As part of what’s become an annual public service, I’m going to review some college basketball preview magazine predictions for Oakland University. This way, you don’t have to thumb through every single one on the store shelves.
Of course, I would encourage everyone to pick-up at least one preseason magazine. They are fun. They will give you insight into the rest of the nation and, perhaps, more importantly, OU’s competition. Writers need to get paid. (Hey, if I got paid to crank out GGH, it would be quite a bit better. Alright, it would still stink, but it would have more posts.) And your local bookseller, especially here in the Mitten, could use your business. I’ll let you decide which one to fork over your cash for.
I’ve only flipped through three magazines thus far and stumbled upon an internet link to a fourth. In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that I read the Lindy’s and Athlon’s previews weeks ago. That means I could very well have their predictions reversed.
I apologize in advance, if that’s the case. I’ll also alter this post if I’ve erred. All that said, it’s time to get to the previews.
Athlon’s has Oakland finishing in third place in The Summit League. Something tells me that third place might not sit well with many of us. I’d be amongst that disheartened group.
At first, I was miffed at this suggestion. Seriously, third place? With all those starters back plus that highly regarded recruiting class and still not in the top two in a low level mid-major conference? Then, I recalled last year.
I may not embrace a third place prediction, but I have to admit that what’s on paper doesn’t guarantee W’s. The men will need to win games to garner more respect. Let that begin this season.
Lindy’s predicts that the Grizzlies will finish in first in The Summit and has OU dancing again come March. One magazine thinks OU can’t make the top two, the next thinks the Grizzlies can pull off a conference double. Lofty? Sure. But is it unrealistic? I don’t think so, but let’s be honest. This is the Golden Grizzlies Hoops blog, after all. Bias is inherent.
USA Today’s Sports Weekly’s preview edition splits the difference. Stat geek Jerry Palm foresees OU coming in second place, but making The Dance by capturing the conference tournament title. I’m willing to wager most of us would find that a satisfactory result.
Finally, the mother of all hoops preview mags, Blue Ribbon gives Coach Kampe’s side straight A’s. Now, three of the four (bench, frontcourt & intangibles) are A minuses, but let’s not get too caught up in that. (For the record, the backcourt landed a solid A.)
Via the ESPN Insider free preview, BR suggests that
“… [Kampe] also doesn’t duck the fact the Golden Grizzlies have an opportunity to make a great deal of noise not just in the Summit, but across the country.”
Yeah, that’s raising the bar a bit. While not all the previews have such high praise for the Grizzlies, it’s impossible to deny that expectations have been elevated heading into the 2008-09 campaign.
If I read anymore previews for Oakland, I’ll pass them along. Hey, if you’ve already read one I’ve missed, drop it in the comments.
