Posted: Mar 17, 2022
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Florida SouthWestern Buccaneer fans will notice some familiar faces when they turn on the NCAA Basketball Tournaments over the next couple of weeks as four former Bucs are dancing on the big stage this season.
Keon Ellis is back in the tournament for the second straight season with Alabama after the Crimson Tide made a run to the Sweet 16 in last year's Big Dance. Ellis and Alabama open the tournament Friday when they take NOTRE DAME in the San Diego Regional. Ellis has been key to the Tide's success this season, averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds per game while earning All-SEC Defensive Team honors.
Jalen Finch and the ASUN West Champion Jacksonville State Gamecocks will also take the floor Friday in the second round when they battle 2nd seeded Auburn in Greenville, South Carolina. Finch started 28 games for JSU this season, putting up 8.8 points per game while leading the team with 132 assists on the year.
De'Lazarus Keys helped Texas A&M Corpus Christi reach their first NCAA Tournament since the 2006-2007 season. The Islanders came up short in their first four game against Texas Southern Tuesday to bring their record breaking season to a close. Keys started all 34 games for Corpus Christi this season, averaging 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
The lone FSW women's player to punch her ticket to the tournament was Patience Williams and South Florida who drew a nine seed and take on Miami in the first round Friday in Columbia, South Carolina. Williams saw action in 15 games for the Bulls this season who finished 12-3 in AAC play.