-----Vincent Humphrey returns to the NKU lineup

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A schedule featuring nine games against teams that qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament last season awaits the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball squad in 2006-07.

NKU will meet both Cincinnati and Xavier in exhibition games prior to the regular season. The Norse play Cincinnati on Nov. 1 at Fifth Third Arena, and NKU will visit the Cintas Center on Nov. 6 to meet Xavier.

NKU opens regular-season action Nov. 17 in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic against Ferris State, an NCAA Division II Tournament participant last March. The Bulldogs are members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The following night, NKU will meet Wayne (Mich.) State, which is also a member of the GLIAC. NKU competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, which competes with the GLIAC for berths in the eight-team NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region field.

NKU begins GLVC play Nov. 30 when Quincy - another NCAA Tournament team last season - visits Regents Hall. Two days later, defending regional champion Southern Illinois at Edwardsville comes to Highland Heights to meet NKU in a GLVC showdown.

The Norse face a pair of NCAA Division II powerhouse programs in non-conference road games in December. NKU plays at Findlay on Dec. 19, and the Norse travel to Florence, Ala., for a Dec. 30 contest against North Alabama. Findlay and North Alabama each qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season.

NKU travels to Evansville, Ind., on Jan. 20 to meet GLVC power Southern Indiana. That will mark the only regular-season meeting between the two traditional rivals due to the GLVC’s divisional format.

Defending GLVC champion Saint Joseph’s visits Regents Hall on Jan. 27 for the 2007 Homecoming. NKU closes out the regular season with road games against Saint Joseph’s and Indianapolis.

The GLVC Tournament will be held March 1-4 in Roberts Stadium at Evansville, Ind. The top three teams from each division, along with two wild cards, will qualify for the eight-team tournament.

NKU returns three starters from a 17-11 team, and the Norse have added an impressive group of newcomers. Senior swingman Kevin Schappell averaged 11.2 points per game last season and is the team’s top returning scorer.

A trio of Division I transfers - James Cripe, Steven Wright and Anthony Teague - are also expected to make immediate impacts in 2006-07.

CLICK HERE FOR 2006-07 SCHEDULE