Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies are the men's basketball team that represent Oakland University in Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States. The school's team competes in the Horizon League and plays their home games at the Athletics Center O'rena. The Golden Grizzlies are coached by Greg Kampe. Kampe is the third longest-tenured Division I head coach, behind Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski. Oakland last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2011.
Through the 2019–2020 season, Oakland has made a three-point field goal in 1,003 consecutive games, the fifth-longest active NCAA Division I streak. They last finished a game without a three-pointer on January 30, 1988.
History
The Oakland men's basketball program began competing in the 1967 season, 10 years after the university opened. Originally nicknamed the Pioneers, they won their first NCAA game 109–106 in overtime against Albion. The Pioneers were without a conference until 1974 when they joined the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.The first year as members of the GLIAC, Oakland hired Greg Kampe, who is still the head coach at the university. Kampe has the fifth-longest tenure of all active Division I coaches. Oakland won two regular season GLIAC championships, in 1995–96 and 1996–97, their final two seasons in the league. In a 1993 game against Madonna, Oakland scored 91 points in the first half, on their way to a 189–107 victory. That game set school records for most points in a half and largest margin of victory. The next three seasons, OU scored more than 100 points 30 times, winning 29 of those games.
Oakland played at the Division II level until 1997 when they changed their nickname to the Golden Grizzlies and began the transition to Division I. OU opened the Athletics Center O'rena in 1998 against Michigan State. When the O'rena was being built, home basketball games were played in the Sports Dome, an inflatable "bubble" used for practice by Oakland's athletic teams during the winter. The original basketball stadium was in the Hollie L. Lepley Sports Center.
The Golden Grizzlies completed the transition to Division I in 1999 and joined the Mid-Continent Conference.
The Golden Grizzlies joined the Horizon League starting in the 2013–14 season.
Postseason history
Oakland competed in NCAA Division II since the inception of the basketball program in 1967 until they moved to NCAA Division I in 1997. The Golden Grizzlies reached the Division II postseason four times in their final four seasons at that level.NCAA Division I Tournament results
The Golden Grizzlies have appeared in three Division I NCAA Tournaments. Their overall record is 1–3.NCAA Division II Tournament results
The Golden Grizzlies have appeared in four Division II NCAA Tournaments. Their overall record is 3–5.| Year | First round | Regional semifinal | Regional consolation | Regional final |
| 1994 | Defeated Quincy, 105–98 | Lost to Wayne State, 99–97 | Lost to Kentucky Wesleyan, 118–91 | – |
| 1995 | Lost to Quincy, 116–94 | – | – | – |
| 1996 | Lost to Northern State, 98–92 | – | – | – |
| 1997 | Defeated Grand Valley State, 79–74 | Defeated Indianapolis, 75–72 | – | Lost to Northern Kentucky, 101–87 |
NIT results
The Golden Grizzlies have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament. Their overall record is 1–1.Vegas 16 results
The Golden Grizzlies participated in the first and only Vegas 16. Their record was 2–1.CIT results
The Golden Grizzlies have appeared in Four CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments. Their overall record is 4–4.| Year | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals |
| 2009 | – | Defeated Kent State, 80–74 | Lost to Bradley, 76–75 | – |
| 2012 | Defeated Bowling Green, 86–69 | Defeated Buffalo, 84–76 | Defeated Rice, 77–70 | Lost to Utah State, 105–81 |
| 2013 | Lost to Youngstown State, 99–87 | – | – | – |
| 2015 | Lost to Eastern Illinois, 97–91 | – | – | – |
All-time win-loss record
Through 2017–18 seasonRecords
Through 2019–2020 seasonCareer leaders
Points
Rebounds
Assists
Field goal percentage (3 made per game)
Free throw percentage (2 made per game)
Three point field goal percentage (1.5 per game)
Blocks
Steals
Games played
Single-season leaders
Points
Rebounds
Assists
Field goal percentage (3 made per game)
Free throw percentage (2 made per game)
Three point field goal percentage (1.5 made per game)
Blocks
Steals
Media
OU men's basketball games are broadcast on WDFN. The play-by-play commentator is Neal Ruhl, with former Oakland and professional player, Dan Waterstradt. Oakland home games are simulcast on ESPN3, WMYD and WDFN.Mario Impemba, also the play-by-play commentator for the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit, broadcast Oakland games from 2006–2013.
Oakland players who played in the NBA
- Keith Benson
- Kay Felder
- Rawle Marshall
- Kendrick Nunn
Footnotes