Detroit Struggle with Offensive, While Northern Kentucky Rely on Defense

Detroit Mercy vs. Northern Kentucky: 2024 Horizon League Basketball Preview

The Detroit Mercy Titans (5-7, 1-1 Horizon) visit the Northern Kentucky Norse (5-6, 1-0 Horizon) in a pivotal Horizon League matchup on December 18, 2024. Both teams are looking to build momentum after mixed early-season performances. Detroit Mercy, led by Orlando Lovejoy and Mak Manciel, seeks to improve defensively and offensively, while Northern Kentucky, with Trey Robinson and Sam Vinson, aims to extend their three-game winning streak.

Detroit Mercy Titans: Offensive Efficiency a Concern

The Detroit Mercy Titans (5-7, 1-1 Horizon) are looking to turn things around after a challenging stretch. After suffering an 86-51 defeat to Davidson last Saturday, the Titans are coming off two consecutive losses and have dropped five of their last seven games. Despite their recent struggles, Detroit Mercy enters this Horizon League matchup with plenty of talent and an opportunity to get back on track.

Offensively, Detroit Mercy averages 71.1 points per game but has struggled with efficiency. The Titans shoot just 41.8% from the field, ranking 314th in the country. While their three-point shooting (36.3%) is slightly better, it still leaves much to be desired in comparison to other Horizon League teams. They have been able to score by spreading the wealth, with Orlando Lovejoy leading the way at 13.5 points per game on 41.4% shooting. Mak Manciel is close behind, averaging 13.4 points per game while shooting 41.7% from the field.

While Detroit Mercy’s offense is inconsistent, their defense also needs improvement. The Titans allow 75.3 points per game, ranking them 277th in defensive efficiency. Opponents shoot 44.7% from the field against them, which ranks 262nd nationally. However, Detroit Mercy does show some defensive promise—Lovejoy leads the team with 1.8 steals per game, while Ryan Kalambay provides a defensive presence in the paint, averaging 0.6 blocks per game. If Detroit can tighten up their defense and find more consistency on offense, they could improve on their early-season record.

Northern Kentucky Norse: Defense Key to Recent Success

The Northern Kentucky Norse (5-6, 1-0 Horizon) enter this game on a positive note, having won three consecutive games, including a 71-62 victory over Norfolk State last Sunday. Northern Kentucky has shown improvement in recent weeks and will look to continue building momentum in their Horizon League opener.

Offensively, the Norse have been slightly more efficient than Detroit Mercy, averaging 70.4 points per game. However, they too struggle with consistency, shooting just 43.8% from the field, ranking 235th in the country. Their three-point shooting has been particularly troublesome, as they connect on just 30.5% of their attempts, which places them 303rd in the nation. Despite these inefficiencies, Trey Robinson has been a bright spot, leading the team with 14.4 points per game while shooting a highly efficient 53.8% from the field. Sam Vinson also contributes significantly, averaging 13.0 points per game while shooting 42.9%.

Defensively, Northern Kentucky is better than their counterparts from Detroit Mercy, allowing 71.1 points per game. Their defensive efficiency ranks 185th in the nation, and they do a decent job limiting three-point shooting, holding opponents to 36.8% from beyond the arc. However, their overall defensive metrics are still far from elite. Despite some weaknesses, Robinson provides strong rebounding, leading the team with 6.6 rebounds per game. Vinson has also been a key playmaker, contributing 4.1 assists per game, and his ball movement has been a critical element in Northern Kentucky’s recent success.

Conclusion

As both teams enter Horizon League play with a mix of recent wins and losses, this game is a critical early-season test. A victory for either side will provide a much-needed confidence boost and could play a key role in their pursuit of higher positioning in the Horizon League standings. The matchup between these two teams will likely set the tone for their conference campaigns, with both aiming to improve on their early-season records.

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