Ferris State Men's Basketball Schedule 2023-2024: What To Know

Ferris State men’s basketball may have lost its leading scorer, but the Bulldogs are expected to have a great season. Here’s a look at the schedule.

Dec 11, 2023 by Matt Cannizzaro

Ferris State Men's Basketball Schedule 2023-2024: What To Know

The Ferris State men’s basketball program is coming off a season of close calls, including second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season standings, a semifinal loss in the conference tournament—then an excruciating wait to see if the team had done enough during the season to make the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship.

The Bulldogs earned a bid, the 16th in school history, as one of three GLIAC schools making the cut (along with tournament finalists Wisconsin-Parkside and Northern Michigan). Unfortunately, the GLIAC’s run in the national tournament was short-lived. Parkside lost its opening game, while Ferris State and Northern Michigan each picked up a win before bowing out.

The Bulldogs (24-9, 13-5 last season) have enjoyed much success in recent years, however, picking up four regular-season GLIAC titles since the 2016-2017 campaign, along with four consecutive GLIAC Tournament wins from 2015-2018. In 2018, Ferris State went on to win the Division II national championship.

So, what are the expectations for the Bulldogs this year?

According to the GLIAC coaches, it’s time for Ferris State to reclaim its place atop the conference standings. The Bulldogs received 77 points and five of the 10 first-place votes to top the 2023-2024 GLIAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, finishing just ahead of Northern Michigan.

Ferris State, which has won 20 games in eight of the last nine seasons, also landed one player—graduate guard Ben Davidson—on the preseason first team. He’s one of 14 returning players, while the Bulldogs also added two graduate transfers and four freshmen.

In 33 games last season, Davidson averaged 13 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 rebounds per game. He was named to the All-GLIAC first team, along with the team’s leading scorer, Solomon Oraegbu, who has since transferred to Emporia State.

Here’s a look at the Ferris State men’s basketball schedule for the 2023-2024 season.

Ferris State Men’s Basketball Schedule 2023-2024

All Times Eastern

Date	Day	Time	Home/Away	Opponent	Location
Oct. 21	(Sat)	2 p.m.	Away	Toledo (Exh)	Toledo, OH
Oct. 29	(Sun)	1 p.m.	Home	Alumni Game	Big Rapids, MI
Nov. 3	(Fri)	5 p.m.	Home	Calvin (Exh)	Big Rapids, MI
Nov. 10	(Fri)	5 p.m.	Away	Northwood	Painesville, Ohio
Nov. 11	(Sat)	6 p.m.	Away	Lake Erie	Painesville, Ohio
Nov. 15	(Wed)	7 p.m.	Home	Cleary	Big Rapids, MI
Nov. 18	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Away	Findlay	Findlay, OH
Nov. 22	(Wed)	5:30 p.m.	Home	McKendree	Big Rapids, MI
Nov. 27	(Mon)	8 p.m.	Away	Lewis	Romeoville, IL
Dec. 2	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Home	Grace Christian	Big Rapids, MI
Dec. 7	(Thu)	8 p.m.	Away	Purdue Northwest	Westville, IN
Dec. 9	(Sat)	4 p.m.	Away	Wisconsin-Parkside	Kenosha, WI
Dec. 17	(Sun)	3 p.m.	Home	Ashland	Big Rapids, MI
Dec. 19	(Tue)	5:30 p.m.	Home	Cedarville	Big Rapids, MI
Dec. 28	(Thu)	7 p.m.	Home	Fanshawe	Big Rapids, MI
Dec. 30	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Home	Kuyper	Big Rapids, MI
Jan. 6	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Home	Lake Superior State	Big Rapids, MI
Jan. 11	(Thu)	7:30 p.m.	Away	Michigan Tech	Houghton, MI
Jan. 13	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Away	Northern Michigan	Marquette, MI
Jan. 18	(Thu)	7:30 p.m.	Home	Davenport	Big Rapids, MI
Jan. 20	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Home	Grand Valley State	Big Rapids, MI
Jan. 25	(Thu)	7:30 p.m.	Away	Wayne State	Detroit
Jan. 27	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Away	Saginaw Valley State	University Center, MI
Feb. 1	(Thu)	7:30 p.m.	Home	Northern Michigan	Big Rapids, MI
Feb. 3	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Home	Michigan Tech	Big Rapids, MI
Feb. 10	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Away	Lake Superior State	Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Feb. 15	(Thu)	7:30 p.m.	Home	Saginaw Valley State	Big Rapids, MI
Feb. 17	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Home	Wayne State	Big Rapids, MI
Feb. 22	(Thu)	TBA	Away	Grand Valley State	Allendale, MI
Feb. 24	(Sat)	TBA	Away	Davenport	Grand Rapids, MI
Feb. 29	(Thu)	7:30 p.m.	Home	Wisconsin-Parkside	Big Rapids, MI
2-Mar	(Sat)	3 p.m.	Home	Purdue Northwest	Big Rapids, MI
6-Mar	(Wed)	TBD	TBD	GLIAC Championship	TBD

When Is The GLIAC Men’s Basketball Tournament?

The 2024 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament will be held March 6-10 (March 6 (quarterfinals) and March 9-10 for the semifinals and final).

In 2023, the higher seed in each of the four quarterfinal matchups played host. Then, the highest remaining seed among the semifinalists was the host for the semifinals and championship. The plan is the same for 2024.

The tournament winner earns an automatic berth into the Division II Men’s Basketball Championship.

When Is The 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship?

The NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship takes place in March of each year.

Following the completion of the conference tournaments is a formal selection show, during which the 64 teams for the national postseason bracket are announced.

The first 23 teams are the automatic bids given to the conference champions. The remaining teams are selected by a selection committee. The spots are distributed evenly among the eight Division II regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West).

The road to the national championship will continue with the regional competitions – the opening round of play (Round of 64), Round of 32 and Round of 16 across eight locations – from March 16-19. Essentially, it’s eight single-elimination regional tournaments.

The eight regional champions are the Elite Eight for Division II, and they all converge on a pre-determined location for the final three rounds of play.

In 2024, this will take place at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, from March 26-30. Specifically, the rounds (Elite Eight, semifinals and final) will take place on March 26, 28 and 30, respectively.

Nova Southeastern defeated West Liberty to claim the Division II men’s title in 2023.