FSU Basketball Teams Open Practice Friday

The Ferris State University men's and women's basketball squads will both begin preparations for the 2010-11 campaign by holding their first official practices Friday (Oct. 15) in FSU's Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich.

The Bulldog men's basketball team, which is guided by ninth-year head coach Bill Sall, welcomes back seven letterwinners from last campaign. Meanwhile, 13th-year head coach Tracey Dorow of the FSU women's basketball team returns eight letterwinners this season. Six of the men's players and five women's returnees all started at least one contest a year ago.

The Ferris State women's basketball team concluded the 2009-10 season with an 8-19 overall record.  The Bulldogs were 7-15 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action and won their final two regular-season contests.

Meanwhile, FSU concluded the 2009-10 men's basketball campaign with a 16-13 overall record and the Bulldogs placed tied for second (13-9) in GLIAC North Division play. Additionally, FSU made its 11th GLIAC Tournament appearance last campaign, which was the program's fifth berth in the last six years.

The Bulldog men's basketball squad is slated to tipoff the year with a preseason exhibition matchup against Aquinas College on Thursday, Oct. 28, in Grand Rapids, Mich.  Ferris hosts longtime West Michigan foe Calvin in its first official contest on Saturday, Nov. 13, at FSU's Jim Wink arena in Big Rapids.

The Bulldog women's basketball squad will hit the court for the first time with an exhibition game at NCAA Division I Oakland on Friday, Nov. 5, in Rochester Hills, Mich. FSU then officially opens the 2010-11 season by hosting Edinboro (Pa.) on Saturday, Nov. 20, in a 1 p.m. (ET) non-league tilt at Wink Arena.

The Bulldog men and women will both play a 26-game regular season schedule. The two teams will open their 19-game league schedules at home versus Tiffin on Thursday, Dec. 2, at Jim Wink Arena.

The FSU men presently have 14 players on their preseason roster with 13 listed for the women's squad.

Prior to Friday's first official workouts, the Bulldog teams will hold a midnight-madness type event with the "Bulldog Winter Showdown" slated for tonight (Oct. 14) starting at 8 p.m. (ET) inside Wink Arena.  The event is open to the public.