OU’s Image Changing?

Veteran Oakland Press columnist Pat Caputo writes about how this week’s recruiting news might be changing the perception of Oakland University basketball.  Caputo states, amongst other things, that OU was the third best hoops team in the state this year — behind only Michigan State and Michigan — and that the commitments from Tim Williams, Drew Maynard and Blake Cushingberry might do more than just increase OU’s win total.

Recruiting News

Tim Williams of Pontiac Northern High School has verbally committed to playing at Oakland.  Williams is a 6′ 3″ Class A All-State player.  He averaged over 23 ppg at Northern.  Keith Dunlap of The Oakland Press provides the specifics.

It’s a great land for two big reasons.  First, OU has a number of key players departing.  It’s reassuring to see some reinforcements arrive.  Second, Coach Kampe and his staff got an All-State player to choose OU over other programs, including some MAC schools.  

Final RPI

According to RPIRatings.com, the Golden Grizzlies finished the 2006-07 year with a RPI of 125.  Now, that’s probably not going to get fans of the traditional powers all geeked up nor will it merit much applause from Mid-Major supporters (as soon as someone can clearly identify who comprise the Mid-Majors), but I think #125 isn’t all that bad.

Of course, I’d love to see OU finish higher.  Those two disgusting road losses late in the regular season to inferior teams hurt the Grizzlies’ RPI mark.  Yet, if you would have told me in 1986 that Oakland University would have a higher RPI than St. John’s, UAB, Valpo and Cincinnati at anytime in the future, I would have dismissed you as a fool.

While 125 wasn’t enough to get OU a NCAA at-large berth or even a NIT nod, it is a step in the right direction.

Season Wrap

As I feared, my college baseball blog took control in December and I haven’t been back here.  Oh, I’ve posted a bit about OU basketball elsewhere, but I still have an affinity for this fledgling space, so I’ve decided to spend a moment here to wrap up the Grizzlies 06-07 year.

The non-conference schedule went about the way most suspected it would — with plenty of losses.  It was just a brutal slate of games.  (Had Michigan played that schedule they might be in the NCAA’s.  Or not.)  The Mid-Con season was going pretty darn well until the next to last week of the season when two road losses to inferior competition cost OU the regular season conference crown.

The Mid-Con tourney was good until the second half of the championship game.  ORU took control of the tempo and had the home court advantage (contrary to what their women’s coach espoused, that was a home floor for ORU).  Still OU had a couple of chances late to take the lead, but it just wasn’t to be.

I’m a bit disappointed OU didn’t get a NIT invitation, although not surprised in the least.  I love the Grizzlies, but they aren’t a big draw — either on the road or for television.  I thought they merited consideration in spite of that. 

In general, it was a good season, but I’m just disappointed.  I really believed this team had a championship in them.  A couple of bad road losses late in the regular season and a shoddy second half of the tournament championship stood between OU and a conference double and a NCAA berth.  They were oh-so-close.

Another hoops season has passed.  It’s hard to say if I’ll keep this place going or if I’ll save my OU related material for the other blogs.  We’ll found out around October.