2023, at Truist Arena.

NKU Norse basketball: What you need to know for 2023-24 season

The season is around the corner with both teams hosting exhibitions next week and making their regular-season debuts Nov. 6.

NKU senior guard Marques Warrick is ready for another tournament run.

Marques Warrick (3) averaged 18.8 points per game last year for the Norse.

“We came with the right mindset (against Houston),” he said. “We worked our butts off, but on offense we didn’t make enough shots. With the guys we have coming back and a couple of transfers, we help the freshmen along, we can definitely get back to that point.”

Horizon League preseason poll: NKU men’s basketball picked first, two stars chosen all-league

The NKU men host…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nku-mens-basketball-wants-peak-193308169.html

Author : Cincinnati.com | The Enquirer

Publish date : 2023-10-26 19:33:08

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