When Lucille Tollifson heads down to Sioux Falls on the Northern State University fan bus today, it won’t be the first time she’s watched the men’s basketball team at nationals – she also took a Northern fan bus to Kentucky 20 years ago to cheer on the Wolves.

Tollifson, who turns 90 in June, is looking forward to the trip and even went to the NSU Wolf Shoppe on Friday to buy some new maroon and gold attire.

“It’s just an exciting time to be able to watch those Wolves play,” she said.

Tollifson has lived in Aberdeen since moving here with her husband, Leonard, in 1968. They quickly became Wolves basketball fans, getting reserved seats after Leonard retired. Sadly, Leonard passed away in 2013. But Lucille is keeping up the tradition. On Tuesday, she will ride the bus with her daughter, Cindy Herr, as well as Clyde Hieb.

The Kentucky trip was a much longer one, and unfortunately, the Wolves lost the game. But Tollifson said it was a great experience.

“I think those fan buses are fun,” she said.

The Tollifsons also used to ride fan buses to area Wolves games – Moorhead, Mankato – years ago. She said they got into cheering on the Wolves because their games are so exciting.

“They’re a great team, and I just hope for them that they can go through with this now,” she said.

Does she have any advice for the team this year?

“I think Paul gives them all the advice they need. And Sundance,” she said. “They’re pretty good coaches.”

The Wolves open the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament in Sioux Falls at 8:30 p.m. tonight against East Stroudsburg! For ticket information and links to listen and watch live, click here.