Pregame Preview: Northern Kentucky (8-3) at Bellarmine (4-5)
For the first time in nearly two decades, Bellarmine is moving forward with a new voice leading the program, even if the transition feels familiar. Doug Davenport, long viewed as the coach in waiting, officially took over this season after nearly a decade on staff under his father, Scott Davenport. The handoff has been deliberate and seamless, and the on-court product reflects that continuity. Bellarmine presents one of the more interesting profile contrasts NKU will see all season.
On paper, the Knights are elite offensively by efficiency. They rank inside the national top 50 in field goal percentage at 52.0, free throw percentage at 76.6, and effective field goal percentage at 56.2. When Bellarmine scores, it usually comes at the rim or the line, with more than half of their points generated on two-point shots converted at a 60.9% clip, one of the best marks in the country.
Bellarmine’s offense is built on constant ball movement. Even though their raw assist numbers don’t jump off the page, they keep the ball popping around the perimeter, patiently waiting for a defensive mistake. For NKU, the challenge will be discipline. Staying connected, running shooters off the line, and jumping passing lanes when the opportunity presents itself could turn those extra passes into easy transition chances the other way. As a team, Bellarmine has only taken 14 mid-range shots in 9 games, they are either getting to the paint or taking threes.
Where the matchup tilts sharply is on the glass. Northern Kentucky averages 36.7 rebounds per game and consistently creates extra possessions with its activity. Bellarmine, meanwhile, ranks dead last nationally in both total rebounds and offensive rebounds. That gap showed up clearly in their most recent outing, an 81–68 loss to Murray State where the Knights were outrebounded 35–18 and struggled to generate second chances.
Saturday also adds another chapter to a rivalry that runs deep. This will be the 82nd meeting between the two programs, with NKU holding a 44–37 all-time edge. The Norse controlled last year’s matchup at Truist Arena, pulling away for an 86–70 win and dictating the game from start to finish.
Bellarmine enters at 4–5 and still searching for consistency. A win Saturday would carry some significance beyond the rivalry. It would move the Knights to 5–5, marking the first time they would be at or above .500 after 10 games since transitioning to Division I in the 2020–21 season. At the same time, the underlying defensive numbers are a concern. According to KenPom, Bellarmine ranks near the bottom nationally in defensive efficiency and is allowing the worst effective field goal percentage in the country at 61.3%. Their two home wins this season have both come against non Division I opponents, Hanover and Midway.
For NKU, there are milestones quietly looming. Tae Dozier sits just nine points shy of 1,000 for his career, while Donovan Oday is 35 points away from reaching the same mark. Those numbers add another layer to a game that already carries weight.
On a personal note, Saturday will be a little different for me. I’ll be at Knights Hall covering the Norse, but I’ll also be watching my two worlds collide. My brother, Jacob Wassler, is a freshman at Bellarmine, and getting to see him on the floor opposite the team I played for and now cover every night makes this one feel a little bigger than usual. Let's check out the scouting report ahead of this matchup.
Bellarmine Scouting Report
★ Denotes Starter of Previous Game
#2 Tyler Doyle – Sophomore Guard, 6'5" 185 lbs – Lexington, KY / Lexington Catholic
Season Averages: 17.8 MIN, 5.8 PTS, 1.8 REB, 1.2 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.6 BLK, 1.6 TO, 59.1 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 20.0 3PT%
Doyle has appeared in five games this season, starting each one, but has missed the last four due to injury. He notably left early against Notre Dame after just four minutes while clearly favoring his left arm. When available, he’s primarily a spot-up shooter and transition finisher rather than a creator, looking to capitalize on clean looks and open-floor opportunities. His only real offensive breakout this season came against Wofford, where he scored 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Outside of that performance, his production has been fairly quiet.
Last season, Doyle was a steady freshman contributor. He started 23 games, shot over 55% from the field, and finished the year playing his best basketball, averaging double figures in scoring over the final stretch of ASUN play.
★ #8 Kenyon Goodin – Redshirt Sophomore Guard, 6'3" 190 lbs – Shelbyville, KY / Collins
Season Averages: 29.3 MIN, 10.3 PTS, 2.6 REB, 2.4 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.3 BLK, 0.5 TO, 49.2 FG%, 90.9 FT%, 40.0 3PT%
Goodin has started all eight games he’s appeared in and remains a key perimeter piece in Bellarmine’s rotation. He’s coming off a shooting slump after his breakout performance against The Citadel, where he scored 24 points and knocked down six threes. Over his last three games, he’s gone 6-of-21 from the field and 1-of-12 from deep. Offensively, Goodin is very role-defined. He operates almost exclusively as a spot-up shooter or transition scorer. When he puts the ball on the floor, he overwhelmingly drives right and relies heavily on shot fakes to create space, often lifting defenders before stepping into his jumper.
Last season, Kenyon emerged as one of Bellarmine’s most reliable shooters. He led the Knights in three-point percentage, started more than half the season, and closed the year playing his best basketball, averaging double figures over the final stretch while finishing red-hot from beyond the arc.
★ #10 Grant Whitaker – Redshirt Sophomore Guard, 6'4" 185 lbs – Murray, KY / Murray
Season Averages: 13.3 MIN, 1.9 PTS, 2.2 REB, 1.8 AST, 0.1 STL, 0.0 BLK, 0.9 TO, 31.6 FG%, 83.3 FT%, 0.0 3PT%
Whitaker has moved into the starting lineup for the last two games after coming off the bench to open the season. The offense hasn’t followed yet. He’s been held scoreless in five appearances, including Bellarmine’s last outing against Murray State, and his scoring profile is limited to spot-up looks or straight-line drives to his right. Where Whitaker has made his impact is on the defensive end. He’s been one of Bellarmine’s better perimeter stoppers, with opponents shooting just 33.3% when he’s the primary defender.
Last season, Whitaker carved out a role as a steady, low-usage guard. He started the final 14 games, handled the ball cleanly, and provided dependable defense and distribution without needing touches.
★ #11 Brian Waddell – Redshirt Senior Forward, 6'7" 195 lbs – Carmel, IN / Carmel
Previous School: Purdue
Season Averages: 29.2 MIN, 16.1 PTS, 3.6 REB, 1.7 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.2 BLK, 2.0 TO, 66.3 FG%, 74.4 FT%, 55.6 3PT%
Waddell has started all nine games and is coming off the best performance of his career, pouring in 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting against Murray State while adding six rebounds and five assists. Nearly all of his production comes at the rim through cuts, backdoor actions, and straight-line drives, with the occasional three only when he’s completely unguarded. He isn’t a high-volume perimeter shooter, but when he does take them, they’ve gone in.
Last season at Purdue, Waddell played a limited role in a deep rotation, appearing in nine games and showing flashes in short bursts.
★ #23 Sam Donald – Freshman Forward, 6'8" 195 lbs – Columbia, IL / Columbia
Season Averages: 26.0 MIN, 3.6 PTS, 2.4 REB, 2.3 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.1 BLK, 0.6 TO, 33.3 FG%, 66.7 FT%, 21.4 3PT%
Donald has started all seven games he’s appeared in and is playing heavy minutes as Bellarmine works him through the early learning curve of the college game. He’s still searching for his offensive rhythm, with his season-high seven points coming against Midway and just three made threes on 14 attempts overall. Offensively, Donald is mostly taking what the defense gives him. He looks for open shots when help collapses elsewhere and isn’t being asked to create his own offense.
Donald arrived at Bellarmine with a strong resume. He was a two-time Class 2A All-State selection in Illinois and left Columbia High School as one of the most productive scorers in program history, projecting more as a long-term piece than a finished product right now.
#24 Michael Wilson Jr. – Sophomore Forward, 6'6" 195 lbs – Charlotte, NC / Metrolina Christian
Previous School: North Greenville
Season Averages: 20.9 MIN, 10.7 PTS, 3.2 REB, 0.7 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.0 BLK, 1.1 TO, 53.7 FG%, 69.6 FT%, 36.4 3PT%
Wilson has settled in as Bellarmine’s efficient third scoring option. Most of his offense comes off spot-up opportunities within the flow, but he’ll also sneak in transition buckets and clean up misses. He’s also been one of the Knights’ most active players away from the ball. Wilson leads the team in both offensive rebounds and steals, turning effort plays into extra possessions on both ends. Defensively, he can overhelp into the paint, which at times leaves shooters open on the perimeter, but his activity level keeps him involved.
Last season at North Greenville, Wilson was a high-usage freshman scorer, starting nearly every game and showing the offensive ceiling that Bellarmine is now tapping into more selectively.
★ #32 Jack Karasinski – Senior Forward, 6'7" 215 lbs – Grand Rapids, MI / Catholic Central
Previous School: William & Mary
Season Averages: 30.1 MIN, 20.9 PTS, 4.7 REB, 0.6 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.1 BLK, 1.6 TO, 58.8 FG%, 72.1 FT%, 39.5 3PT%
Karasinski has been Bellarmine’s most productive scorer, tied for the team lead in total points with Brian Waddell despite playing two fewer games. He also leads the Knights in rebounding, even if the raw number is modest. His usage is almost entirely geared toward scoring, with just four assists on the season.
His offense is simple and effective. Karasinski is a strong cutter, a reliable transition finisher, and a quick decision-maker when the ball finds him. He doesn’t do anything flashy or unique compared to Bellarmine’s other scorers, he just does it more often and more efficiently. He’s comfortable finishing at the rim from awkward angles and through contact, and his quick release makes him tough to close out. The tradeoff comes on the defensive end, where opponents are shooting over 60% against him. He gives Bellarmine a lot offensively, but he can be targeted defensively.
Karasinski saw NKU last season and was productive even while limited. He played just 17 minutes due to injury but still scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, showing how quickly he can pile up points. Last season, Karasinski established himself as one of the most efficient scorers in the ASUN, consistently living in double figures and flashing the scoring ceiling that he’s now reaching at an even higher volume.
#44 Jacob Wassler – Freshman Center, 6'11" 230 lbs – Cincinnati, OH / St. Xavier
Season Averages: 13.5 MIN, 4.8 PTS, 3.8 REB, 1.0 AST, 0.3 STL, 0.8 BLK, 1.5 TO, 31.3 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 12.5 3PT%
Last but not least is my brother, Jacob Wassler. His freshman season has been stop-and-start, with injuries forcing him to miss five games, but there have been flashes when he’s been available. He opened his college career with 10 points at Kansas State and followed that with a 10-rebound performance against Hanover. He recently knocked down his first collegiate three against Midway after starting 0-for-6 from deep and has yet to miss a free throw, going 8-for-8 on the season. Defensively, he’s held his own in limited minutes. Opponents are shooting just 4-for-13 against him, even as he continues to adjust to the pace and physicality of the college game. He is still working on overall consistency and details at the college level.
Jacob comes from a strong high school background at St. Xavier, my alma mater, where he was a two-time All-League selection, earned All-State honorable mention, and established himself as one of the Greater Catholic League’s top rebounders.
