FERRIS MEN'S BASKETBALL VAULTS TO THIRD IN REGIONAL POLL
Bulldogs Move Up Five Spots In Great Lakes Regional Rankings
The Ferris State University men's basketball team has vaulted to third in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Rankings, which were announced today (Feb. 16) by the NCAA.
The Bulldogs, who are currently 18-5 overall and hold a first-place tying 10-5 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division, jumped up five spots in this week's rankings after earning league home wins over Grand Valley State, Lake Superior State and Saginaw Valley State last week. FSU was previously ranked eighth in last week's poll.
Findlay holds the top spot in the current regional rankings with Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) member Southern Indiana listed second. The Oilers are also ranked number one nationally this week in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)/Division II Bulletin National Poll although their 79-72 league loss at Wayne State Monday (Feb. 14) was not taken into consideration. Indianapolis is fourth in the regional poll followed by Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Wayne State, Grand Valley State, Gannon, Quincy and St. Joseph's (Ind.).
Ferris State, which has won its last seven consecutive outings to date, currently holds a 13-5 mark in regional competition this campaign. Among FSU's victories this season are wins over three teams ranked in the top seven regionally in Southern Indiana, Indianapolis and Grand Valley State. The Great Lakes Region encompasses all of the schools in both the GLIAC and the GLVC.
The winners of both the GLIAC and GLVC postseason tournaments will garner automatic bids into the NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional slated to be held March 12-15 at a campus site to be determined. Six at-large regional berths will also be awarded based on the final regional poll. The official parings along with the site selection will be announced by the NCAA on Sunday, March 6.
FSU has made six previous NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Tournament appearances with its most recent berth coming during the 1997-98 campaign. The Bulldogs will host Northwood in their regular-season league home finale Saturday, Feb. 19, beginning at 3 p.m. (EST) in Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich.
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