2016 – 17 Northern Kentucky Norse men 's basketball team represented Northern Kentucky University ( NKU ) during the 2016 – 17 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season . The Norse , led by second-year head coach John Brannen , played their home games at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights , Kentucky as members of the Horizon League . They finished the season 24 – 11 , 13 – 6 in Horizon League play to finish in a tie for third place . As the No. 4 seed in the Horizon League Tournament , they defeated Wright State , Youngstown State , and Milwaukee to win the Horizon League Tournament . They received the conference 's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in the school 's first year of eligibility after its transition to a Division I school . They lost in the First Round to Kentucky
Horizon League Tournament
2017 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament
2016–17 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team