{"id":23963,"date":"2017-03-08T07:37:09","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T07:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=23963"},"modified":"2017-03-08T07:37:09","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T07:37:09","slug":"northern-kentucky-earns-ncaa-tournament-berth-in-first-season-of-eligibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/northern-kentucky-earns-ncaa-tournament-berth-in-first-season-of-eligibility.html","title":{"rendered":"Northern Kentucky earns NCAA tournament berth in first season of eligibility"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tNorthern Kentucky earns NCAA tournament berth in <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>first<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong> season of eligibility<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/h2>\n

\n\tNorthern Kentucky earns NCAA tournament berth in <\/strong>first<\/strong> season of eligibility:-<\/strong> Lavone Holland’s body was pressed against the court and he became the base of a celebratory pile of teammates.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tHolland scored 20 points to help Northern Kentucky hold off Milwaukee for a 59-53 win Tuesday night in the Horizon League final, putting the school in the NCAA tournament in its first season of eligibility.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t“It has always been a dream of mine to be in one of those piles,” Holland said after getting upright on the court, sporting a championship cap with a clipped piece of a basketball net tied into the back clasp. “And, it’s a dream come true for that to happen after winning a game that puts us in the NCAA tournament.”<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe fourth-seeded Norse (24-10) are in their fifth season of Division I basketball, but had to wait until this year to have a shot to earn a spot in college basketball’s showcase.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t“We got another game to play,” Drew McDonald said after finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds. “I got the chills just thinking about it.”<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tJim McMillan, the first recruit for the school’s inaugural basketball team that debuted during the 1971-72 season, waited in a long line to congratulate Northern Kentucky coach John Brannen on the court after the game below the banner-filled rafters at the home of the Detroit Red Wings.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t“Thank you! Thank you!” McMillan told Brannen after giving him a hug. “I’ve been waiting 35 years for this.”<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tTenth-seeded Milwaukee (11-24) was a win away from having the most losses in NCAA tournament history, which has had three 20-loss teams in its history: Cal Poly (2014), Liberty (2013) and Coppin State (2008).<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t“I think it was an inspiration,” Panthers coach LaVall Jordan said. “I know for people in the Milwaukee community, our university and our city, it inspired a lot of belief when you are down and nobody thinks you can.”<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

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\n\tThe Norse were in control for much of the game, which had only one tie and one lead change, but they couldn’t pull away from the pesky Panthers.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tMilwaukee pulled within three points with 1:11 and 32 seconds left, but McDonald made a jumper and Holland made a free throw on the ensuing possessions to keep a relatively comfortable cushion.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tBig picture<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tMilwaukee: An improbable run ended in part because the Panthers simply struggled to make shots. Milwaukee made just one-third of its shots in the second half and shot 36% overall.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tN. Kentucky: By making the NCAA tournament, the Norse have made this a special season and any success they have in the NCAA tournament will be a bonus for the program.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tAll-tourney team<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tHolland was voted MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by McDonald, Stull, Prahl and Youngstown State’s Cameron Morse.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tUp next<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tMilwaukee: Prahl said the Horizon tournament will give the team confidence and the end result will help while preparing for next season.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t“This loss is going to be a big motivation,” he said. “We will all work really hard this offseason and hopefully we can build on it for next year.”<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tN. Kentucky: The Norse will have a chance to celebrate for the rest of the week before finding out Sunday where they’re seeded in the NCAA tournament, where they will likely be a low seed and a big underdog.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSource:- http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/ncaab\/2017\/03\/07\/n-kentucky-beats-milwaukee-59-53-earns-ncaa-tournament-bid\/98882568\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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