Pregame Preview: Northern Kentucky (1-1) at East Tennessee State (1-1)
Northern Kentucky heads to Johnson City on Wednesday night looking to bounce back from a humbling test in Knoxville. NKU matched Tennessee’s energy early before the Volunteers’ depth and size took control. The Norse now turn their focus to an ETSU squad that’s licking its own wounds after a narrow 68–64 loss at Presbyterian.
The Buccaneers rank No. 155 in KenPom and have shown flashes of balance, while Northern Kentucky sits at No. 286 and is still working on its defensive identity. ETSU coughed up a late lead in its loss to Presbyterian, despite 17 points from Quimari Morris and 13 from Brian Taylor II, and struggled from deep at just 23%. NKU, meanwhile, found positives in LJ Wells' effort and Donovan Oday’s early spark against Tennessee but will need cleaner possessions and better rebounding if it hopes to steal one on the road.
ETSU is led by head coach Brooks Savage, who’s quickly reestablished the Buccaneers as a force in the Southern Conference. The former ETSU assistant returned in 2023 after a successful run on Steve Forbes’ Wake Forest staff and immediately sparked a turnaround. In his first season at the helm, Savage guided the Bucs to 19 wins, their most since 2020, and a trip to the SoCon Tournament title game.
It’s the first meeting between the programs since 2017, and both sides have plenty to prove. Both sides have plenty to prove, with ETSU trying to protect home court, and Darrin Horn’s group aiming to show that lessons learned in Knoxville can translate into their first Division I win of the year.
East Tennessee State Scouting Report
★ Denotes Starter of Previous Game
#2 Maki Johnson – Guard, 6'4" – Huntington, W. Va. / Huntington Prep
Season Averages: 16.0 MIN, 4.5 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.0 BLK, 0.5 TO, 25.0 FG%, 0.0 FT%, 27.3 3PT%
The junior off the bench for Head Coach Brooks Savage is looking to shoot any good look from around the perimeter and contribute with a couple rebounds. 11 of his 12 shots on the season have been from deep.
★ #4 Jaylen Smith – Guard, 5'11" – Ocoee, Fla. / North Florida
Season Averages: 25.0 MIN, 7.5 PTS, 5.0 REB, 3.0 AST, 3.5 STL, 0.0 BLK, 2.5 TO, 29.4 FG%, 75.0 FT%, 18.2 3PT%
Off to a slow start offensively this season, Smith is also looking to get looks from three but with his smaller size he has to create more shots off the dribble if he is not open. He loves to cross over before stepping back with his right foot to free up his left-handed shot. He will take bad shots if the defense forces him into them.
★ #5 Allen Strothers – Guard, 6'1" – Newport News, Va. / Menchville HS
Season Averages: 23.5 MIN, 4.0 PTS, 1.5 REB, 3.0 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.0 BLK, 1.0 TO, 50.0 FG%, 0.0 FT%, 0.0 3PT%
Strothers is looking to drive into the paint and get all the way to the basket or pull up for free throw line jump shots. If left completely open, he will shoot the 3, but that is not what he is comfortable doing, just a 23.5% three-point shooter in his career.
★ #11 Brian Taylor II – Guard, 6'4" – St. Louis, Mo. / SIU Edwardsville
Season Averages: 27.5 MIN, 13.0 PTS, 2.0 REB, 2.5 AST, 1.5 STL, 0.5 BLK, 1.5 TO, 68.8 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 50.0 3PT%
All-Ohio Valley Conference second-team selection and second-leading scorer for SIUE last season. The senior transfer has had a consistent start to his Bucs career, scoring 13 points exactly in both of his first two games while going 11-16 from the field. He will be a work horse for this team and is coming off of a game where he played 38 minutes. He is looking for opportunities to get to the rim and is quick off the dribble and is a solid defender on the other end.
★ #13 Blake Barkley – Forward, 6'8" – Morgantown, W. Va. / Northwestern / Putnam Science Academy (Conn.)
Season Averages: 20.0 MIN, 10.0 PTS, 3.0 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.0 BLK, 0.0 TO, 46.2 FG%, 87.5 FT%, 33.3 3PT%
The redshirt sophomore transfer is getting his first real opportunity to make an impact for Coach Savage this season after appearing in just four games at Northwestern last year, where he averaged one point per game. He brings a physical, downhill style, setting solid screens on the perimeter and attacking the basket with force rather than finesse. While his game is built on power, he’s also capable of stepping out and knocking down shots from long range when left open.
#14 Brayden Crump – Forward, 6'8" – Morganton, N.C. / Elon / Winston-Salem Christian
Season Averages: 15.0 MIN, 7.5 PTS, 4.0 REB, 0.0 AST, 0.0 STL, 0.0 BLK, 0.0 TO, 70.0 FG%, 0.0 FT%, 33.3 3PT%
Crump is a transfer from Elon where he appeared in 31 games last season and averaged just over 4 points and 3 rebounds a game. Will pick and pop for an occasional three, but generally will be around the rim looking to score and getting rebounds.
★ #15 Cam Morris III – Forward, 6'8" – Alexander City, Ala. / UMass Lowell
Season Averages: 19.5 MIN, 11.5 PTS, 4.0 REB, 0.5 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.0 BLK, 1.5 TO, 53.3 FG%, 85.7 FT%, 50.0 3PT%
Morris III, a graduate senior transfer from UMass Lowell, brings experience and toughness to ETSU’s frontcourt. He averaged 8.6 points and 5 rebounds per game last season for the River Hawks and led the Buccaneers with 17 points in their loss to Presbyterian. He’s a skilled post presence with a soft touch around the rim, using his strength, positioning, and patience to outwork defenders inside.
#35 Jordan McCullum – Forward, 6'8" – Harriman, Tenn. / Murray State / Harriman HS
Season Averages: 18.5 MIN, 12.5 PTS, 5.0 REB, 0.5 AST, 0.0 STL, 0.0 BLK, 1.0 TO, 47.4 FG%, 63.6 FT%, 0.0 3PT%
McCullum, a sophomore transfer from Murray State, saw limited action last season with five appearances but is already making his presence felt on the glass for ETSU. Through the first two games, he’s grabbed six offensive rebounds, showing a knack for creating second-chance opportunities. Containing him on the boards will be important for Northern Kentucky on Wednesday.
