Pregame Preview: Eastern Kentucky (1-4) at Northern Kentucky (3-2)
Eastern Kentucky comes to Truist Arena on Monday still looking for its first Division I win, and it arrives during a stretch where the program is dealing with both on-court struggles and a major shift off the court. EKU has officially announced it will transition all sports to the United Athletic Conference as part of a new realignment structure beginning in 2026, joining the UAC–ASUN strategic alliance that will reshape both leagues. The move is positioned by the school as a long-term stability upgrade and a chance to strengthen its overall athletic footprint. For now, though, the attention shifts back to a team trying to stop a four-game slide.
The Colonels have struggled defensively in that stretch, giving up 87 or more in every game. Opponents are shooting 59.5% on twos and 36.5% from three against them, and their average defensive possession lasts only 15.2 seconds, the 16th shortest in the country. That trend continued on Saturday in a 95–83 loss to Mercer. The Bears shot 55.7% from the field and 56.5% from three. EKU’s bright spots came from Juan Cranford Jr. with 18 points, plus 12 each from Jackson Holt and Tyler Jackson, and 11 from Austin Ball, but the Colonels shot only 41.1% and allowed Mercer to hit 13 threes.
Offensively, EKU leans heavily on the perimeter, with 37.7% of its scoring coming from three, which ranks 49th nationally and shows how much it depends on jump shooting to stay in games.
EKU head coach A.W. Hamilton built his program around a clear identity he calls the “Most Exciting 40 Minutes in Sports.” It is a fast, pressure-driven style built on tempo, turnovers and three-point volume. His teams push the pace, attack for 40 straight minutes and try to overwhelm opponents with constant pressure, quick offense and waves of shooters. Under Hamilton, EKU has routinely ranked among the national leaders in scoring, steals, turnovers forced, tempo, assists and made threes, all built on playing as fast and aggressively as possible from start to finish.
The last meeting between these programs came in 2023, when Northern Kentucky won 85-75 in Richmond. NKU shot 51.7% from the field and 50% from three, with Jeramiah Israel stepping up for 15 points off the bench. Sam Vinson scored 17, Trey Robinson added 14, Keeyan Itejere had 12 and Marques Warrick added 12. For EKU, Isaiah Cozart led the way with 24 points and 13 rebounds, and John Ukomadu added 15. Now the Norse get their first look at a new EKU roster.
Eastern Kentucky Scouting Report
★ Denotes Starter of Previous Game
#0 Turner Buttry – Senior Guard, 5'11" 165 lbs – Bowling Green HS (Ky.)
Season Averages: 24.0 MIN, 8.6 PTS, 2.4 REB, 3.6 AST, 0.2 STL, 0.0 BLK, 0.8 TO, 25.0 FG%, 87.5 FT%, 9.1 3PT
A former 2022 Kentucky Mr. Basketball, Buttry is a proven shooter who simply hasn’t found his touch yet this season. He’s 2-for-20 from three and 10-for-40 from the field, numbers that don’t match his track record after hitting 39.2% from deep across his first three seasons. The confidence hasn’t dipped, though. He’s going to fire from deep whenever he has space, and NKU should expect him to keep shooting through the slump. Defensively he’s someone NKU should look to attack, and Mercer was able to score 15 points against him.
#2 Tyler Jackson – Freshman Guard, 6'2" 153 lbs – SoCal Academy (Calif.)
Season Averages: 18.5 MIN, 9.3 PTS, 1.8 REB, 0.3 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.0 BLK, 0.8 TO, 40.6 FG%, 72.7 FT%, 21.4 3PT
Jackson has been one of EKU’s most reliable young pieces, scoring in double figures in three of the four games he has played. He is a smooth handler who can get to his spots in different ways, whether he is coming downhill off a ball screen, pulling up around the free throw line after a behind the back move, or cutting backdoor when defenders lose track of him. His ball handling creates a lot of his offense, and he is comfortable taking and making tough shots.
He arrives with major pedigree. Jackson was a four star point guard according to ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports, ranked No. 76 nationally and No. 15 among point guards by Rivals, which makes him the highest rated recruit EKU has signed in the modern rankings era. He played last season at SoCal Academy, spent time in Overtime Elite where he helped the City Reapers win the league title, and previously played at St. Frances Academy. His offer list included Alabama, Kansas, Maryland, Houston, Illinois, Villanova, Auburn and several other high major programs.
★ #3 MJ Williams – Freshman Guard, 5'10" 168 lbs – Farmville Central HS (N.C.)
Season Averages: 21.0 MIN, 10.8 PTS, 1.8 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.2 STL, 0.0 BLK, 2.2 TO, 41.9 FG%, 50.0 FT%, 41.4 3PT
Williams has been a steady scorer early in his career and has started all five games for EKU. He already has a standout performance on his resume with 20 points at Vanderbilt, going 5-for-10 from three. He is a high-volume perimeter shooter with 29 of his 43 attempts this season coming from deep, and he has the confidence to fire whenever he has space. Defensively he is still catching up. He is not very physical on defense and his closeouts are generally too soft and easy for opponents to get clean shots off.
★ #4 Juan Cranford Jr. – Sophomore Guard, 6'4" 205 lbs – Chaminade Julienne (Ohio)
Previous School: Saint Francis (Pa.)
Season Averages: 25.6 MIN, 10.2 PTS, 3.4 REB, 0.8 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.6 BLK, 1.8 TO, 37.0 FG%, 0.0 FT%, 32.9 3PT
Cranford has started all five games and comes in with back-to-back outings of four made threes. He is a left-handed shooter who is comfortable going one-on-one and creating his own look. Offensively he has real upside, but on the defensive end he has struggled. Opponents are shooting over 58% against him, and the film shows a lack of urgency on defense.
He arrived at EKU after a standout freshman year at Saint Francis. Cranford was the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year, made the NEC All Rookie Team and was named NEC Tournament MVP after averaging 15 points during the championship run that sent the Red Flash to the NCAA Tournament. For the season he put up 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 45% from the field, 39% from three and 90% at the line. He capped that year with 18 points and eight rebounds in the First Four March Madness game and logged 19 double figure games with a season high 21 points at Maryland.
#8 Jalen Cooper – Graduate Forward, 6'7" 215 lbs – Boca Ciega HS (Fla.)
Previous School: Cal State Fullerton
Season Averages: 24.2 MIN, 9.4 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.0 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.2 BLK, 1.6 TO, 48.4 FG%, 84.6 FT%, 42.9 3PT
Cooper opened the season with 21 points in 19 minutes against Midway, but his production has dipped since then. He came off the bench for the first time last game and finished with only 4 points on 1-for-4 shooting. He has a slower release from three but is still a confident shooter, and he looks to either step into a perimeter shot or drive and finish with his right hand.
Before arriving at EKU, Cooper spent two years at Cal State Fullerton. He redshirted in 2024-25 and played 20 games in 2023-24, averaging 3.4 points and 3.1 rebounds with two 12-point outings and a season-high nine rebounds against CSUN.
★ #11 Jackson Holt – Redshirt Junior Guard, 6'4" 185 lbs – Moeller HS (Ohio)
Season Averages: 25.2 MIN, 8.0 PTS, 2.8 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.2 STL, 0.4 BLK, 1.0 TO, 38.2 FG%, 75.0 FT%, 40.7 3PT
Holt is a true perimeter specialist, with 27 of his 34 shot attempts coming from three. He can hit tough shots with a hand in his face, but he can also be vulnerable off the dribble defensively. Last season he played 32 games and started 10, averaging 7.1 points while shooting 39% from the field and 39% from three. He ranked 14th in the ASUN in made threes per game and had a breakout night at Stetson with seven threes and 22 points.
★ #13 Montavious Myrick – Graduate Forward, 6'8" 208 lbs – Tri-Cities HS (Ga.)
Previous School: Southern Union State CC
Season Averages: 26.4 MIN, 13.0 PTS, 6.6 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.4 STL, 1.0 BLK, 2.0 TO, 57.1 FG%, 58.6 FT%, 0.0 3PT
Myrick is EKU’s best interior presence and does all of his work around the basket. He has not taken a three this season and scores almost entirely through post ups, putbacks and physical finishes. He is averaging nearly six free throws a game because of how hard he plays through contact. He will take some wild shots when crowded, and in the post he almost exclusively finishes with his right hand, even when a left hand finish would be easier.
Last season he took a major leap, starting 25 games and averaging 6.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks while shooting 65% from the field. He ranked first in the ASUN in offensive rebounds, third in total rebounding and was top five in blocks. He grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 13 games and posted four double doubles, including 12 points and 12 boards at Jacksonville. He also logged season highs of 14 rebounds twice and six blocks at Austin Peay.
★ #14 Austin Ball – Redshirt Sophomore Forward, 6'7" 210 lbs – Man HS (W.Va.)
Previous School: George Mason
Season Averages: 22.8 MIN, 11.6 PTS, 5.6 REB, 0.8 AST, 1.4 STL, 0.6 BLK, 1.6 TO, 48.8 FG%, 81.8 FT%, 39.1 3PT
Ball has been a steady scoring option early in the season, reaching double figures in four of EKU’s first five games. Most of his offense comes from catch and shoot opportunities and dribble handoff actions, where he is comfortable rising into threes or attacking straight line when defenders chase over the top. He shoots it well enough to demand attention and has the size to finish plays when he gets downhill.
Before transferring to EKU, Ball spent two years at George Mason. He redshirted in 2024-25 and played 23 games as a freshman in 2023-24, averaging 2.5 points and 1.0 rebound while shooting 42% from the field and 32% from three. He had several scoring flashes that season, including eight points at Davidson, seven at No. 13 Tennessee and a season-high 10 points with three rebounds against George Washington.
