Pregame Preview: Boston University (3-4) at Northern Kentucky (5-2)
Northern Kentucky returns to Truist Arena on Saturday for its third game in six days, and the challenge waiting on the other side looks very different from the last two. Boston University comes in banged up but dangerous, built around one of the most efficient perimeter attacks in the country. The Terriers hit 16 threes in their last outing and shoot 38.6% from deep on the season, good for 37th nationally, which will put real pressure on NKU’s perimeter defense. They’re led by longtime head coach Joe Jones, now in his fifteenth season at BU and sitting second on the program’s all-time wins list. He’s a two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year, and his teams usually play with discipline even when the roster is thin. Jones is also part of one of the most respected coaching families in college basketball, with his older brother James in his twenty-seventh year at Yale.
Even with the shooting, Boston has clear flaws. They are near the bottom of Division I in turnovers forced, defensive rebounding, free throw attempts, and three-point defense, which leaves them vulnerable against teams that play fast and attack gaps.
That is exactly where NKU excels. The Norse are top five nationally in transition scoring, averaging more than 23 fast break points per game, and their pressure defense continues to generate steals and turnovers at a high level. LJ Wells has been one of the most disruptive defenders in the country, ranking thirteenth nationally in steals, and anchors a group that forces over sixteen turnovers per game. Add in NKU’s improving three-point shooting, led by Kael Robinson who tops the Horizon League at 50%, and the matchup leans heavily on pace and defensive pressure.
Boston enters shorthanded but still an extremely physical team. They’ve already had a game this season where only seven players were available, and they will again be without Kyrone Alexander, a preseason All-Patriot League Second Team selection and their best all-around player. That’s forced younger players into bigger roles while two graduate seniors steady things off the bench.
NKU had an intense practice on Friday with multiple competitive five-on-five segments, even with the quick turnaround. It was a clear sign the staff expects this game to come down to energy, pressure, and controlling the tempo. This is a contrast heavy matchup, with BU’s shooting against NKU’s pace and turnover pressure, and it sets the stage for a fast, physical, and high possession afternoon at Truist Arena. Let's take a look at the scouting report for BU ahead of the game.
Boston University Scouting Report
★ Denotes Starter of Previous Game
#1 Ethan Okwuosa – Graduate Guard, 6'3" 195 lbs – Cheshire Academy (Conn.)
Previous School: Southern New Hampshire
Season Averages: 21.5 MIN, 7.3 PTS, 3.3 REB, 1.0 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK, 0.5 TO, 47.8 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 35.7% 3PT
Ethan Okwuosa is a left-handed graduate guard who gives Boston University steady shooting and experience when he comes off the bench. Most of his scoring comes as a spot-up threat or by filling lanes in transition, and teams have to account for him early in possessions because he runs the floor hard and finds open space. He doesn’t create a ton off the dribble, but when he does, he leans on a crossover into a step-back jumper. One of his better habits is tracking his own misses from deep, which earns him extra chances.
He appeared in only one game last season because of injury, opening the year with nine points, a three, and two assists against Northeastern. Even with the limited action, he was voted a team co-captain and earned Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and NABC Honors Court recognition.
★ #2 Chance Gladden – Freshman Guard, 6'4" 185 lbs – Ravenscroft (N.C.)
Season Averages: 31.1 MIN, 11.7 PTS, 3.7 REB, 4.0 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.1 BLK, 2.0 TO, 40.8 FG%, 87.5 FT%, 13.6% 3PT
Chance has been thrown into a big workload right away, and the freshman guard is still finding his footing on both ends. He’s had trouble connecting from deep at 3-for-22 on the season, and the defensive reads are still catching up to the pace of college basketball. Even with the inconsistency, he’s shown why the staff is comfortable putting the ball in his hands. He’s been strong as the high ball screen handler, shooting 50% out of pick-and-roll actions, and his best game so far was a twenty-point effort against Harvard where he went 8-for-12 from the floor.
Before arriving at BU, he was one of the most productive scorers in North Carolina. He was a two-time All-State selection and Conference Player of the Year at Ravenscroft, averaging twenty-nine points per game as a senior and twenty-six as a junior. He also earned All-Conference honors as a sophomore and played his AAU basketball with Team CP3.
#3 Malcolm Chimezie – Graduate Forward, 6'8" 220 lbs – Stepinac (N.Y.)
Season Averages: 19.8 MIN, 5.5 PTS, 5.5 REB, 0.8 AST, 0.3 STL, 0.5 BLK, 0.5 TO, 76.9 FG%, 40.0 FT%, 0.0% 3PT
Malcolm Chimezie is a physical graduate forward who gives BU toughness inside and efficient finishing around the rim. He’s not a perimeter threat and hasn’t taken a three this season, but he’s reliable in the paint, scoring most of his points as a roll man, on post touches, or by working the offensive glass. He’s coming off his best outing of the year with eight points on perfect shooting against Penn State, and he continues to be a steady rebounder and screener who plays to his strengths.
Last season he started all 32 games, served as a co-captain, and posted career highs across the board at 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting over 56% from the field. He had multiple double-digit scoring nights, protected the rim, and helped anchor BU’s frontcourt during an 11-game home win streak.
★ #6 Sam Hughes – Freshman Forward, 6'6" 205 lbs – Dexter Southfield (Mass.)
Season Averages: 27.9 MIN, 10.9 PTS, 2.7 REB, 1.4 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.1 BLK, 1.1 TO, 43.9 FG%, 90.0 FT%, 41.5% 3PT
Hughes has stepped into a big role early, starting the last five games and giving BU a reliable floor spacer. Nearly three-quarters of his attempts come from beyond the arc, and he operates almost entirely as a spot-up, catch and shoot option. He’s a legitimate deep-range threat at over 41% from three, but he can be rushed into tough or off-balance attempts when defenders chase him off the line. On the other end, he’s still learning the college game defensively and can get caught overhelping, which leaves shooters free.
#7 Azmar Abdullah – Sophomore Guard, 6'3" 180 lbs – Bishop Hendricken (R.I.)
Season Averages: 22.0 MIN, 5.9 PTS, 1.9 REB, 1.7 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.1 BLK, 1.6 TO, 30.0 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 27.8% 3PT
Azmar Abdullah is a left-handed sophomore guard who’s still trying to find rhythm on both ends to start the year. Thirty-six of his fifty shots have come from three, and while his overall efficiency is down, he’s much better when his looks are clean. As a catch and shoot option he’s hitting over 42%, and he’s coming off two more efficient outings, including an eleven-point game against Penn State where he went 4-for-8 and hit three threes. He’ll handle the ball at times, but decision-making has been up and down, highlighted by a six-turnover night earlier in the season. Shot selection can slip, which leads to some tough attempts, but the staff clearly trusts him with minutes and perimeter volume.
As a freshman he played all 32 games, earned Patriot League All-Rookie honors, and shot nearly 38% from deep while scoring in double figures five times. He finished fourth on the team in made threes and had multiple standout performances, including a pair of twenty-one-point games.
★ #14 Ben Defty – Sophomore Forward, 7'0" 255 lbs – St. Thomas More (Conn.) / Berlin, Germany
Season Averages: 28.9 MIN, 12.4 PTS, 6.9 REB, 2.3 AST, 0.9 STL, 1.7 BLK, 2.3 TO, 65.5 FG%, 53.6 FT%, 0.0% 3PT
Ben Defty is a highly efficient seven-footer who gives BU reliable scoring around the rim and a strong defensive presence. Most of his offense comes from post-ups, cuts, and second-chance opportunities, and he finishes well with either hand. If he’s allowed to establish deep position, he becomes a problem. The Norse will probably try to double him in the post once he starts to make a move and make him be a good finisher over two players or test his kick out ability.
NKU will likely use the same approach they used against CMU’s 7 footer, Nathan Claerbaut, relying on perimeter pressure to limit touches more than direct post defense. Defty is steady on both ends, protects the rim, and rebounds well, though NKU should be able to challenge him by pushing the pace and forcing him to run the floor. He’s coming off a quieter outing against Penn State with four points and eight boards.
This past summer he played for Germany at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket, averaging 8.1 points and 6.6 rebounds in 18 minutes while helping his team go 5–2. As a freshman he appeared in all 32 games and shot over 64% from the field, finishing in double figures nine times and showing the touch and efficiency that now anchor his expanded role.
★ #20 Michael McNair – Junior Guard, 6'5" 200 lbs – Linfield Christian (Calif.)
Season Averages: 32.6 MIN, 15.1 PTS, 4.1 REB, 3.0 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.3 BLK, 1.1 TO, 45.9 FG%, 86.7 FT%, 52.1% 3PT
Michael McNair is the engine of BU’s perimeter attack and the most dangerous shooter NKU will see in this matchup. He’s one of the top long-range threats in the country, ranking 18th in total threes, 20th in threes per game, and 23rd in three-point percentage (52.1%), putting him firmly inside the national top 25 across almost every major shooting category. He’s coming off a monster performance against Penn State, dropping 28 points in 28 minutes and exploding for 25 in the second half on 9-for-11 shooting and 6-for-7 from deep, including a career-high seven made threes.
He can score at all three levels, finish with either hand, and create space off the dribble when needed, and he’s the clear go-to option when BU needs a big shot. The scoring can swing from time to time, he’s mixed games of 6, 4, and 9 with outings of 20, 18, 21, and 28, but when he heats up, he can take over stretches by himself. Defensively, the one area teams look to attack is his ball-screen coverage, where he can be exposed at times.
Last year he started all 31 games and averaged just over ten points while shooting above 40% from three. He hit multiple threes in 21 games, logged several 18–20 point nights, and showed the versatility and scoring flashes that have now turned him into BU’s top offensive threat.
★ #30 Ben Roy – Senior Guard, 6'0" 170 lbs – Manasquan (N.J.)
Season Averages: 28.7 MIN, 7.7 PTS, 1.4 REB, 2.7 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.0 BLK, 1.0 TO, 60.6 FG%, 54.5 FT%, 57.1% 3PT
Ben Roy has started every game this season and gives BU a crafty, highly efficient presence in the backcourt. He shoots the ball at an elite clip, especially on catch and shoot looks, but he can also run pick-and-roll and make the right reads. Even at 6-foot, he finds ways to finish around the rim and will put the ball on the floor if defenders chase him off the arc. He prefers driving left but often finishes with his right, and he competes well enough defensively to stay on the floor in key stretches.
Last season he served as a captain, set the program record for assist-to-turnover ratio, and posted several double-figure scoring games while shooting over 40% from the field. He handled the ball, defended, and gave BU steady minutes before an injury cut his year short.
