OU Board Gets New Look

The ever-popular OU basketball message board has a new address and a completely new look.  Kudos to the men behind-the-scenes.  I’ve already updated the sidebar link, as the old board will be gone soon.  Go check out the new digs.

The Balancing Act

For those who were here over the last 48 hours or so, you might be looking for the link to OU’s basketball schedule.  I had a post up that contained what appeared to be an official link from Oakland’s website which I found at the Oakland basketball message board.  Alas, the university contacted the message board admin and said the schedule wasn’t quite accurate.  The board admin, whom I do not know, chose to delete the post containing the erroneous information.  After a good two minutes of thought, I took the same action.

I realize that this is a blog, thus, journalistic credibility is not expected.  In fact, a lack of integrity is presumed.  Yet, in this instance, I couldn’t see a good reason to leave the link up.  Yes, we all want to know the schedule for this coming season, but the one posted didn’t provide that much more information than what had already been rumored. 

There were some exact dates/times, but didn’t we know about UM, MSU, Oregon, Iowa and K-State on the road?  And we know what programs are in the Summit, right?  What breaking news did we uncover?  From my vantage point, nothing of substance.

Sure, I could have left it and tried to suck a few more hits from it, but the university could have just as easily pulled the plug on the link from their end.  That leaves me with a post based on a dead link, which is annoying and a bit misleading.

As this blog deals in rumors, speculation and the occasional bashing of OU, I’m not claiming to be the bastion of integrity.  Although, that wouldn’t be a bad thing (and an objective far too rare nowadays).  Nonetheless, I do have to make the occasional editorial decision.  This time, I pulled the plug. 

Mark Your Calendar

Oakland’s visit to Oregon is on Monday, November 17.   I’m thinking the Ducks are going to be mad.

Early Recruiting Link

According to Scout.com 6′5″ Drew Valentine of Lansing’s Sexton High School has Oakland on his list of potential college choices.  Valentine’s list also includes a trio of MAC programs — Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Toledo — in addition to Drake, George Mason and Rice.

What makes this diverse list of programs more interesting is that Mr. Valentine is also a HS quarterback.  Obviously, if he intends to continue to toss the pigskin around, OU would be out and George Mason, Drake and Rice would be less likely.  (I might be biased, but I think playing football in the MAC would appear more appealing.)

BTN Finally On Cable?

It appears the long battle between Comcast and the Big Ten Network is about to come to an end.  A number of media outlets are reporting the deal is all done between BTN and the nation’s largest cable provider.  Now, why is this a big deal for Grizzly Nation?  Because last season Oakland’s games versus Michigan and Michigan State were both broadcast on BTN, which few in Metro Detroit had access to.

Both the Wolverines and Spartans will be on this year’s docket and there’s a rumored trip to Iowa, as well.  As BTN could have rights to all three affairs, having the network available to more people is a good thing.  Not just for those of us who probably aren’t heading to Iowa City, but for fans and recruits around the country (and in the midwest, in particular) to see Oakland play.

Odd Men Out

Now comes the other half of the story.  With all of the June roster additions, there was inevitably going to have to be some departures.  An updated Oakland basketball roster is now up and two names from last year are missing.  Both Peter Bunn and Shane Lawal are absent from the current roster.

Bunn’s departure was the one most anticipated.  For whatever reason(s), Bunn just never got the minutes last year even when the Grizzlies’ roster was depleted at the guard position.  It was no surprise that when the roster additions progressed from rumor to fact that Bunn was thought to be the one looking for new options.

Lawal’s departure, on the other hand, comes as a bit of a surprise, at least to me.  Personally, I liked Lawal’s energy and athleticism, but I do realize his play was often out-of-control and terribly inconsistent.  While he was always considered a “project” due to his very raw skills, I felt like the time invested in Lawal constituted a commitment from the coaching staff.  Yet, the truth is that the commitment has to be to make the program better. 

These are exactly the kind of roster moves that bigger programs experience all the time.  At elite level schools, players who struggle often find themselves on the outside looking in when new faces arrive taking their minutes.  In light of that reality, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Bunn and Lawal are no longer on the team. 

Hopefully, these kind of roster moves are an indication that OU basketball is beginning to land more talented players and that an increase in winning is in the offing.  Nonetheless, I wish both Bunn and Lawal the best.

More On Wright

Let me start with a clarification.  Larry Wright isn’t eligible to play for Oakland this coming season.  I was hoping for the contrary and assumed as much in the last post.  Having spent so much time over the last four years following college baseball, where the “sit out a year rule” was ignored with great vigor until last season, I generally figure every transfer has a shot at immediate playing time.  This, however, is not the case here.

In this instance, Wright is doing the “traditional” sit out a year thing and will replace Erik Kangas at the two guard spot in 2009-10.  I’m actually good with that.  Sure, I’d still like to see someone other than Kangas knock down shots from beyond the arc with some consistency, but I’m also becoming a bit more patient with age.  If I have to wait one more season for Mr. Wright’s debut in the Summit, then that’s what I’ll do.  (Horribly noble on my part, I realize.)

Detroit News scribe Terry Foster, who discussed Wright’s options just a few days ago, follows up on the former Red Storm player’s arrival at OU and discusses the state of the program in light of this recent wave of additions.

In his column, Foster has several nuggets worth repeating.  First, he suggests Wright could play for Michigan or Michigan State.  Easy.  Easy.  Keep your expectations in check, Grizzly fans.  (No condescending remarks about the UM program, either.  Last I checked the Black and Gold were turned black and blue and a shade of red – from embarrassment – at the hands of Michigan.)

Second, we learn Wright and OU point guard Johnathon Jones were AAU teammates.  And all Grizzly Nation went “Aahhh.”  That explains, in part, Wright’s Grizzly leanings.  Wright is familiar with the guy who will be kicking him the rock in another year.  I’m guessing JJ gave Wright plenty of open looks in AAU ball.

Third, Coach Kampe gives Foster this on Ilija Milutinovic:

There is a lot of hype with him and we have never had this much hope about a recruit before. He turned down six figures to play professionally in Serbia because he wants to go to the NBA.

Yikes.  Nothing like putting a little additional weight on that seven-foot frame.  I’m also guessing your expectations are no longer in check, Grizzly fans.  I think Coach is fine with that as long as it results in season ticket sales.  Remember: Buy early, buy often.

Finally, Kampe told Foster that you have to have horses to win.  Foster rightly counters with

Kampe must prove himself to be the right jockey. He must prove that he can get top-line talent to play together as a team.

Recruiting well is great.  Winning is better.  It’s Kampe’s job to do both.

Other reading:

Dave Pemberton of The Oakland Press filed this report on Wright’s transfer to Oakland.

Wright Joins Grizzlies

Remember way back to yesterday when I mentioned the rumor about St. John’s transfer Larry Wright?  Wright was looking for a college closer to his Saginaw origins and was visiting both OU and Detroit-Mercy.  I wondered aloud about scholarships available, playing time, blah, blah, blah. 

Well, today, Mr. Wright has opted to jump from the Red Storm to the Golden Grizzlies.  I kid you not, Oakland has now added a sixth new face to the basketball team heading into the 2008-09 season. 

Wright brings an element to OU’s offense that was basically the sole domain of Erik Kangas — the ability to drain threes.  That alone warms one blogger’s heart.  It should also help open up the floor and take some pressure off Kangas. 

Wright’s addition only furthers speculation that some current Grizzlies might be ex-Grizzlies before the fall semester.  Certainly playing time is going to be shuffled and somebody is going to be left far outside the rotation.

I have to admit that I’m still sort of in shock over all of these last minute roster additions.  Yeah, most of Grizzly Nation was looking (OK, hoping) for a point guard to sign.  So, landing a PG isn’t surprising.  However, landing what appears to be a quality point along with a seven-foot import and a St. John’s transfer was not on the radar.  Not outside Coach Kampe’s office anyway.

I’ll come clean and admit I’m trying to restrain my enthusiasm.  After all of last year’s pre-season hype came crashing down, I hesitate to be too wound up about five freshmen and a Big East transfer. 

However, there’s no denying that these additions do up the ante on expectations — both for the upcoming season and into the immediate future.  It also bodes well for the image of the program, in general.  Certainly, it makes OU a more visible, viable option for players.  If Kampe can turn the talent into wins, then Oakland can make the next step up the college basketball ladder.

Two More Recruits (And A Transfer?)

Oakland has added two more recruits.  The first is 6′0″ point guard Matt Samuels.  Yes, boys and girls, Coach Kampe has found someone able to help out Jonathon Jones after all.  Rumor has it Samuels has some big-time aspirations (think NBA).  I’m curious how he will adjust to a smaller role or if he can push JJ for playing time, which seems less likely.

The other new BMOC is literally a big man.  7′0″ Ilija Milutinovic of Serbia has signed on to become a Grizzly.  Veteran readers of the OU hoops message board will remember his name from as far back as a year ago.  Well, the trail to Rochester may have been long and winding, but Kampe got him on board.   Coach will have plenty of really big guys to yell at this season.

The most hyped and possibly talented recruiting class in OU history is now up to five freshmen.  Yes, OU has it’s own Fab Five.  I can feel the t-shirts being made already.

Of course, landing five freshmen of potential impact is going to make playing time an issue.  Rumors are circulating that some players might be looking for greener pastures and more minutes elsewhere.  Can’t say that I’m terribly surprised to hear that some players aren’t embracing this incoming class with the same enthusiasm Grizzly Nation might be.

There are a couple of other rumors about would-be future Grizzlies, but only one merits some attention at this second.  Larry Wright, formerly of Saginaw and St. John’s University, is back in town looking for a place to transfer to.  He’s supposed to visit both Oakland and Detroit Mercy.

Does Kampe even have a scholarship left to offer?  I’ve got no idea.  With the number of bodies already vying for minutes in Black and Gold, I have to believe that Wright will give the Titans more serious consideration than OU, but adding a player of Wright’s ability to this group would be fascinating.  Although, as locals have seen with our professional baseball team, just piling up talent doesn’t assure you of anything other than high expectations.

We will have to keep an eye and ear out to see where Wright lands.  (We’d be happy to have you, Larry.)  Even if Kampe can’t land Wright, he deserves credit for the depth and quality of this recruiting class.  Now, we just have to see if he can distribute minutes and, most importantly, get results on the floor.