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Juan Ferrales vs. Florida Southern SSC Championship
Jim Hogue
Juan Ferrales is soaking up every minute he has left as a Barry basketball player.

Men's Basketball Jim McCurdy

Men's Basketball Headed Back to NCAA Tourney

Barry meets Union (Tenn.) 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Lakeland

NCAA Tournament Press Conference

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MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Juan Ferrales was lobbying for more support. 

When Barry University's No. 12-ranked men's basketball team plays Union (Tenn.) in the first round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Florida Southern's Jenkins Field House, Ferrales is hoping to see more of a home crowd environment.

"I wish the arena would be full with more Barry fans," the Buccaneers senior guard said. 

Barry junior swingman Yunio Barrueta agreed.

"Like Juan said, we need more Barry people over there," he said.

The Buccaneers will be making their fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament, and their second straight after losing 82-77 in overtime to Delta State last year in Jenkins Field House. Barry is 1-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament games. The Bucs are 16-28 in postseason history.

Barry will take its school-best 24-5 record into Saturday as the No. 2 seed against a Union team that is 20-10. The Bulldogs, who were awarded the No. 7 seed, are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1968. Prior to this season, Barry had never earned back-to-back NCAA Tourney bids.

"It means a lot to this team to be able to go back," Ferrales said. "All the hard work and sacrifices we've put in, it feels good that it pays out. Even though we didn't win the conference championship, we still have life in us, so it's a great opportunity for that as well."

The Bucs' only win in the NCAA Tournament came against Florida Southern in 2010. To play the Moccasins again in the NCAA Tournament, both teams would need to win two games to meet in Tuesday's 7:30 p.m. South Regional championship. But the Bucs aren't looking ahead. Especially after not winning last year's NCAA Tourney opener. This year, they are determined and more confident to make some noise in the Dance.

"Let's see if we can make a run," Barrueta said. 

Coach Butch Estes has directed both of the last two teams to the NCAA Tournament. He is the only coach in school history to take teams to the national tournament in his first two seasons.

"It's a great honor," Estes said. "Anytime you have a chance to play in the Big Dance, it's every player's dream. It's a reward for our entire basketball program and our team. They've played a very high level. I'm awfully happy for them that we are able to represent the Sunshine State Conference and our university on a national stage. I think the experience from last year will help us this year. The more games you play in postseason the more our younger players get used to being there, and want to be there.

"I always tell 'em, the preseason belongs to me, the coach. The regular season belongs to the student body and the university, and the postseason belongs to them. So I'm going to give them a lot of ownership as we go into this." 

Union has two scorers averaging over 17 points per game in guards Marterrance Brock (17.6) and Corieon Pearson (18.1). Both guards from Memphis, Tenn., have scored 30 or more points in two games this year. Throw in guards Jordan Montgomery's 11.5 points per game and Ashanti Day's 10.9, and the Bulldogs are equipped with four consistent double figure scorers from the backcourt spot.

"Right now, it's all about Union," Estes said of his team's focus. "They're in a very tough league. My wife always kids me and she asked me when I got home Sunday night, she said, 'The team you're playing, are they any good?' I chuckled. I said, 'You know, they're in the NCAA Tournament honey. You know, they're pretty good when you get here.' No matter who you play this time of year, you better be ready."

Barry was ready for its first two postseason games this year, playing one of its best games of the season in the SSC semifinals when it hit a school-record 17 3-point field goals in a 32-point win over Nova Southeastern. But a night later, they were humbled against the No. 1 team in the country in a bid to capture the first SSC Championship game in school history. The good news is, the Bucs beat No. 1 Florida Southern, 107-102, earlier this year at Jenkins Field House, so conquering a giant can be done.

"Now we have to perform as a championship team performs," Estes said. "(On Sunday, Florida Southern) played at a championship level. We did not. We have to perform here. In order to be here, we have to do this, this and this. This, this and this takes place over the summer. When you get to the NCAA Tournament, you better be playing well. You got to get on a roll, but you also need some luck."




  



 
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Players Mentioned

Yunio Barrueta

#23 Yunio Barrueta

G
6' 6"
Junior
Juan Ferrales

#3 Juan Ferrales

G
6' 2"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Yunio Barrueta

#23 Yunio Barrueta

6' 6"
Junior
G
Juan Ferrales

#3 Juan Ferrales

6' 2"
Senior
G