One of the great things about college basketball is that it’s always welcoming new programs to the party. The Northern Kentucky Norse is one of the newest programs to claim a spot on the college basketball map. As a former Division II program, it was always easy to find cheap Northern Kentucky basketball tickets. However, that’s changed in the short period of time that the Norse have been a Division I program. They have taken off and become an instant hit in a state that loves basketball, creating a high demand for last-minute Northern Kentucky basketball tickets.

Norse Attack

Northern Kentucky didn’t begin its basketball program until 1971, and after being a tick below average for a long time, the Norse started to emerge as a Division II heavyweight in the 90s. Under longtime coach Ken Shields, NKU reached the Division II Sweet 16 in 1995 and was the national runner-up in both 1996 and 1997. In 1997, the Norse lost a heartbreaking championship game 57-56 to Cal State Bakersfield. Despite the disappointment that year, NKU remained a heavyweight in the Great Lakes Valley Conference well into the 21st century, ultimately winning three straight conference titles between 2007 and 2009.

From the Start

After making the jump to the Division I level in 2012, it didn’t take the Norse long to make a name for themselves. During the 2016-17 season, Northern Kentucky was finally eligible for postseason play for the first time and wasted no time, winning the Horizon League Tournament to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Norse gave the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats all they could handle before succumbing to a 79-70 defeat. The Norse returned to the Big Dance in 2019 and punched their ticket again in 2020 before the tournament was canceled. When Darrin Horn took over for John Brannen in 2019, Northern Kentucky didn’t skip a beat, indicating that the Norse will be a mid-major to watch for many years to come.