October 3, 2024 • 8 mins
NKU Head Coach Darrin Horn joined us on ESPN1530 to discuss the upcoming season and Thursday night's Hoops & Scoops event.
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Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is twenty seven away from six. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty. Im oeggar, you can't do better than combining
ice cream and college basketball, and well, both those things
will be combined tomorrow night at Northern Kentucky University, the
men's and women's basketball teams taking part in hoops and
(00:20):
Scoops at Truest Arena. It starts at six fifteen, doors
open at six fifteen. A chance to meet and get
to know both the men's and women's basketball teams at
NKU as we get said for the twenty twenty four
to twenty twenty five season, and ice cream and so
Darren Horne is with us. I could talk about ice
cream for ten minutes, Coach. I'm just gonna warn you.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Hey, you know what great great way to put it
mo two of our favorite things.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Who doesn't love ice cream in college hoops? Doo we kid,
here you go.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
I appreciate you joining us, I'm sure, and I've talked
to some of your peers in the business. You get
to this time of year. It's always fun to get
in the gym, but the all season college basketball is
so different, so hectic. Man to get this time of
year it's got to be more welcome than usual.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Well, no, it really is with all the changes that
are going on.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
You know, we're full time fundraisers and marketers and all
of those things. And we've always had a part in,
but maybe not leading the charge in like we have
to now. And to get in the gym and get
to work, and especially for a guy like me, this
did at this thing for a while. Mode to get
in the gym with the kids and start developing players
and getting to know your team. I mean, it's what
it's all about the time of year, and I think you're.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
In a relatively envious position where, you know, for for
folks who follow college basketball, we're gonna spend the coming
weeks trying to figure out who's on what team. And
obviously you've you've brought some kids in and you've seen
some some kids leave the program. But they say in
college troops, get old and stay old, and if you
can do that with guys who have been a part
of your program for a while, it's even better. And
you've done that.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Yeah, We've been really fortunate.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
We've got eight rhythm players, which I don't know where
that rings in college basketball, but I know it's really
close to the top. And then even two of the
transfers that we brought in were for need and depth,
and one of them is a three year college guy,
the other one is a fifth year college guy. And
so there's no question that that makes a big difference
when when you're trying to build something, and especially for us,
(02:15):
right we're going to be measured on how do we
do in these power foard games that we have. Can
we get in the tournament again, which would not be
anything new, but we haven't really important when you talk
about how crucial it is to have older.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Guys, yeah, and so it's it's a team that has
older players, it's a team that has players that have
been in your system. And then you start to talk
about familiar faces, and you're looking for guys who can
make a significant lead. And obviously with every player you're
looking for individual improvement. But I look at L. J.
Wells and I go, that's that's a guy. That's a
guy who's got a chance, based on what I saw
(02:51):
last year, to take a significant step forward, maybe be
an All League caliber player.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
In my off base, you're not off base.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
He would be the guy that I would have mentioned first,
if you had not mentioned him yourself, I think the
thing with him is Moe. We've seen those flashes as
you mentioned. Now can he be an everyday guy? Can
he go from hey, I think maybe I can be
pretty good at this to walking in the gym and
saying I'm dominating tonight.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Who am I taking down? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:16):
I really think that's the key for l Jay And
if early practice is any indication, he's really starting to
take some steps in that direction.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
So you mentioned early practice, and you're gonna play a
game and you're biting off a lot early. You go
to Florida State, so you're gonna play an ACC team
in more than a month between now and then. Give
me the one or two things that you go, Look,
we've got to get this either fixed, or we've got
to get this straightened out, or we've just got to
get this accomplished before we play a game.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I think taking care of the basketball and rebounding.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
You know, when you look at those games where you're
from the Horizon League, you're at Florida State. We follow
that up on Friday at Purdue come home for Nickels State,
who I.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Think is picked at the top of their league.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Then we have the Cincinnati game at home, so a
brutal stretch to start the year. When you look at
those games, you know, if you don't take care of
the ball and you don't do the job on the glass,
sometimes it doesn't matter how many other good things you do.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
I think those are two areas for us that are
going to be really important.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
And I don't know if that's unique, mo I think
a lot of coaches will tell you that in my
position this time of year, but for us, I think those.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Are gonna be crucial area.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
And then kind of the flip side is where would
you look at your team and go, you know what,
We're maybe not game ready, but we're a little bit
ahead of where I thought we would be on October
the second, you.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Know, I think our defense is a little further along
than it normally is. As you know, we have kind
of a unique defense, but with some returners and I
think adding some guys that are picking it up on
it quickly, I feel like it's a little further ahead.
And then I think how many guys might be able
to score the basketball and been pleasantly surprised with how
many guys are having consistent days where they're putting the
ball in the basket at a pretty good clib.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Kind of walk me through your newcomers. You've reached into
the D two ranks before with some success, but obviously
there's a lit bit of an adjustment with with the
guys you have making that eleit to D one.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Now, what's that going to be like?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Well, I mean, I think it's similar for all those guys, right,
it's it's just everything's.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
A little harder, a little longer, a little.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Bit faster, a little tougher, and it's an adjustment for sure.
But you know, the thing we like about the two
guys that we brought in. One Dan Gersker, who's a
third year player who have two years with us.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
He is maybe as talented as anybody in our gym.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
He's a legit six to four left handed player, can
really score the ball, get it where.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
He wants it to go, and I think has potential
to be an elite, elite defender.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
So from a talent standpoint, he's better than any of
the guys that we brought in. And then Josh Dilling,
who's a fifth year grad transfer from a Division two.
I mean, this is a guy that made seventy one threes.
I think at forty six percent last year, and so
he's got great feel I fits really well in our
system playing in ball screens, and so I think he
can be a guy that can really give us a
(05:56):
sturdying presence on the perimeter.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
NK you tomorrow night, six fifteen, Hoops and Scoops had
Troe's Arena for the uninitiated walk people through. What's going
to be taking place tomorrow night?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, as you said, doors open a six fifteen free event.
Both the men's and women's team. Jeff Hans will be
there with his group new new women's coach at Northern Kentucky.
And it's technically not ice cream, it's frozen custard thanks
to Witch Frozen Custard, Yeah for sponsoring the event. Total
family friendly deal games on the concourse for the kids
(06:28):
arcade games, there'll be an autograph session.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Ticket giveaways.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Players are gonna get out and do a little something
and everybody's gonna get to meet and interact with the players.
But really just wanted it to be a kind of
doors open, family friendly event for everybody to come in
and get to meet our guys and gals and have
a chance to, as you said, to be reminded of
basketball seasons literally just around the court.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's remarkable. And you know, look, I'm I'm old enough
to remember you as a player. I remember when the
season would start, like December one or right after Thanksgiving
November thirtieth, them win there, the idea that you're going
to be playing in Look, the season has gotten earlier
and earlier, the idea that we're gonna have regular season
college basketball on November the fourth. There's a lot of
(07:09):
stuff in this sport that's taking some getting used to.
That might be for me at least at the top
of the list.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yeah, it's crazy, right used to you started practice not
until October fifteenth, and now we're playing a real game
two weeks after that. And again, if you're if you're
one of these schools, you know, if you're if you're
in the Big Twelve or the Big East like Xavier Cincinnati,
you might potentially have some early season games that can
really impact your season. You know, for us, it's a
bonus to pick up one of those wins. For those guys,
(07:36):
you know, some of those important games come pretty early.
I guess the good news is everybody has the same
amount of time to get ready, but uh, it's it's
pretty early and h you know, I think at the
same time, it's great to get college basketball season started
and to those that are diehards like us, it's good to.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
See some games.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, no question, six fifteen tomorrow night. By the way,
everyone in attendance gets a voucher for a ticket offer
as well as a voure for WITS custard while supplies last.
We can call it frozen custard. I mean, dude, it's
it's ice cream as far as I'm concerned, but I
understand technically it's frozen cut. Whatever it is, it's good
and it's always good to have you with us. Do
(08:14):
it again during the season. Coach, we appreciate the time
as always. Man, thanks so much.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Thank him. I appreciation Darren Horn.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Always kind enough to join us. It's a free event
tomorrow night, six fifteen men's and women's teams at NKAU
Activities games, free ice cream, frozen custard. By the way,
WITS frozen custard is awesome, and posters autographs. It's going
to be a really good time. College basketball is here.
The Norris opened the season on the fourth of November
(08:40):
against Florida State. The event tomorrow night, free free basketball,
free ice cream, frozen custard.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
You can't beat that.
It is twenty seven away from six. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty. Im oeggar, you can't do better than combining
ice cream and college basketball, and well, both those things
will be combined tomorrow night at Northern Kentucky University, the
men's and women's basketball teams taking part in hoops and
(00:20):
Scoops at Truest Arena. It starts at six fifteen, doors
open at six fifteen. A chance to meet and get
to know both the men's and women's basketball teams at
NKU as we get said for the twenty twenty four
to twenty twenty five season, and ice cream and so
Darren Horne is with us. I could talk about ice
cream for ten minutes, Coach. I'm just gonna warn you.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Hey, you know what great great way to put it
mo two of our favorite things.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Who doesn't love ice cream in college hoops? Doo we kid,
here you go.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
I appreciate you joining us, I'm sure, and I've talked
to some of your peers in the business. You get
to this time of year. It's always fun to get
in the gym, but the all season college basketball is
so different, so hectic. Man to get this time of
year it's got to be more welcome than usual.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Well, no, it really is with all the changes that
are going on.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
You know, we're full time fundraisers and marketers and all
of those things. And we've always had a part in,
but maybe not leading the charge in like we have
to now. And to get in the gym and get
to work, and especially for a guy like me, this
did at this thing for a while. Mode to get
in the gym with the kids and start developing players
and getting to know your team. I mean, it's what
it's all about the time of year, and I think you're.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
In a relatively envious position where, you know, for for
folks who follow college basketball, we're gonna spend the coming
weeks trying to figure out who's on what team. And
obviously you've you've brought some kids in and you've seen
some some kids leave the program. But they say in
college troops, get old and stay old, and if you
can do that with guys who have been a part
of your program for a while, it's even better. And
you've done that.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Yeah, We've been really fortunate.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
We've got eight rhythm players, which I don't know where
that rings in college basketball, but I know it's really
close to the top. And then even two of the
transfers that we brought in were for need and depth,
and one of them is a three year college guy,
the other one is a fifth year college guy. And
so there's no question that that makes a big difference
when when you're trying to build something, and especially for us,
(02:15):
right we're going to be measured on how do we
do in these power foard games that we have. Can
we get in the tournament again, which would not be
anything new, but we haven't really important when you talk
about how crucial it is to have older.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Guys, yeah, and so it's it's a team that has
older players, it's a team that has players that have
been in your system. And then you start to talk
about familiar faces, and you're looking for guys who can
make a significant lead. And obviously with every player you're
looking for individual improvement. But I look at L. J.
Wells and I go, that's that's a guy. That's a
guy who's got a chance, based on what I saw
(02:51):
last year, to take a significant step forward, maybe be
an All League caliber player.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
In my off base, you're not off base.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
He would be the guy that I would have mentioned first,
if you had not mentioned him yourself, I think the
thing with him is Moe. We've seen those flashes as
you mentioned. Now can he be an everyday guy? Can
he go from hey, I think maybe I can be
pretty good at this to walking in the gym and
saying I'm dominating tonight.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Who am I taking down? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:16):
I really think that's the key for l Jay And
if early practice is any indication, he's really starting to
take some steps in that direction.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
So you mentioned early practice, and you're gonna play a
game and you're biting off a lot early. You go
to Florida State, so you're gonna play an ACC team
in more than a month between now and then. Give
me the one or two things that you go, Look,
we've got to get this either fixed, or we've got
to get this straightened out, or we've just got to
get this accomplished before we play a game.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I think taking care of the basketball and rebounding.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
You know, when you look at those games where you're
from the Horizon League, you're at Florida State. We follow
that up on Friday at Purdue come home for Nickels State,
who I.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Think is picked at the top of their league.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Then we have the Cincinnati game at home, so a
brutal stretch to start the year. When you look at
those games, you know, if you don't take care of
the ball and you don't do the job on the glass,
sometimes it doesn't matter how many other good things you do.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
I think those are two areas for us that are
going to be really important.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
And I don't know if that's unique, mo I think
a lot of coaches will tell you that in my
position this time of year, but for us, I think those.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Are gonna be crucial area.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
And then kind of the flip side is where would
you look at your team and go, you know what,
We're maybe not game ready, but we're a little bit
ahead of where I thought we would be on October
the second, you.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Know, I think our defense is a little further along
than it normally is. As you know, we have kind
of a unique defense, but with some returners and I
think adding some guys that are picking it up on
it quickly, I feel like it's a little further ahead.
And then I think how many guys might be able
to score the basketball and been pleasantly surprised with how
many guys are having consistent days where they're putting the
ball in the basket at a pretty good clib.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Kind of walk me through your newcomers. You've reached into
the D two ranks before with some success, but obviously
there's a lit bit of an adjustment with with the
guys you have making that eleit to D one.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Now, what's that going to be like?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Well, I mean, I think it's similar for all those guys, right,
it's it's just everything's.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
A little harder, a little longer, a little.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Bit faster, a little tougher, and it's an adjustment for sure.
But you know, the thing we like about the two
guys that we brought in. One Dan Gersker, who's a
third year player who have two years with us.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
He is maybe as talented as anybody in our gym.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
He's a legit six to four left handed player, can
really score the ball, get it where.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
He wants it to go, and I think has potential
to be an elite, elite defender.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
So from a talent standpoint, he's better than any of
the guys that we brought in. And then Josh Dilling,
who's a fifth year grad transfer from a Division two.
I mean, this is a guy that made seventy one threes.
I think at forty six percent last year, and so
he's got great feel I fits really well in our
system playing in ball screens, and so I think he
can be a guy that can really give us a
(05:56):
sturdying presence on the perimeter.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
NK you tomorrow night, six fifteen, Hoops and Scoops had
Troe's Arena for the uninitiated walk people through. What's going
to be taking place tomorrow night?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, as you said, doors open a six fifteen free event.
Both the men's and women's team. Jeff Hans will be
there with his group new new women's coach at Northern Kentucky.
And it's technically not ice cream, it's frozen custard thanks
to Witch Frozen Custard, Yeah for sponsoring the event. Total
family friendly deal games on the concourse for the kids
(06:28):
arcade games, there'll be an autograph session.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Ticket giveaways.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Players are gonna get out and do a little something
and everybody's gonna get to meet and interact with the players.
But really just wanted it to be a kind of
doors open, family friendly event for everybody to come in
and get to meet our guys and gals and have
a chance to, as you said, to be reminded of
basketball seasons literally just around the court.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's remarkable. And you know, look, I'm I'm old enough
to remember you as a player. I remember when the
season would start, like December one or right after Thanksgiving
November thirtieth, them win there, the idea that you're going
to be playing in Look, the season has gotten earlier
and earlier, the idea that we're gonna have regular season
college basketball on November the fourth. There's a lot of
(07:09):
stuff in this sport that's taking some getting used to.
That might be for me at least at the top
of the list.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yeah, it's crazy, right used to you started practice not
until October fifteenth, and now we're playing a real game
two weeks after that. And again, if you're if you're
one of these schools, you know, if you're if you're
in the Big Twelve or the Big East like Xavier Cincinnati,
you might potentially have some early season games that can
really impact your season. You know, for us, it's a
bonus to pick up one of those wins. For those guys,
(07:36):
you know, some of those important games come pretty early.
I guess the good news is everybody has the same
amount of time to get ready, but uh, it's it's
pretty early and h you know, I think at the
same time, it's great to get college basketball season started
and to those that are diehards like us, it's good to.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
See some games.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, no question, six fifteen tomorrow night. By the way,
everyone in attendance gets a voucher for a ticket offer
as well as a voure for WITS custard while supplies last.
We can call it frozen custard. I mean, dude, it's
it's ice cream as far as I'm concerned, but I
understand technically it's frozen cut. Whatever it is, it's good
and it's always good to have you with us. Do
(08:14):
it again during the season. Coach, we appreciate the time
as always. Man, thanks so much.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Thank him. I appreciation Darren Horn.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Always kind enough to join us. It's a free event
tomorrow night, six fifteen men's and women's teams at NKAU
Activities games, free ice cream, frozen custard. By the way,
WITS frozen custard is awesome, and posters autographs. It's going
to be a really good time. College basketball is here.
The Norris opened the season on the fourth of November
(08:40):
against Florida State. The event tomorrow night, free free basketball,
free ice cream, frozen custard.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
You can't beat that.
Mo Egger News
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