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Norse News with Mike Odom | November 2026

Norse Nation,

Basketball season is officially underway, and what an exciting time to be a Norse! With two impressive road wins for our men's basketball team, a great victory for our women, and a big week of home events ahead, there is plenty of energy and excitement surrounding NKU Athletics.

I was able to attend both WINS in South Dakota last week for our men's basketball team and I walked away even more excited about what's ahead for this team. Our guys play hard, play together, and are simply fun to watch. Winning on the road is never easy, but Coach Horn and his staff had our team prepared and ready to compete. I'm proud of how our guys responded in two unique road environments, and I can't wait to see what this season brings!

Our women's basketball team is off to a great start as well, picking up an exciting win over Kent State on Saturday. Smart plays and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch helped secure a hard-fought victory. Coach Hans and the team will welcome thousands of enthusiastic elementary school students from across Northern Kentucky to Truist Arena on Thursday for our annual 11:00am School Day game presented by Pepsi, as the Norse take on Chattanooga. We can't wait to welcome these future Norse fans to campus for a memorable day of basketball! If you've never experienced a School Day game, the energy is contagious, the noise is incredible, and I promise the ringing in your ears eventually goes away!

Tip Off In The Heights – More Than Just a Basketball Game!
Over the last few weeks, I've been asked a number of times, "What exactly is Tip Off In The Heights?"

Think about what Opening Day means to Reds fans. After a long offseason, there's nothing quite like seeing familiar faces, wearing your team colors and knowing the whole season is ahead of you. That's the feeling we want to create at NKU as we welcome back Norse basketball.

I'd love for Tip Off In The Heights to become a date people circle on their calendars every year. It's a chance for students to show their Norse pride, for alumni to catch up with old friends and for families across Northern Kentucky to start a tradition of their own. Whether you've been cheering for the Norse for years or you're joining us for the first time, I hope you'll come help us get the season started.

This Saturday, November 14, we're inviting all of Norse Nation to Truist Arena for Tip Off In The Heights, presented by TANK, as our men's basketball team takes on Central Michigan at 3:30 p.m.

Our team has worked hard to make this an affordable, fun-filled afternoon with something for everyone. Whether you've been a season ticket holder for years or are joining us for your very first NKU basketball game, we want you to feel welcome, have a great time, and be part of something special.

Here's what you can look forward to:

-- 4 Tickets for $49: Bring the whole family or a group of friends and enjoy a great afternoon of basketball at an affordable price!

-- Free T-Shirts: The first 1,000 fans will receive a free T-shirt, courtesy of TANK.

-- Family Fun Zone: Enjoy inflatable games, face painting, balloon artists, and the Superior Credit Union Money Machine on the concourse.

-- The Wonderdog Show: Don't miss an entertaining frisbee dog performance at halftime!

-- Norse UP! Price Down!: Enjoy fan-friendly concession prices, including $2 bottled water, $4 hot dogs, $4 popcorn when wearing Black & Gold, and a $10 family combo.

-- Pregame Happy Hour: Enjoy $4 Norse Up beer on the concourse until tipoff, courtesy of Barleycorns.

-- Come early and tailgate, parking lots open at Noon!

-- Postgame Photos: Bring the family onto the court after the game for a special photo opportunity and a chance to make some lasting memories!

And we haven't forgotten about our NKU students! The celebration kicks off at noon with a pregame tailgate at Scudamore Field, hosted by the Student Government Association. We'll also have student contests and giveaways throughout the game, including a chance for one lucky student to win $10,000 by sinking the Central Bank Halfcourt Shot!

Our vision is to make NKU basketball about more than just what happens on the court. We want Truist Arena to be a gathering place for our campus and the entire Northern Kentucky community. A place where families make memories, friends come together, and fans of all ages feel connected to NKU while cheering on our student-athletes.

I hope you'll join us this Saturday and help us make Tip Off In The Heights something special. Bring your family, invite a neighbor, or introduce someone to NKU basketball for the very first time. The more we come together as Norse Nation, the stronger this tradition will become!

Get your tickets for Saturday or any game by clicking here.

Volleyball Home Finales and Swimming Season Begins
Our volleyball team returns home this week for two important Horizon League matchups as we head toward postseason play. The Norse will host IU Indy on Tuesday and league-leading Wright State on Friday, with both matches beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Regents Hall.

Coach Liz Hart and our student-athletes have put together another strong season, and these final home matches are a great opportunity to show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Let's pack Regents Hall, bring the energy, and give our team a tremendous home-court advantage as they prepare for the postseason!

Our men's and women's swimming teams are also underway under the leadership of Coach Kevin Woodhull-Smith. The Norse will head to Indianapolis for a meet November 19–21, and if you're in the area, I encourage you to come out and support our student-athletes. I'm looking forward to seeing both teams compete and continue to build momentum throughout the season!

Postseason Honors and Recognition
A big congratulations to Megan Molner of our women's soccer program on being named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year and earning First Team All-League honors! What a tremendous accomplishment and well-deserved recognition of her hard work and outstanding season.

I also want to recognize two members of our triathlon team who represented NKU at the National Championships in Tempe, Arizona. Charlotte Cunningham and Maggie Wilson earned the opportunity to compete on the national stage, and we couldn't be prouder of the way they represented NKU. Congratulations to both on an incredible accomplishment!

These achievements are a great reminder of the talent, dedication, and competitive spirit of our student-athletes across all of our programs. As an athletics department, we're committed to continuing to strengthen every program and provide our student-athletes with the opportunities and support they need to compete and succeed at the highest levels.

Let's Keep Building Something Special
As I continue my first year at NKU, one of the things that excites me most is the opportunity to build stronger connections between our athletic department, our campus, and the entire Northern Kentucky community.

I want NKU Athletics to be something our entire region takes pride in. Whether you've been cheering on the Norse for decades or are just getting to know us, I want you to feel welcomed, connected, and part of what we're building together.

Please know that my door is always open. I value hearing from you, whether it's feedback, an idea, or simply a question. You can reach me directly at ad@nku.edu.I personally read and respond to those messages. Your voice matters as we continue moving NKU Athletics forward.

Thank you for the many ways you support our coaches, staff, and student-athletes. I hope to see you at volleyball this week, our women's basketball School Day game on Thursday, and, of course, Tip Off In The Heights on Saturday.

Bring a friend, wear your Black & Gold, and let's make November 14 a day to remember for Norse Nation!

Go Norse!

Mike Odom
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Northern Kentucky University
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