Game-By-Game Schedule Preview

Tonight is Midnight Madness or, Midnite Madnezz, as Oakland’s athletic department has dubbed it.  This is the first night of basketball practice, thus the unofficial opening of the college hoops season. 

In honor of this evening’s festivities, I’ve decided to do a quick game-by-game breakdown of OU’s 2007-08 schedule.  I’ll take a stab at wins and losses and try to learn the nicknames of all the teams in the Summit League along the way. 

Keep in mind this isn’t a terribly serious endeavor.  I’m not claiming to have anymore insight into this than you.  It’s just a fun pre-season exercise. 

@ Wisconsin-Green Bay (Nov. 9)  I hate to call the first game out of the gate a “swing game”, but it is.  Winning this kind of tough road contest gives you a shot at a great season.  Losing doesn’t kill that hope, it will just be that much harder.

Last year, OU prevailed at home.  This year, the Grizzlies are in cheesehead country.  It’s a revenge game, in their building, they are considered better on paper and Oakland’s got frontcourt questions.  LOSS

ADRIAN (Nov. 11)  Why do I have the feeling the home opener will end up closer than most suspect?  OU should win, though.  WIN

EASTERN MICHIGAN (Nov. 17)  For some reason, I think of EMU as a basketball school.  Based on their football attendance, so does their fanbase.  As to the game in question, for OU to get where I/we want them to be, the Grizzlies have to beat MAC teams when they come calling.  WIN

DUQUESNE (Nov. 20)  Yes, the Dukes have been beset by off-court issues, but they can still play.  An OU win would be a big accomplishment in my mind, but I can’t hand the Grizzlies a win yet.  Remember, it’s only October.  Let me see the frontcourt play first.  (Yes, this is another swing game.)  LOSS

@ Michigan State (Nov. 24)  Last year, MSU didn’t have it’s typical powerhouse and OU looked ready to challenge the Spartans.  Then, the game started.  What happened was probably the most embarrassing loss of the campaign. 

This year, MSU looks primed for a Final Four run and OU has more questions than 365 days ago.  I’m only hoping that the Grizzlies put on a better show.  LOSS

@ Xavier (Nov. 28)  The Musketeers have become a fine program.  It’s asking OU quite a bit to pull off a road upset here.  It’s just too much to ask.  LOSS

BOWLING GREEN (Dec. 1)  December begins with a visit from BG.  They are the second of three MAC programs on OU’s schedule this season.  Here’s a simple math formula to keep in mind:  MAC > Summit.  A home win here would be very good and is almost a necessity.  WIN

MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY (Dec. 6)  Hello, conference schedule!  The Grizzlies open the Summit League with a home date against the ‘Roos.  They should also open with a win.  WIN

SOUTHERN UTAH (Dec. 8)  The Thunderbirds?  I guess it’s better than just calling them the Eagles.  I have no clue how good USU is and, honestly, it doesn’t matter.  Oakland had best win.  WIN

@ Michigan (Dec. 12)  Being a homer, I think OU has a puncher’s chance in Ann Arbor.  This is the Wolverines next game after playing Duke.  It could be a letdown that Coach Kampe’s squad can use to hang around.  Stay in the game, drain a few threes late and who knows?

However, even though I want to take my Grizzlies, I can’t.  In spite of Michigan’s lack of recent success and having a new coach and new players, it’s still Michigan vs. Oakland.  (C’mon boys, prove my stomach correct and my head wrong.) LOSS

ROCHESTER COLLEGE (Dec. 19)  I know RC makes a fine break between big games, but in spite of being as close to a stone cold, lead pipe lock (apologies to ESPN’s Mike and Mike) as anyone on OU’s schedule, does this game really help the program?

I’m not sure what division Rochester College is in, but it isn’t DI.  Winning the game doesn’t help you in any tangible sense, but losing just makes your program look bad.  (ex: Appalachian State vs. Michigan.)  WIN

OREGON (Dec. 22)  What a Christmas present — a game at The Palace against Top 20 Oregon.  A little national media attention for the Golden Grizzlies to boot.  Few things in a basketball sense would make me happier than OU pulling off the upset, but I simply cannot expect it.  I’m loyal, not crazy.  LOSS

@ Toledo (Dec. 29)  Our final look at MAC competition and the last non-con game for OU.  The Rockets are another program with off-the-court problems looming overhead, but that doesn’t make this an automatic win.   LOSS

@ South Dakota State (Jan. 3)  The Grizzlies begin the new year with back-to-back games against Summit League newbies.  SDSU is stop #1.  The Jackrabbits (it is the Jackrabbits, right?)  aren’t getting much pre-season love.  I’m hoping the MSM knows what they are talking about on this one.  WIN

@ North Dakota State (Jan 5)  Conversely, NDSU is generally thought to be the second best team in the Summit.  They return three of the better scorers in the conference.  This will be OU’s third straight road game.  I’d love a win, I’m not counting on one.  We’ll get ‘em when they come to Rochester.  LOSS

CENTENARY (Jan. 10)  The best thing about this game?  It’s at home.  If OU had to travel to the Dakotas then to Louisiana, they would have a NBA-like road trip.  Unfortunately for the Gents, the Grizzlies should be ready for some home cookin’ and a win.  WIN

ORAL ROBERTS (Jan. 12)  They’re back.  The Golden Eagles took two of three from OU including the Mid-Con tourney crown last season.  (Yes, I’m still bitter about losing a big lead.)  However, the Grizzlies win did come at home – controversial as it may have been. 

Most everyone thinks ORU is down a bit.  I’m not convinced,  but I’m counting on Oakland finding a way to win at home.  WIN

@ Indiana/Purdue-Fort Wayne (Jan. 19)  Back on the road, again?  Is there a rule about consecutive home games?  And what’s with all of these alphabetical nightmare schools in Indiana?  If Indiana and Purdue just want to merge, go ahead.  Then, the Big Ten will actually have ten teams. 

Oh, wait.  I digressed a bit too far, didn’t I?  As an apology, please accept this win.  WIN

@ Indiana/Purdue – Indianapolis (aka IUPUI) (Jan. 24)  No one may know what IUPUI stands for, but we know they’ve got game.  Lots and lots of game.  The Jaguars are the near consensus pre-season favorites in the Summit League.  It’s hard to pencil in a road win for Oakland at this point.  LOSS

@ Western Illinois (Jan. 26)  This could be a tough night for OU.  It’s the third straight road contest and not only could the team be tired, but they might still be thinking about IUPUI regardless of the outcome.  Advantage: Leathernecks.  LOSS

NORTH DAKOTA STATE (Jan. 31)  The new bully on the block visits the O’Rena.  As stated earlier, the Bisons return all kinds of talent, but Oakland owes them for an loss early this month.  If OU hopes for a conference crown, a win here seems vital.  WIN

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (Feb. 2)  I can’t believe it’s already February.  The Jackrabbits won’t fare any better at the O’Rena than they did at home.  WIN

@ Oral Roberts (Feb. 7)  This might be the best shot at a Golden Grizzlies win at ORU since, well, since I don’t know when.  However, the Golden Eagles come in mad about the loss the Grizzlies handed them last month.  ORU may be down, but they are not out.  LOSS

@ Centenary (Feb. 9)  Another game that might be easily overlooked — travel notwithstanding.  This is the kind of game the Grizzlies dropped late last year and it cost them the conference title.  I don’t think it happens here, though.  WIN

IPFW (Feb. 16)  Yeah, I’m getting lazy.  Just the abbreviations now.  Look, I’ve been typing for quite a while.  As for the game, I just don’t see the Mastodons trotting (do Mastodons trot?) onto OU’s home floor and winning.  Nobody should see that.  WIN

IUPUI (Feb. 21)  With March Madness on the horizon, the favored Jags com into our barn.  They’ve already given OU one “L”, I’m not accepting another.  Sorry, one’s the limit.  WIN

WESTERN ILLINOIS (Feb. 23)  See above.  WIN

@ Southern Utah (Feb. 28)  This is not my favorite game on the schedule.  The travel alone makes me leery.  Didn’t USU beat the Grizzlies last year?  I’m afraid they make it two straight in their building.  LOSS

@ Missouri-Kansas City (Mar. 1)  The conference schedule comes to a close the same way it opened — with UMKC.  I’ll be knee-deep in college baseball by this time, but I don’t see the results changing from December.  WIN

Well, that’s it.  The entire season at-a-glance.  If this ridiculous prediction comes true, the Grizzlies would finish at 17-12 overall; 13-5 in the Summit. 

Am I hoping for a season better than that?  Of course.  With the best backcourt in the Summit, I’m hoping OU can win the conference tourney they should have held onto last season.  

Let’s get the season started.  Happy Midnite Madnezz, everyone.

Update (12/15/07): I cannot believe I had SUU as Utah State all this time.  Didn’t either of you notice that?