Posted: Mar 10, 2020
PREVIEW: Ferris State Men's Basketball Opens National Tourney Against Truman State
| Ferris State vs Truman State | |
| Saturday, March 14 - 2:30 p.m. (ET) | |
| Video: | athletics.uindy.edu |
| Radio: | 97.3 FM WDEE |
| Stats: | Click Here |
| Tickets: | Info | (317) 788-3359 |
| Social Media: | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
| Game Notes (PDF) | |
This Week's Action
The Ferris State University men's basketball squad, which claimed this year's GLIAC Championship in outright fashion, will make its fifth NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in the last six years as the Bulldogs square off against Truman State (Mo.) in the Midwest Regional on Saturday, March 14, at Nicoson Hall in Indianapolis, Ind. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (ET). The University of Indianapolis was picked to host the regional event for the first time since 1997.
Media Coverage
Saturday's regional opener along with complete FSU coverage throughout the Midwest Regional Tournament will be carried live by local flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network at FerrisStateBulldogs.com with Rob Bentley and Sandy Gholston providing the play-by-play coverage. A free live video webcast will be offered by UIndy along with live internet statistics and social media updates. For a complete listing of links, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the NCAA Regional will be $10 per session for adults and $5 for students, youth and seniors. Fans can purchase tickets in person at the door on Saturday or call the University of Indianapolis at (317) 788-3359..
NCAA Tourney History
The Bulldogs will be making their 14th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and their fifth in the last six years. The Bulldogs reached the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship Game and the Sweet Sixteen of the national tournament four years ago before making another regional semifinal appearance in 2017. Two years ago, the Bulldogs claimed their first national championship while finishing with an all-time NCAA best 38-1 overall record after winning the Midwest Regional on their home floor at Jim Wink Arena.
Third Title In Four Years
The Bulldogs won the outright GLIAC Championship this year, which marked the program's third title in the past four seasons. Since 2015, FSU has claimed three league regular-season crowns, four conference tournament titles in addition to a regional championship and the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship.
A Great Stretch
In the past six years, FSU has now made five NCAA Tournament appearances, claimed four GLIAC Tournament Championships, reached the NCAA Midwest Region semifinals three times, claimed three league regular-season titles and also reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen twice along with an Elite Eight berth and national title. Over the last six seasons, the Bulldogs have now compiled a 160-43 overall record, which represents the greatest stretch in school history.
The Head Coach
Andy Bronkema - (Cornerstone), 7th season, 170-59 (.743). Bronkema took over the Bulldog program seven years ago following six years as an assistant coach, including the previous three as the program's top assistant. A collegiate standout at NAIA Division II Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich., Bronkema was voted All-Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) three times and twice garnered NAIA Honorable Mention All-America laurels. He was a multi-sport prep standout at McBain (Mich.) High School. Bronkema garnered National Coach of the Year honors from numerous sources following FSU's 2018 national title run.
History Of Success
The Ferris State men's basketball program has a long track record of success that includes more than 1,000 all-time victories, 16 GLIAC Championships and 14 NCAA Tournament appearances. Since 2004, the Bulldogs have reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen four times and now won 11 GLIAC regular season or tourney titles.
Third-Most Wins In School History
The Bulldogs' 27 wins to date this year represents the sixth consecutive year in which FSU has won 20 games or more in a single campaign. It is also the third-most wins in school history behind only the school-record 38 wins set in 2017-18 along with the 28 victories the Bulldogs recorded in 2016-17.
Big Home Record
Ferris State posted a 17-3 overall mark at home inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena this year, which was the second-best mark in the facility in school history behind only the perfect 22-0 record compiled by the Bulldogs in 2017-18. FSU is also 7-3 on the road and 3-0 on neutral floors to date this campaign.
All-Time Winningest Seniors
The Bulldogs' three seniors of Greg Williams (Canton), Cole Walker (Elk Rapids) and D'angelo Hughes (Springfield, Ill.) could depart as perhaps the winningest senior class in school history. They currently have won 113 games over their four years on the floor and are tied with former teammates and standouts Noah King and Drew Cushingberry for the most four-year wins in Bulldog annals.
All-GLIAC Honorees
Ferris State had three student-athletes receive All-GLIAC honors for the 2019-20 campaign as the league unveiled its postseason award recipients. FSU junior guard Walt Kelser (Southfield) was tabbed to the All-GLIAC First Team with senior guard D'angelo Hughes (Springfield, Ill.) and junior forward Dorian Aluyi (Chicago) both chosen to the second-team squad in voting by the league's member head coaches. This year, Kelser has averaged a team-high 17.6 points per game for the Bulldogs as the squad's leading scorer and one of the top point producers in the conference. As the squad's point guard, Hughes has led the attack and distributed 4.4 assists per game along with 9.1 points an outing. Finally, Aluyi has made the most of his first campaign in a Bulldog uniform, totaling 11.8 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds a game.
NCAA Tournament History
Ferris State will be making its fifth NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament appearance in the program's history. The Bulldog women's squad last made the field in 2011-12 when FSU reached the Midwest Regional semifinals. The Bulldogs also made berths in 1999-00, 2003-04 and 2006-07 when FSU made its deepest run by reaching the regional final and the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen. The Bulldogs and Lakers have never met before in NCAA Tournament action entering Friday night's regional quarterfinal.
The Regional Matchups
The complete first round matchups and regional seedings are listed below:
Saturday, March 14
12 p.m.: No. 3 Missouri-St. Louis vs. No. 6 Southern Indiana
2:30 p.m.: No. 2 Truman vs. No. 7 Ferris State
5:00 p.m.: No. 1 UIndy vs. No. 8 Walsh
7:30 p.m.: No. 4 Michigan Tech vs. No. 5 Bellarmine
The winners will take part in the regional semifinal games on Sunday (March 15) with the first semifinal at 5 p.m. (ET) and the second semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. (ET). The Bulldogs would play in the first regional semifinal on Sunday with an opening-round victory. The regional championship game is on Tuesday (March 17) at 7 p.m. (ET).
The single-elimination national tournament field includes eight regions of eight teams apiece. The Midwest Regional champion will advance to the NCAA Division Elite Eight with quarterfinal-round play on March 26 and the semifinals on March 28 in Evansville, Ind. This year, the national championship game will be contested at the Division I men's Final Four on Sunday, April 5, in Atlanta, Ga.
Series History
Saturday's matchup in the NCAA Tournament will represent the second meeting ever between Ferris State and Truman State as the two teams also met in the 2017 NCAA Tournament First Round in Louisville with the Bulldogs earning a 86-78 triumph.
NCAA Tourney Notebook
Ferris State owns a 16-13 all-time mark in national tournament play at the NCAA level. The Bulldogs made four-straight trips to the regional tournament from 1987-90, which included an Elite Eight showing as well in 1987-88. FSU also made four consecutive trips from 2015-18 before narrowly missing the field a year ago. Under head coach Andy Bronkema, the Bulldogs reached the D2 Sweet Sixteen and the regional final in 2016 before hosting the regional tournament and claiming the crown en route to a national title in 2018. Overall, FSU has currently won nine of its last 11 NCAA Tournament games to date.
Both Bulldog Teams In NCAA Tournament
This year represents the first time in school history in which both the Bulldog men's and women's basketball squads have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in the same season. This year, both teams won GLIAC North Division Championships as well.