2001-02 News

FSU Opens Season This Weekend

FSU Basketball at a Glance - The Ferris State University men's basketball team will open the 2001-02 campaign this weekend (Nov. 16-17) at the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Ky. The Bulldogs will face tournament host Northern Kentucky this Friday night at 7:45 p.m. The tournament field also includes Central State University (Ohio) and Christian Brothers University (Tenn.).

The Season Ahead - Ferris State was 8-18 overall and 5-13 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action during the 2000-01 campaign. The eight wins recorded last season were the most since the 1997-98 Bulldog squad finished 21-12 and claimed the GLIAC Tournament title. Eight letterwinners return from last year's squad, which won three of its final four games. Seniors Adam Anderson and Matt Miller have been elected 2001-02 team captains.

Anderson Earns Preseason Honors - Senior center Adam Anderson has been named to the 2001-02 Basketball Times NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 All-America Team and the 2001-02 Street and Smith's NCAA Division II Preseason Honorable Mention All-America squad. Anderson was the lone representative from a GLIAC member school named to either list.

During the 2000-01 campaign, the 6-10 Anderson earned first-team All-GLIAC North Division recognition and was a GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team pick. A 2000-01 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Great Lakes Region selection, Anderson was only the fourth Bulldog player in history to earn first-team all-region recognition.

The GLIAC's 2000-01 leading scorer (21.3 ppg), Anderson notched the fifth-best single-season scoring average by a Bulldog junior during the 2000-01 campaign and became the 22nd player in the 73-year history of Ferris State basketball to score over 1,000 career points (Feb. 10, 2001).

FSU Fifth In Preseason Poll - Ferris State was picked to finish fifth in the GLIAC Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs tallied 13 points. Michigan Tech University was selected the GLIAC's North Division favorite with three first-place votes and 34 total points. Grand Valley State University received two first-place votes and finished second in the poll, while Lake Superior State University garnered the remaining first-place vote and was third overall. In the South Division, Hillsdale College was selected the preseason favorite as the Chargers secured three first-place votes.

Streak Intact for Anderson - Senior Adam Anderson enters his final campaign with a 27-game double-figure scoring streak intact. Anderson has scored 10 or more points in 33 of his last 34 career outings. A second-team 1999-2000 All-GLIAC North Division pick, Anderson established FSU single-season school records in made free throws (179) and blocked shots (50) during the 2000-01 campaign. In 26 games last season, Anderson compiled the ninth-best single-season scoring total in school history (555 points).

Head Coach Edgar Wilson - Head coach Edgar Wilson enters his sixth season at the helm with a career coaching record of 52-84 (.382). A 1978 graduate of Michigan State, Wilson guided the Bulldogs to the GLIAC Tournament championship and a NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional appearance during the 1997-98 season. Wilson previously spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Central Michigan (1993-1996) and five seasons as an assistant at Michigan State (1978-83).

Bulldog Bites - Sophomore Marcus Wallace was the squad's second-leading scorer as a freshman (10.1 ppg) ......... Sophomore Johnathan Bowers notched the eighth-best single-season block total in school history last year (26 blocks) ......... Senior Adam Anderson has led the Bulldogs in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots two-straight years ............ Anderson is the younger brother of former Bulldog player and current assistant coach Cory Anderson (1996-98) ........... FSU won six of 15 games against in-state opponents during the 2000-01 season ............ Junior Brian Monahan led the Bulldogs with 77 assists and 32 steals last year .......... FSU returns its top four scorers from last season in Anderson (21.3 ppg), Wallace (10.1 ppg), Bowers (8.7 ppg) and Monahan (6.8 ppg) .......... The Bulldog freshman class includes Michael Anderson, Timothy O'Brien, Corey Epps and Carlton Epps ........ The 2001-02 schedule includes eight non-conference games and 18 conference contests.

74th Season Opener - Ferris State will open its 74th men's basketball campaign this Friday against Northern Kentucky University in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic at Highland Heights, Ky. The Bulldogs are 38-35 all-time in season-opening contests. Under head coach Edgar Wilson, FSU is 2-3 on opening day. During the 2000-01 season, Ferris State upset NCAA Division I Oakland University 75-70 (11/21) to open the season in Rochester, Mich. Last season's win was FSU's first opening day road victory since the 1987-88 campaign. The 2001-02 campaign marks the fifth-consecutive season the Bulldogs have opened the season away from home. In Wilson's first season at Ferris State (1996-97), FSU defeated St. Mary's (Mich.) 95-49 at the old Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.

Scouting the Field - Ferris State is 0-2 all-time against Northern Kentucky. During the 1983-84 campaign, the Bulldogs lost to the Norse 57-48 in Highland Heights, Ky. In the last meeting between the two teams (1997-98), FSU fell 78-63 at the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament in Owensboro, Ky. The Bulldogs are 0-2 versus Central State University and have never faced Christian Brothers University.

Ticket Prices - Individual game tickets to all FSU home basketball games can be obtained at the door or by calling the Bulldog ticket office at (231) 591-2888. Adult tickets are $5 and student tickets are $3. A family pass can be purchased for $10. Ferris State faculty/staff ticket prices are $4. Special group pricing is available for groups of 20 or more.

Home Contests - Ferris State returns home to face Olivet College next Tuesday (Nov. 20) at 7:30 p.m. at Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs will host Aquinas College Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m.