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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Takes on Butler For First Time Since 1990
March 12, 2002 | Men's Basketball
March 12, 2002
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Bowling Green (24-8) at Butler (25-5) 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 14 Hinkle Fieldhouse (11,043) Indianapolis, Ind. National Invitation Tournament First Round Series Record: BGSU leads 4-1 Last Meeting: at BGSU 115, Butler 95 (12/8/90) Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7) Internet: bgsufalcons.com
THE FALCONS AND THE NIT
This will be the 13th time that BGSU has been selected to play in the National Invitation Tournament. Tonight's game with the Bulldogs marks the seventh straight road game that BGSU has played in this event since the 1979-80 season. The Falcons will be looking for their first NIT win since the 1954 tournament when they defeated Wichita State, 88-84, in Madison Square Garden.
FALCON SENIORS
Fifth-year head coach Dan Dakich has molded this group of Falcons, led by seniors Brent Klassen, Keith McLeod, Brandon Pardon and Len Matela, into one of the best in BGSU history. With the win over Miami (Feb. 20), the 2001-2002 squad became the 12th team in school history to win 20 games in a season, and just the fourth since 1962. It also marked the first time since 1943-49 - when the Falcons had six straight 20-win seasons - that BGSU has won 20 games or more twice in three seasons. The Falcons were 22-8 in 1999-2000. In addition, with 12 conference wins, the Falcons posted their fourth straight winning season in MAC play for the first time since BGSU had five winning MAC records from 1980-84. The Falcons' 79 wins over the last four seasons is the most in school history during a similar period since BGSU won 98 games from 1946-50.
TEAMS COULD HAVE MET IN ALASKA
Both teams played in the Top of the World Classic in November. The Bulldogs won the event, while BGSU came in third place after upsetting favored Ole Miss in the first round. Butler defeated Washington in the finals, a team which defeated BGSU in the semifinal round. Both teams have played Delaware, Washington, Ball State, Evansville, Indiana State and Detroit this year. BGSU was 5-2 against that group with just one meeting, against Detroit, coming at home. Butler was 5-1 against the same opposition.
FALCONS ADVANCED TO THE MAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
BGSU advanced to the MAC Tournament Championship game for the first time since the 1983 season. The Falcons fell to Kent State, 70-59, in the title tilt after defeating Ball State, 69-57 in the semifinals and Akron, 60-58, in the quarterfinal round. BGSU finished second overall in the MAC with a 12-6 conference record. Butler won the regular season title of the Horizon League at 12-4, but lost to UW-Green Bay, 49-48, in the conference tournament quarterfinals.
