Game Day Essentials
Indiana (9-2) v. Northern Kentucky (4-6)
- Tip Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern
- Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Indiana
- Television: BTN (Jason Ross, Jr. and Brian Butch)
- IU Radio Network: IU Radio Network
- Stream: Fox Sports Live
- Point Spread: Indiana is an 17-point favorite
- KenPom Projected Score: Indiana W, 75-59
- Common Opponent: NKU beat Eastern Michigan, 74-73
- Series: First Meeting
Meet Northern Kentucky’s Darrin Horn
Darrin Horn was named the sixth men’s basketball coach in NKU history by Director of Athletics Ken Bothof on April 23, 2019. In his first year at the helm for Northern Kentucky, Horn led the Norse to their fourth-straight 20-win season, a second-place finish in the Horizon League regular season, and its third Horizon League Tournament Championship in a four-year span.
Prior to NKU, Horn was the Associate Head Coach at Texas under Shaka Smart where he spent four years total, including serving as an assistant for three seasons. During his four years with the Longhorns, Horn helped develop Texas’ frontcourt players, which included Mohamed Bamba, who was drafted No. 6 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, and Jarrett Allen, who was drafted No. 22 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. In his four years at Texas, Horn helped the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT championship.
Kings of the Horizon
Northern Kentucky won at least a share of two of the last four Horizon League regular season championships (2018, 2019) and three of the last five league tournament titles (2017, 2019, 2020). Between the 10 combined regular-season and tournament titles available in the last five years, NKU has won five of the championships.
Since the start of the 2016-17 season, NKU has been one of the top two teams in the Horizon League and owns a 73-30 record (.709) against league foes.
Northern Kentucky returns quite a substantial number of players that impacted its games in 2020-21. In total, the Norse return 91% of their scoring, 87% of rebounding, and 85% of minutes from last season’s team. NKU’s returning points production is the 18th-most in the country.
Last Game Starters
#2 Sam Vinson: Freshman, Guard, 6-foot-5
Sam Vinson has started all 10 games and earned three #HLMBB Freshman of the Week honors this season. Vinson is ninth nationally in steals per game (2.6) and 12th in total steals (26).
#3 Marques Warrick: Sophomore, Guard, 6-foot-2
Marques Warrick, the reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year and all-freshman and all-league third-team honoree, has scored in double figures six times this season.
#4 Adrian Nelson: Senior, Forward, 6-foot-8
Forward Adrian Nelson, a Horizon League All-Academic honoree with a 3.42 GPA in Organizational Leadership, is shooting 64.7% (33-of-51). His 3.4 offensive boards per game rank 18th nationally.
#11 Bryson Langdon: Senior, Guard, 5-foot-9
Bryson Langdon dished out a season-high eight assists against Alice Lloyd and is averaging 3.1 on the season. His assist-to-turnover ratio (1.72) ranks 184th nationally.
#22 Trevon Faulkner: Senior, Guard, 6-foot-4
Trevon Faulkner earned a spot on the All-Horizon League Second Team last year and re-prized the role on the Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team this year. Faulkner’s 2.3 made treys per game check-in at 154th nationally and he’s averaging a team-second 12.1 points.
Key Reserves
- Hubertas Pivorius, 6-foot-2 freshman guard
- David Bohm, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward
- Trey Robinson, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard
- Chris Brandon, 6-foot-8 junior forward
- Seybian Sims, 6-foot-7 junior forward
KenPom Notables
Offense – No. 195; Defense No. 195; Tempo No. 253
- The Norse are one of the worst shooting teams in the country, with an effective field goal percentage of 45.6 percent, No. 291, including 42.1 percent on 2-pointers, No. 335.
- Their turnover rate is worse at 22.8 percent, No. 329
- They maximize possessions with offensive rebounds on 36.6 percent of their trips, No. 16.
- Following the Shaka Smart style, NKU amps up the pressure and turns teams over on 21.2 percent of possessions, No. 80.
- They allow opponents to secure offensive rebounds on 34.2 percent of possessions, No. 326.
- Opponents are making 54.1 percent of 2-pointers, No. 309.
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