MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan men's basketball team (22-10) has made the big dance for the second straight season as they'll get set to take on a familiar opponent, matching up with GLIAC foe Ferris State in the Round of 64 on Saturday, March 16th at 7:30 p.m. in Indianapolis. It will be the 4/5 matchup. 

Also in the Midwest, UIndy will play No. 8 William Jewell, No. 2 Kentucky Wesleyan will clash with No. 7 Upper Iowa, and No. 3 Walsh meets No. 6 Lake Superior State. 

Northern Michigan traveled to Indy for the tournament last season, where they defeated Hillsdale in the First Round before falling to McKendree in the Round of 32. 


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Follow @NMUMensBBALL and on X (formerly known as Twitter) and @nmu_mbb on Instagram for updates leading up to and during the Tournament. 

Saturday, March 16 - vs. Ferris State (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Tournament Page  |  Watch  |  Live Stats  |  Listen


A Word from Matt Majkrzak
"Playing a familiar team, we know what they're doing, they know what we're doing, and it's going to come down do who steps up and who makes plays."



Last Time Out
Northern dropped a 92-77 decision to the Grand Valley State Lakers in the GLIAC semifinals on Saturday at the Berry Events Center. 

The Green and Gold were led by Max Weisbrod with 24 points, while Brian Parzych and Sam Schultz each contributed another 13. Grand Valley got 24 points from William Dunn off the bench, with an impressive 5-7 mark from three. Britain Harris added a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double. 


Weisbrod Named GLIAC Player of the Year
Weisbrod was been named the GLIAC Player of the Year and to the GLIAC First Team this season. He is just the fourth Wildcat to be named conference Player of the Year and the first since Cory Brathol in 2000. He led the Wildcats to a 21-9 regular season record and 14-4 conference mark that saw the Wildcats earn the program's first regular season title since 1992-93.

The native of DeForest, Wisconsin finished out the regular season fifth in the conference in scoring (17.1 ppg), second in assists/game (4.4), second in three-pointers/game (2.8) and total threes (75-189), and fourth in total free throws (101-125, 80.8%). In 15 conference games played, he averaged 19.1 points/game including 21.8/game over the final 11. He recorded 22 games in double figures including the last 11 heading into the postseason. In those 22, he notched 20+ in 10, 25+ in five, and over 30 twice, including a career-high 35 points and seven triples in a 98-66 triumph of Michigan Tech. No one was more clutch than Weisbrod throughout conference play this season, as he shot 7-9 (77.8%) in games in which the 'Cats were either leading by a single possession or trailing and attempting a comeback with less than two minutes to play. The most notable was the top of the key buzzer-beating triple to beat Lake Superior State at home.

Over his two seasons, Weisbrod has played 62 games, totaling 906 points (14.6 ppg), 293 assists (4.7 apg), and a 152-364 (41.7%) mark from the three-point line. 


Majkrzak named GLIAC Coach of the Year
Matt Majkrzak was been named the GLIAC Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to a 21-9 regular season and 14-4 conference record in which the Wildcats claimed the GLIAC regular season championship since 1992-93. Majkrzak is only the second leader of the program to be named conference Coach of the Year, joining Dean Ellis in 1993. 

For a team that has dealt with injuries all season long, Majkrzak has continued to make it work for the Green and Gold, plugging and playing different lineups with seemingly no interruptions. The Wildcats tied the longest winning streak in program history earlier this season at 13 games, originally set in 1984-85. 

In five seasons, Majkrzak has improved the team each and every year. He already has a GLIAC Tournament title, GLIAC regular season title, and an NCAA Tournament victory under his belt as he holds a record of 86-55 (.610) leading the program in Marquette.


Cat Nips

• The Wildcats have played eight games against teams in the NCAA Tournament field: Ferris State (x2), Lake Superior State (x2), Minnesota State Moorhead, Minnesota Duluth, Upper Iowa, and Lubbock Christian.
• For a program that has been around for well over 100 years (since 1906), the Wildcats tied the longest winning streak in program history earlier this season at 13 games, set in 1984-85.
• All five starters have had multiple games leading the team in scoring: Kuehl (12), Weisbrod (12), Smith (5), Parzych (3), Schultz (2). 
• For the second straight season, redshirt sophomore Dylan Kuehl was named to the All-GLIAC First Team and All-Defensive Team. He completed the regular season with 16.2 points/game. Kuehl recorded four double-doubles on the season including a dominant 30-point, 10-rebound, and six block performance against Saginaw Valley State. In his two seasons, Kuehl has already racked up 924 points, 403 rebounds, 117 assists, and 68 blocks over 64 games. 
• Sam Schultz led the GLIAC at 9.4 rebounds/game, which is good for 17th in the country.
• The 1.71 assist/turnover ratio for the 'Cats is the 4th best mark in the country. Northern also ranked in the top 50 in FG% (48.3) and rebound margin (4.4).

Notes on Ferris State
The Bulldogs (25-7) are coming off of a GLIAC Tournament championship is which they defeated Ferris State 87-76. Vejas Grazulis was named tournament MVP after 26 points against Wayne State and another 16 in the title bout. FSU has the second best assist/turnover ratio in the country (1.84) and also rank in the top 20 in scoring margin (12.5), FG% (50.0) and FT% (77.8). 

The Bulldogs are led by Ethan Erickson (14.4 ppg), Ben Davidson (13.4), and Dolapo Olayinka (12.1). Olayinka also leads the team in rebounding at 5.3 rpg. 

In two matchups between Northern and FSU this season, the 'Cats edged them 75-71 in Marquette and 83-80 in Big Rapids. 


NCAA Tournament - Midwest Regional
Host by UIndy

Saturday, March 16
Game One: #3 Walsh vs. #3 Lake Superior State | 12:00 p.m.
Game Two: #2 Kentucky Wesleyan vs. #7 Upper Iowa | 2:30 p.m.
Game Three: #1 UIndy vs. #8 William Jewell | 5:00 p.m.
Game Four: #4 Northern Michigan vs. #5 Ferris State | 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 17
Game Five: Game One winner vs. Game Two winner | 5:00 p.m.
Game Six: Game Three winner vs. Game Four winner | 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19
Game Seven: Game Five winner vs. Game Six winner | 7:00 p.m.