MEN'S BASKETBALL: What To Expect From Grand Valley

BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University and Grand Valley State University were expected to be two of the top teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

It's still early, and the Bulldogs are still hungry for their first win of the campaign, but it's safe to expect a hotly-contested battle Monday night in Jim Wink Arena when the two West Michigan rivals tip it off in Big Rapids. Grand Valley is 2-1 with wins over Northern Kentucky University and St. Joseph's College and a home loss to Cornerstone University. Ferris remains winless, at 0-3, in games this regular season against Lewis University, Central Michigan University and St. Joseph's College.

St. Joseph's is the common opponent as Ferris dropped a 98-82 decision while the Lakers earned a 76-69 win. Both games were played on the home court of the Pumas in Indiana.

As expected, Justin Ringler and Toreau Brown are the leaders on this team. Ringler, a native of Reed City who will be playing close to home at Ferris, is averaging 20 points while Brown is averaging 13.3. Ringler is off to a good start as the focal point of the Lakers' offense this season. Point guard Wes Trammell and guard Alvin Storrs are two perimeter guys to watch out for while Nick West and Mike Przydzial are the big guys in the paint who will try to control the backboards and do the dirty work.

Grand Valley has the ability to run, but with the size inside it also can play a good half-court game if that is what it comes to on the hardwood. Ferris has to be physical and smart inside and must be strong on the defensive boards against the bigger Lakers.

Ferris is being led this season by Justin Keenan who is averaging 17.3 points and six rebounds and Jon Yeazel, who is averaging 15.7 points and 9.3 rebounds. Yeazel is coming around after taking a lot of time off for the game. His ability to score and rebound has been a nice complement to Keenan's work inside. Darien Gay is averaging 11.3 points and Austin Randel is averaging 10.5 points for the Bulldogs. Ferris has battled some injuries this season, but the Bulldogs hope that is behind them and they can continue to get healthy hitting GLIAC play.

The Bulldogs can't have too many bad turnovers and, as stated early, they must gang rebound (not just Keenan and Yeazel) against a big Laker team. Everyone has to make an effort to get on the glass.

Typically, Ferris-Grand Valley games are good ones and a lot of people are expecting the same as the Bulldogs and Lakers go at it on Big Monday.