As I was trying to get some kind of recap out last night before I went to bed, I did leave a few items out. Here are a some other things I’d like to mention.
* Correction from my recap: OU led by as many as 23 not 21, if the newspaper today was correct. (Which, frankly, I’m not all that confident about. No two reports list the same stats. It’s shameful coverage. What are they, bloggers?) Knowing the Grizzlies blew an even larger lead doesn’t make it any better, does it?
* I’m not sure, but I may have sat in the same seat I did for the EMU game. What are the odds of that?
* I liked the pre-game video of Coach Kampe giving a pep talk to the Grizz mascot. The chest bump between the two of them was a nice touch. Kudos to Coack Kampe for playing along and those who came up with the idea.
* What’s up with the concession stand selling OU apparel? A smattering of caps and did anything say “Oakland Basketball”? Is it that difficult to stock a basic sweatshirt from Nike, Reebok or supplier du jour with OU Basketball on it? And why can’t I buy a cap similar to what the baseball Grizzlies wear?
A basic interlocking OU (without the Grizz – not that I object to the logo) on a black cap should be a staple item. Every other university appears to stock such an item why doesn’t Oakland?
Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway, it’s been a disappointing selection thus far. Do I really have to make a trip out to the bookstore during the day to browse their selection of merchandise? (If this is what The Grizz store carried, I can guess why it’s gone.)
* The ugly uniform tops continue to be worn. Please retire these already.
* I thought the refs let the boys play, for the most part. Plenty of contact from both sides went uncalled. Did anyone else note that a number of UMKC players ended up down on the floor?
* Dane Brumagin is still hitting threes somewhere. Brian Gettinger can shoot the ball, too. It appears the ‘Roos live by the three and die by the three.
* UMKC might be pretty good next year. Only two seniors on the roster. Brumagin and Gettinger are juniors and Reggie Hamilton, who also had a nice game, is a freshman.
* OU will finish the year at UMKC. Hopefully, Brumagin and Gettinger will be tired of shooting by then.
* Remember when I cautioned everyone about the downside of playing an up-tempo offense? It’s starting to look like Oakland is going to live up to my theory that that run-and-gun offense almost always leads to poor defense.
* I love OU’s shot blocking. Who doesn’t? It’s loads of fun. I suspect the Golden Grizzlies could finish the season in the top ten in the nation in rejections, but when all your low post defenders think about is sending the ball back from whence it came, you get players out of position.
This has led the Grizzlies to give up far too many offensive rebounds, commit ticky-tack fouls (after buying pump fakes and landing on the opposition or hitting arms as opposed to basketballs) and not playing solid defense, in general. I don’t want to say I told you so, but …..
* Another thing I don’t like about up-tempo ball is that frenetic play often leads to equally frenetic decision making. It leads to stretches of painfully horrible hoops. OU is not immune.
* What are the odds of the guy participating in the halftime shooting contest to be wearing a UMKC shirt? Yes, I know. Better than the odds of it happening when Southern Utah is at the O’Rena.
* Keith Benson was terrific Thursday. A double – double. Blocked a few shots, too. I thought OU was at it’s best when Benson, Shane Lawal, Derick Nelson, Erik Kangas and Johnathon Jones were on the floor.
* Tim Williams also looked very good vs. the Kangaroos. (Love that nickname, by the way.) Williams is just a smooth offensive player.
* I know prior to last night, a number of people thought OU could beat Michigan next Wednesday. I still think they can, but can they defend the three well enough? Can the bigs stay out of foul trouble?
* The OU administration can rest easy. I probably won’t be at the SUU game Saturday. I can’t come back afterwards and complain here about the pizza, or anything else, if I stay home. Of course, there’s always radio coverage to harp on.
* Good to see Kangas get back into the starting lineup and, more importantly, back into the flow of the offense. His jumper looked much better and he didn’t seem to pay quite as much attention to his shoulder. All good signs.
More From Last Night
By BrianAs I was trying to get some kind of recap out last night before I went to bed, I did leave a few items out. Here are a some other things I’d like to mention.
* Correction from my recap: OU led by as many as 23 not 21, if the newspaper today was correct. (Which, frankly, I’m not all that confident about. No two reports list the same stats. It’s shameful coverage. What are they, bloggers?) Knowing the Grizzlies blew an even larger lead doesn’t make it any better, does it?
* I’m not sure, but I may have sat in the same seat I did for the EMU game. What are the odds of that?
* I liked the pre-game video of Coach Kampe giving a pep talk to the Grizz mascot. The chest bump between the two of them was a nice touch. Kudos to Coack Kampe for playing along and those who came up with the idea.
* What’s up with the concession stand selling OU apparel? A smattering of caps and did anything say “Oakland Basketball”? Is it that difficult to stock a basic sweatshirt from Nike, Reebok or supplier du jour with OU Basketball on it? And why can’t I buy a cap similar to what the baseball Grizzlies wear?
A basic interlocking OU (without the Grizz – not that I object to the logo) on a black cap should be a staple item. Every other university appears to stock such an item why doesn’t Oakland?
Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway, it’s been a disappointing selection thus far. Do I really have to make a trip out to the bookstore during the day to browse their selection of merchandise? (If this is what The Grizz store carried, I can guess why it’s gone.)
* The ugly uniform tops continue to be worn. Please retire these already.
* I thought the refs let the boys play, for the most part. Plenty of contact from both sides went uncalled. Did anyone else note that a number of UMKC players ended up down on the floor?
* Dane Brumagin is still hitting threes somewhere. Brian Gettinger can shoot the ball, too. It appears the ‘Roos live by the three and die by the three.
* UMKC might be pretty good next year. Only two seniors on the roster. Brumagin and Gettinger are juniors and Reggie Hamilton, who also had a nice game, is a freshman.
* OU will finish the year at UMKC. Hopefully, Brumagin and Gettinger will be tired of shooting by then.
* Remember when I cautioned everyone about the downside of playing an up-tempo offense? It’s starting to look like Oakland is going to live up to my theory that that run-and-gun offense almost always leads to poor defense.
* I love OU’s shot blocking. Who doesn’t? It’s loads of fun. I suspect the Golden Grizzlies could finish the season in the top ten in the nation in rejections, but when all your low post defenders think about is sending the ball back from whence it came, you get players out of position.
This has led the Grizzlies to give up far too many offensive rebounds, commit ticky-tack fouls (after buying pump fakes and landing on the opposition or hitting arms as opposed to basketballs) and not playing solid defense, in general. I don’t want to say I told you so, but …..
* Another thing I don’t like about up-tempo ball is that frenetic play often leads to equally frenetic decision making. It leads to stretches of painfully horrible hoops. OU is not immune.
* What are the odds of the guy participating in the halftime shooting contest to be wearing a UMKC shirt? Yes, I know. Better than the odds of it happening when Southern Utah is at the O’Rena.
* Keith Benson was terrific Thursday. A double – double. Blocked a few shots, too. I thought OU was at it’s best when Benson, Shane Lawal, Derick Nelson, Erik Kangas and Johnathon Jones were on the floor.
* Tim Williams also looked very good vs. the Kangaroos. (Love that nickname, by the way.) Williams is just a smooth offensive player.
* I know prior to last night, a number of people thought OU could beat Michigan next Wednesday. I still think they can, but can they defend the three well enough? Can the bigs stay out of foul trouble?
* The OU administration can rest easy. I probably won’t be at the SUU game Saturday. I can’t come back afterwards and complain here about the pizza, or anything else, if I stay home. Of course, there’s always radio coverage to harp on.
* Good to see Kangas get back into the starting lineup and, more importantly, back into the flow of the offense. His jumper looked much better and he didn’t seem to pay quite as much attention to his shoulder. All good signs.
Tags: Erik Kangas, Derick Nelson, Tim Williams, Shane Lawal, Keith Benson, Greg Kampe, Johnathon Jones
This entry was posted on December 8, 2007 at 2:32 am and is filed under 07-08 Season, Commentary, Oakland University, Summit League, college basketball. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.