Posted: Mar 23, 2024
ELITE EIGHT PREVIEW: Ferris State Men's Basketball Heads To Elite Eight For Third Time
| NCAA Elite Eight - National Quarterfinal FSU vs. Minnesota State - Tuesday, 7 pm ET |
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The Ferris State University men's basketball squad, which claimed the Midwest Regional Championship this past week, will make its third-ever NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance as the Bulldogs square off against top-seeded Minnesota State in the national quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 26, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET).
Media Coverage
Tuesday's contest along with complete coverage of FSU throughout the Elite Eight 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 live pay-per-view video webcast will be available at NCAA.com along with live internet statistics and social media updates. For a complete listing of links, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.
Ticket Information
Fans can purchase tickets for the Division II Elite Eight at Ticketmaster.com. All seats are general admission. The Bulldogs will compete in session two at the Elite Eight on Tuesday with ticket prices $18 per session online plus applicable fees.
NCAA Tourney History
The Bulldogs are midst their 17th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and their eighth in the last 10 years. The Bulldogs reached the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship Game and the Sweet Sixteen in 2016 before making another regional semifinal appearance in 2017. The Bulldogs claimed their first national championship in 2018 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. FSU also advanced to the NCAA Tourney in 2020 before the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 and has been in the field the last three years.
Sixth GLIAC Tourney Title
The Bulldogs won the GLIAC Tournament Championship this year, which marked the program's sixth all-time tournament crown and fifth since 2015. Since 2015, FSU has claimed four league regular-season crowns, five conference tournament titles in addition to two regional championships and the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship.
A Great Stretch
In the past 10 years, FSU has now made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, claimed five GLIAC Tournament Championships, reached the NCAA Midwest Region semifinals six times, claimed four league regular-season titles and also reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen three times along with two Elite Eight berths and national title. Over the last 10 seasons, the Bulldogs have now compiled a 243-79 overall record, which represents the greatest stretch in school history.
The Head Coach
Andy Bronkema - (Cornerstone), 11th season, 253-95 (.727). Bronkema took over the Bulldog program 11 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. He won his 250th game versus Grand Valley State on March 10.
History Of Success
The Ferris State men's basketball program has a long track record of success that includes more than 1,200 all-time victories, 17 GLIAC Championships and 17 NCAA Tournament appearances. Since 2004, the Bulldogs have reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen five times and now won 13 GLIAC regular season or tourney titles.
Another 20-Win Season
The Bulldogs' 28 wins to date this year represents the ninth time in the past 10 years in which FSU has won 20 games or more in a single campaign. The Bulldogs posted a school-record 38 wins in 2017-18 along with 28 victories in 2016-17 and 27 wins in 2019-20.
Big Home Record
Ferris State posted a 16-2 overall mark at home inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena this year. The Bulldogs compiled a perfect 22-0 record in 2017-18 at home en route to the national championship. FSU is also 8-5 on the road and 4-0 on neutral floors to date this campaign.
Both Bulldog Teams In NCAA Tournament
This year represents the third 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. Both teams also accomplished the feat in 2020 before the tournament was cancelled along with the 2021-22 season. Both are in the D2 Elite Eight.
Postseason Honorees
Ferris State had three senior student-athletes receive All-GLIAC honors for the 2023-24 season. FSU junior guard Ethan Erickson was chosen as the GLIAC's Sixth Man of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to earn the recently-created award. Erickson also earned All-GLIAC First Team honors along with senior guard Ben Davidson. Meanwhile, senior Dolapo Olayinka was an All-GLIAC Second Team honoree. In the GLIAC Tournament, senior Vejas Grazulis claimed MVP honors while senior Amari Lee was on the all-tournament team. Erickson earned Midwest Regional MVP accolades with Davidson also garnering all-tourney kudos.
NCAA Tournament History
Ferris State has made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, and this year marks FSU's eighth trip to the big dance in the past 10 years. The Bulldogs reached the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship Game and the Sweet Sixteen of the national tournament in 2016 before making another regional semifinal appearance in 2017. The following year, in 2018, 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. FSU also garnered a men's berth in 2020 before the cancellation along with reaching the regional semifinals the last three years.
Elite Eight Matchups
The complete first round matchups and Elite Eight seedings are listed below. All times are Eastern.
Tuesday, March 26 - Quarterfinals
(3) Gannon vs. (6) CSUSB | 1 p.m.
(2) Nova Southeastern vs. (7) Southern N.H. | 3:30 p.m.
(1) Minnesota St. vs. (8) Ferris St. | 7 p.m.
(4) West Tex. A&M vs. (5) North Georgia | 9:30 p.m.
The winners will take part in the national semifinal games on Thursday (March 28). The winner of the FSU-MSU game will hit the floor in game two at 4:37 p.m. (ET) and the national championship game is Saturday (March 30) at 3:09 p.m. (ET).
Series History
Ferris State and Minnesota State have played only once previously with the Mavericks winning 74-73 in 1992 (11/28) in Mankato.
Ferris State Notebook
The Bulldogs have six seniors on their roster who all play, including four graduate seniors in Ben Davidson (6th Year), Dolapo Olayinka (2nd Year), Amari Lee (2nd Year) and Jack Ammerman (1st Year).
Both Ferris State's men's and women's teams advanced to the NCAA D2 Elite Eight this week. FSU along with Gannon and Minnesota State have both squads represented in the field.
Ferris State won D2 national championships in men's basketball in 2018 along with football in 2021 and 2022.
The Bulldogs are second nationally in assists (22.6 apg.) along with assist/turnover ration (1.82). FSU is also fourth in bench points (40.1 ppg.) and 12th in scoring margin (12.2 ppg.) in addition to 13th in field goal % (.497).
Ethan Erickson is second in the country in three-point field goals made (115), which is a school record. He's also ninth in three-point percentage (.451) and third in three-point attempts (255). Amari Lee is fifth nationally in assist/turnover radio (3.38).
FSU made its first-ever Elite Eight appearance in 1988 prior to making its second in 2018.
All six Bulldog seniors have scored over 1,000 career points in their college careers. Erickson is 11 points away (989).