NKU’s Dynamic Duo
The Laudable Lefties of the NKU Norse have been turning heads and shifting game plans all season. See why Trevon Faulkner and Marques Warrick are the focus of this feature story by Michael Ruscher
By: Michael Ruscher
Bird and McHale….Jordan and Pippen…Magic and Kareem…Kobe and Shaq…LeBron and D-Wade…
……Trevon and Marques
That’s right, Trevon and Marques, NKU Basketball’s dynamic duo, a partnership that has the Norse sitting at 13-10 overall and 11-7 heading into the Quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament in Indianapolis.
Flashback to the beginning of the season. Along with the uncertainty of whether or not basketball would be played, there were also many unanswered questions on the team as a whole – how would the Norse deal with the loss of Tyler Sharpe, Jalen Tate, and Dantez Walton – technically three-quarters of the Norse’s scoring and stalwarts in the starting rotation? Who would step up and provide scoring?
Fans were fully aware of Faulkner, a solid role player averaging 11.9 PPG and 4 RPG that nicely complimented the play of the others and helped win another Horizon League Tournament title and a bid the NCAA Tournament.
However, many wondered who the new complementary player would be.
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Enter Freshman Marques Warrick, nominee for Kentucky Mr. Basketball following his senior season, 11th Region Player of the Year and his high school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,909 points.
On the surface when you look at them, their games differ. Faulkner, a scrappy, hard-nosed player, playing both inside and out – taking his defender off the dribble or posting them up on the block. Warrick, a calm, collected slasher, cutting through the lane for easy drop shots or layups but deadly from behind the arc when given enough space.
Though their games differ, one thing is clear – they compliment each other so well. Faulkner is an intense, fiery player. Warrick is more laid back, never seeming to get rattled when a big basket is needed, or the game is on the line.
In the Norse’s 13 regular season wins their stats are almost identical:
Points Per Game: Trevon averaged 16.6 PPG while Marques averaged 15.9 PPG.
Minutes Per Game: Trevon averaged 33.6 while Marques averaged 32.0.
Field Goal %: Trevon shot 41% from the field while Marque shot 46% from the field.
3-Point %: Trevon shot 26% from behind the arc while Marques shot 37% from behind the arc.
Assists Per Game: Trevon averaged 2.5 APG while Marques averaged 1.7 APG.
Free-Throw %: Trevon shot 79% from the line while Marques shot 82% from the line.
One could see this relationship as a big brother/little brother. Trevon, the older brother taking Marques, the younger brother under his wing – guiding him through the ups and downs, ins and outs of the season – all while watching him flourish right before his eyes. Add in the fact that this season was anything but normal given the pandemic, and their combined accomplishments are even more “dynamic”.
Trevon and Marques and the rest of the Norse look to continue the momentum they’ve gained the last month of the season and parlay that into another Horizon League Tournament title and a bid to the NCAA. With what’s been seen this season from this duo, the Norse are in a very good position to do just that.
Editor’s Note:
*Trevon Faulkner was voted All-Horizon League 2nd Team on February 23rd.
*Marques Warrick was voted Horizon League Freshman of the Year, All-Horizon 3rd Team and All-Horizon Freshman Team on February 23rd.
Welp, that does it for Norse Report!
What do you think? You agree with what we had to say? Think we’re dumb-asses? Leave a comment below, share with your friends, do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel better about the inevitable disappointment these award projections were!