On Jan. 16, the Northern Kentucky men’s basketball team lost its second consecutive game to the last place team in the Horizon League. At the time, the Norse were 3-5 in conference play, a far cry from where they were when they qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2020.
NKU hasn’t lost since, rattling off six straight wins.
Heading into this weekend’s two-game series at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay beginning Friday, the Norse have climbed from the bottom-four in the conference standings up to third place. With four games left before the Horizon League Tournament, NKU is playing its best basketball.
More:Former NKU guard Jalen Tate leads Arkansas in win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena
Here’s how the Norse’s season made a 180-degree turn.
1. An uptempo offense is paying off
During the first eight games of conference play, NKU was a slow-tempo team and an inefficient offense. During that stretch, the Norse averaged just 66.4 points per game, and their tempo played a role in the team’s lack of success.
During those eight games, NKU only took 54.5 field goal attempts per game, and the Norse were shooting at a 44.5 percent clip from the field.
Since then, NKU’s offense has taken off. During the six-game winning streak, the Norse have taken 58.7 field goals per game. By moving the ball more quickly, NKU is shooting 48.3 percent from the field. During that stretch, the Norse turned from one of the worst three-point shooting teams in college basketball into a team that’s making three-point shots above the national average.
During the slow start to conference play, NKU averaged 10 assists per game. Since then, the Norse have averaged 13.5 assists per game and averaged 77.8 points per contest.
2. The team got a key player back
Most of NKU’s conference losses came in games where the team was missing senior guard Adham Eleeda. For the Norse, it has been good having him back in the starting lineup after he was out for two weeks.
Eleeda, a six-foot-five guard, doesn’t make the biggest statistical impact. He ranks sixth on the team in scoring, seventh in shot attempts per game and last in steals per game.
But when Eleeda starts, NKU has a 6-2 record.
Eleeda’s contributions have come on both ends of the floor. He’s made 43.3 percent of his three-point shots this season and leads the team in that category. He’s also contributed defensively, and he has played 26 minutes per game over the last five contests.
3. The defense is much more aggressive
During NKU’s slow start to conference play, the team allowed 70-or-more points in three different games. Since then, that unit has taken a step in the right direction.
As NKU opened conference play with a 3-5 record, opponents shot 44.3 percent from the field and averaged 13.7 assists per game. The Norse aren’t allowing as many shots anymore. During the six-game winning streak, opponents are shooting 42.2 percent from the field.
The biggest difference has been forcing turnovers. NKU’s opponents are handing the ball over nearly one more time per game during the Norse’s winning streak. The entire Norse defense has been more aggressive, committing more fouls on average than they did when the team was struggling.
The increased intensity on that end has gotten NKU key stops in four close wins during this six-game stretch.
Source link
