Norse Nation,
It's hard to believe we're already approaching November! One of the great things about college athletics is the excitement that comes with changing seasons. As our fall sports enter the home stretch, we're moving into what we call crossover season, when fall sports are wrapping up and our men's and women's basketball programs are preparing to tip off.
It's an exciting but incredibly busy time for our department. Behind the scenes, our sports medicine, academic support, strength and conditioning, sports information and marketing staffs, along with so many others, are working tirelessly to provide our student-athletes with the support they need to succeed. I'm grateful for their dedication, passion and student-athlete-first mentality. Their efforts don't always make the headlines, but they play an important role in everything we accomplish.
Basketball Season Is Here!
It was great to see so many Norse fans at our men's basketball exhibition last week at Truist Arena. Both of our basketball programs have been working hard in preparation for the season, and November 2 is a big day for Norse basketball!
Our men's team will be among the first teams in college basketball to tip off the season when they take on UTEP at 2 p.m. ET in South Dakota. The game will stream free on YouTube, so stay tuned to NKUNorse.com for the link to watch.
Later that evening, our women's basketball team will open its season at home against Defiance at 6 p.m. at Truist Arena. We hope you'll come out and help us get the season started with a great home-court atmosphere!
Our men's basketball team returns to Truist Arena for its regular-season home opener on Saturday, November 14, at 3:30 p.m., when we host Central Michigan for Tip Off In The Heights.
We're working to make this a special afternoon for our fans, students, alumni and the entire Northern Kentucky community. Our goal is to create an atmosphere that showcases the pride and passion of Norse Nation, and we need your help!
To make it easier for families and friends to join us, we're offering a special 4 tickets for $49 promotion. We're also planning a kids zone with games and activities, entertaining frisbee dogs at halftime, free T-shirts and reduced concession prices in partnership with Truist Arena.
We want our games to be an affordable, exciting and welcoming experience for everyone. Whether you've been attending NKU games for years or are joining us for the first time, we hope you'll be part of what promises to be a fun afternoon of Norse basketball.
In addition to season tickets, we also have a variety of men's basketball mini-plan options available. Whatever your schedule allows, there's likely an option that fits your needs!
Celebrating Our Fall Sports
While basketball is right around the corner, there's still plenty to celebrate as our fall teams continue competing.
One of the biggest highlights this month was watching Liz Hart become the all-time wins leader in NKU volleyball history. What an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the consistency, dedication and championship culture she has built within our volleyball program. Congratulations to Liz, her staff and all the student-athletes who have contributed to this remarkable milestone. It's a special achievement for our university and one that deserves to be celebrated!
Our women's soccer team also delivered an impressive 7-0 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday, setting a program record for margin of victory in a single match. The Norse remain in the hunt for a Horizon League Tournament berth and take on Detroit Mercy today at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Our cross country and triathlon teams also turned in strong performances over the weekend as they prepare for postseason competition. A special congratulations to Coach Brooks Doughtie and our triathlon program, which has qualified two student-athletes for nationals in Arizona in the coming weeks!
As our fall teams enter the final stretch of their seasons, I encourage you to continue supporting these student-athletes as they compete for postseason opportunities and represent NKU.
Welcoming Our Alumni Home
This past weekend, we had the pleasure of welcoming back alumni from our women's volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer programs.
One of my priorities since arriving at NKU has been building stronger connections throughout Norse Nation, and our alumni are an important part of that effort. I enjoyed hearing their stories, learning about their experiences and seeing the pride they continue to have in NKU.
Our alumni helped build the foundation of our programs, and we want them to remain connected to the student-athletes, coaches and teams representing NKU today. Whether it's attending a game, reconnecting with former teammates or finding new ways to support our programs, I hope our alumni will continue to make NKU Athletics part of their lives.
No matter how long it's been since you've been on campus, you'll always be part of Norse Nation. Once a Norse, always a Norse.
Building Something Special Together
Over these first few months, one of the things I've enjoyed most is getting to know so many people who care deeply about NKU and our athletic programs.
What continues to stand out to me is the tremendous opportunity we have to bring our campus and community together through NKU Athletics. Our games and events are about more than the final score. They're opportunities to connect, build relationships, create memories and celebrate what makes this university special.
As we head into November, I hope you'll make plans to join us at Truist Arena, bring your family and friends, and help create an incredible home-court advantage for our basketball teams.
Thank you for your continued support of NKU Athletics. We're excited about what's ahead, and I look forward to seeing you at a game soon!
Go Norse!
