Sat., Nov. 7
Cincinnati, Ohio – Cintas Center (10,250)
NKU (24-7 last season) at Xavier (27-8 last season), 7:30 p.m.
Radio/Internet: WIOK (107.5 FM) & www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: XU leads, 3-2 (regular season)
Last Regular-Season Meeting: NKU 63, XU 61 (ot) (1-6-79)
NOTE: Xaiver is 2-0 against NKU in exhibition games
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team opens its exhibition schedule Saturday by playing Xavier at the Cintas Center at 7:30 p.m.
NKU posted 24-7 record last season and won the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship. The Norse advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament and dropped a 75-72 double-overtime decision to Lake Superior State in the first round at Findlay, Ohio.
NKU returns two starters and five letterwinners from last season's team. NKU is picked second in the GLVC East Division preseason poll behind Bellarmine. The Norse have won three straight GLVC East Division titles.
Xavier posted a 27-8 record last season and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA East Regional Tournament. The Musketeers must replace three starters, including leading scorer B.J. Raymond (14.1 points per game) and NBA drat pick Derrick Brown (13.7 ppg).
NATIONAL RANKINGS: NKU is ranked 20th nationally in the Division II Bulletin preseason poll. The Norse are also picked 17th nationally by Basketball Times in that publication's preseason poll.
KEY LOSSES: NKU must replace leading rebounder
Leslie Malone, who earned most outstanding player honors during last season's GLVC Tournament. Malone averaged 7.0 rebounds per game and blocked a team-leading 71 shots. He also averaged 12.5 ppg.
In addition, NKU lost starting forwards
DeAaron Williams (12.2 ppg) and
A'Daeron Duncan (9.2 ppg). The Norse must also replace defensive stopper
David McFarland and point guard
Billy Finnell.
NATION'S BEST: NKU junior guard
Dustin Maguire led all NCAA Division II players in free-throw shooting last season at 93.6 percent. Maguire was 88-for-94 from the line. He also averaged a team-leading 15.0 ppg and was 76-for-191 from 3-point range.
IN THE BACKCOURT: NKU welcomes back senior point guard Scott BIbbins, who averaged 7.1 ppg last season. Bibbins also dished out 83 assists with just 29 turnovers. Sophomore guard
Tony Rack also returns after seeing action in 21 games last season. Rack averaged 3.2 ppg and was 15-for-43 from 3-point range.
IMPACT ADDITIONS: NKU adds impact Division I transfers
David Palmer (Iowa),
Chris Knight (Bowling Green) and
Yan Moukoury (Houston) this season. Palmer, a 6-foot-9 center, played two seasons for Iowa and averaged 4.1 points per game in 2008-00. He poured in a career-high 21 points against Wisconsin last season and also scored 19 points against Purdue.
Knight, a 6-7 forward, played two years at Bowling Green and averaged 6.2 ppg last season. As a freshman, Knight averaged 10.7 ppg and 7.3 rebounds for the Falcons. He also poured in 24 points during a win against Cincinnati his freshman season.
Moukoury, a 6-7 forward, played two years at Houston and saw limited playing time. He is expected to play a key role for NKU this season with his ability to play defense and rebound.
EXHIBITIONS AGAINST XAVIER: NKU is 0-2 against Xavier in exhibition games. The two teams last met on Nov. 6, 2006, and Xavier rallied in the second half for a 58-44 win against NKU in the Cintas Center.
Stanley Burrell scored 16 of his game-high 17 points in the second half, including nine straight during a pivotal stretch, to lead Xavier. He sparked a 20-4 second-half run and hit a trio of 3-pointers as the Musketeers survived a major scare from the Norse.
David Jefferson led NKU with 14 points. Steven Wright and James Cripe each scored 10 points for the Norse.
On Nov. 5, 2005, Xavier rolled to a 78-44 win over NKU in an exhibition game. Brian Thornton scored 22 points on 9-for-10 shooting from the field to lead the Musketeers.
NKU/XU REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Xavier owns a 3-2 lead in the all-time series with NKU. The Norse, however, have won the past two regular-season games against the Musketeers.
The two schools have not met since Jan. 6, 1979, when Tom Schneider came off the bench and scored 25 points as NKU stunned Xavier, 63-61, in overtime at Schmidt Fieldhouse.
The previous season, NKU upset the Musketeers, 59-58, as Mike Hofmeyer tipped in a shot at the buzzer to give the Norse the win.
UP NEXT: NKU concludes its exhibition schedule Monday night at 7 p.m. with a game against Dayton at the UD Arena. The Norse begin the regular season Nov. 15 with a road game at Grand Valley State.
