Ferris State Basketball Squads Officially Open Preseason Practices Friday At Wink Arena

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's basketball squads both officially open preparations for the 2021-22 campaign by holding their first official practices on Friday inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldog men's squad returns eight letterwinners from last year's squad while the women's team boasts the return of 10 squad members from a year ago as part of its opening roster.

The Ferris State men's basketball program will open its ninth season under head coach Andy Bronkema with lofty preseason expectations again. The Bulldogs have won 20 games or more six times in the past seven years to date. 

Meanwhile, the Ferris State women's basketball squad will begin its second campaign under head coach Kurt Westendorp with a strong nucleus from last year's team returning. FSU also added three incoming players to the lineup this year.

The Bulldog men's squad will open its exhibition slate by hosting its annual Alumni Game on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 3 p.m. (ET) followed by an exhibition road outing against NCAA Division I Michigan State on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. FSU will also face another D1 opponent in traditional power Xavier University on Friday, Nov. 5, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The 2021-22 men's basketball regular season will tipoff on Nov. 12 when the Bulldogs play host to Ohio Dominican in regional action inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena. The Bulldogs then host Drury (Mo.) in another regional game as part of the season-opening home weekend on Nov. 14 in Big Rapids.

Meanwhile, the Bulldog women will officially open regular-season play on Nov. 13-14 at the Conference Crossover Tourney in Detroit. FSU will face Walsh on Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. (ET) before taking on Lake Erie on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. (ET).

For complete 2021-22 Bulldog schedules, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

Together, the Ferris State men's and women's basketball programs have a long track record of success that includes more than 1,500 all-time victories, 19 GLIAC Championships and 20 NCAA Tournament appearances combined. Over the past 17 years, the two squads have also combined to claim nine league regular-season championships and have made five NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen appearances.