2017 – 18 Northern Kentucky Norse men 's basketball team represented Northern Kentucky University ( NKU ) during the 2017 – 18 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season . The Norse , led by third-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 22 – 10 , 15 – 3 in Horizon League play to win the Horizon League regular season championship . They were upset in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament by No. 8 seed Cleveland State . As a regular season league champion who failed to win their league tournament , they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Louisville
Horizon League Tournament
2018 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament
2017–18 Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball team