SPORTS & RECREATION
A12 • BCR RECORDER • JANUARY 26, 2012
NKU men, women cement DII legacies Historic wins add excitement as school prepares for DI status presspreps@gmail.com
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Northern Kentucky University will compete in Division I athletics and the Atlantic Sun Conference next fall. But while NKU beefs up its athletics budget and scheduling for next season, the Norse men’s and women’s basket-
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ball programs are busy cementing their legacy in Division II. “I’m a DII coach and Great Lakes Valley Conference coach until there aren’t any games left,” said Norse women’s coach Nancy Winstel, who earned her 628th career win on Saturday, Jan. 21. “Until then we want to win them all.” Both NKU programs achieved historic wins this month. On Jan. 16 the women earned the program’s 800th all-time victory with a win over Bellarmine. The men defeated William Jewell in overtime on Jan. 5 to notch all-time win No. 700. Head coach Dave Bezold’s squad improved to 15-2 with a win over Lewis on Saturday at the Bank of Kentucky Center.
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“There’s zero talk about next year,” Bezold said. “I don’t want to put any added pressure on our kids. We want to get to the NCAA Tournament and see what happens.” Meanwhile preparations for the move to DI are in full swing. In December NKU accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Sun. The Norse will play a full conference schedule immediately, but there’s a four-year probation period before they can participate in postseason play. NKU athletic director Scott Eaton said the school is making progress on its basketball schedules for next year, with ongoing conversations about men’s games with Ohio State and Northwestern. The women have signed on to play Western Kentucky and Missouri State. “Things are going very well with our schedules,” Eaton said. “It’s hard being it’s our first year in Division I to put together a schedule. But exciting things are happening.” The 9,400-seat Bank of Kentucky Center, which opened in 2008, has been a
Former Moeller standout Tony Rack, No. 10, right, drives against teammate Ethan Faulkner during basketball practice at the Bank of Kentucky Center on the Northern Kentucky University campus Jan. 10. GARY LANDERS/THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
boon for both basketball programs. It provides advantages in recruiting but also could help NKU draw big-name opponents for
home games. “Our facilities speak for themselves,” said Eaton, who added that NKU’s facilities and team success
might make it better positioned for a move than most other reclassifying institutions. NKU president Jim Votruba agreed. “There’s a great deal of excitement,” Votruba said. “There’s going to be greater visibility for recruitment and retention of students.” For now the Norse continue their storied success in D-II. The women have won two national championships in 2000 and 2008. The men, which defeated West Virginia in an exhibition game in November, have captured four GLVC titles. “We recruit talent, character and competitiveness,” said Winstel, whose team is off to a 13-4 start. “That’s not going to change. We buy into a team concept.” NKU also covets local recruits. The Norse hoops teams have a combined 10 players from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. That won’t change, Bezold said. “We have to make sure we take care of this area,” he said. “It’s every kid’s goal to play in Division I.”