Coach Jim Crutchfield’s No. 4 Hilltoppers (7-0) will be putting the highest national ranking in school history and a 37-game home winning streak on the line against No. 23 Northern Kentucky (6-1) on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. at the ASRC.
“Northern Kentucky is one of the premier Division II programs in the country year in and year out,” said Crutchfield, who is a dazzling 149-39 (.793) in his seventh year as head coach.
“They have a veteran team with several Division I transfers and they’ve already beaten some nationally-ranked teams this season. We’ll definitely need to be at the top of our game on Saturday.”
Saturday’s game presents an interesting contrast in styles.
The Hilltoppers lead the nation in scoring (130.9 ppg.) and have blown past the century mark in every game this year.
The Norse, who have earned NCAA Division II tournament bids in three of the past four seasons under head coach Dave Bezold, haven’t given up 100 points in regulation since a 106-102 victory against Grand Valley State (Mich.) in an NCAA Division II Regional game on March 8, 2001 – a span of 278 games.
In fact, no Northern Kentucky foe has reached 90 points in regulation since Bezold (123-64, .658) took the reins at the start of the 2004-05 season.
A highly-regarded assistant coach for 14 years at NKU before landing the head coaching job, Bezold has been focusing on ways to cope with the Hilltoppers’ aggressive full-court defensive tactics.
“West Liberty plays a style of basketball you never see,” Bezold said in an article on the Northern Kentucky athletics website. “I don’t know if you can get ready for it in two or three days, but we’re going to find out.”
Northern Kentucky won’t be intimidated by the Hilltoppers’ No. 4 national ranking. Grand Valley State (Mich.) was ranked No. 4 when the Norse routed them, 81-65, on Nov. 27. Northern Kentucky’s only loss to date was a 76-63 decision to No. 20 Southern Indiana but NKU bounced back from that with an 87-69 thrashing of an Indianapolis team that had beaten the University of Tennessee in a pre-season exhibition.
The Norse are led by a senior trio of NCAA Division I transfers.
Malcolm Eleby (15.6 ppg.) is an athletic 6-3 guard who set a school record earlier this season by going 17-of-17 from the foul line in a 69-66 win against the University of Charleston. Eleby started 57 games as a 3-year letterman at St. Bonaventure.
Chris Knight (11.1 ppg.) is a 6-7 forward who played his first two seasons at Bowling Green. Knight was a two-time MAC Player of the Week who once scored 24 points in a win against the University of Cincinnati.
Josh Tabb (13.1 ppg.) is a 6-4 wing who played in 96 games over three seasons for head coach Bruce Pearl at the University of Tennessee.
Northern Kentucky’s other starters are 6-5 junior Bobby Shannon (7.6 ppg.), the leading scorer in the Maryland juco ranks last winter, and 6-0 junior point guard Tony Rack (4.4 ppg.).
All five West Liberty starters are averaging in double figures, led by 6-0 All-Region guard Corey Pelle (18.7 ppg.). Barry Shetzer (16.0 ppg.) is a 6-5 senior wing who set a school record with 103 3-point field goals last winter while 6-7 senior John Wolosinczuk (13.0 ppg.) is a 1,000-point scorer who also ranks among the school’s top five in 3-point field goals and blocked shots. Jordan Fortney (13.3 ppg.) is coming off a 21-point, 7-assist game in last week’s 118-76 rout of Charleston while 6-4 sophomore Alex Falk (10.8 ppg.) is the only non-senior in the starting lineup.
West Liberty has seven players averaging more than 6 points a game who come off the bench, led by 6-6 sophomore Chris Morrow (11.9 ppg.) and 6-3 freshman Mark Shadowens (10.0 ppg.).
“We have a group of kids who love to compete and getting the opportunity to play in games like this are a big reason many of them came to West Liberty,” Crutchfield said. “I’m looking forward to a really good game.”
Game Notes
X West Liberty’s Pelle played his high school basketball less than five miles from the Northern Kentucky campus in Silver Grove, Ky.
X Pelle needs just four points to reach 1,500 for his career
X The Hilltoppers have won 47 of their last 48 games in the ASRC and are 25-2 (.926) in non-conference home games under Crutchfield
X West Liberty is 113-11 (.911) when scoring 90 or more points during the Crutchfield Era
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