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.

Two In A Row

Oakland defeated Eastern Michigan this evening, 66-54. I caught the last few minutes of the internet broadcast and the Grizzlies never gave up the lead. (At least, I cannot recall them allowing the Eagles to have an advantage.)  I didn’t catch the leading scorers, but it sounded like Vova Severavos had a strong night.  It’s good to have him contributing, again.

The win, coupled with Saturday’s home triumph over Wisconsin-Milwaukee, brings OU’s record up to 6-4. Imgaine the kind of season’s the Grizzlies would be having if the halftime leads over #2 Pittsburgh and Cincinnati held up! They would be 8-2 with a win over a top ten program.

Of course, the OU leads didn’t hold up and we have what we have. Which, honestly, isn’t bad. Another rough stretch of road games is straight ahead, but if Coach Kampe can build some confidence in these guys heading into the Mid-Con regular season, I believe they can cause trouble for the league.

Grizzlies Hangin’ With Bearcats

10:06pm  Cincinnati wins, 68-61.  A decent performance by OU, but the Grizzlies could have stolen this one.  Perhaps, should have stolen this one.  It’s on to a Saturday home encounter with Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

10:04pm  An OU turnover should end the Golden Grizzlies chances at victory.  68-61, after a pair of Bearcat free throws. 

9:59pm  A timeout on the floor.  Hopes and Jones have been strong tonight.  Kangas and Severavos have struggled.  The Bearcats are up six points with 46 seconds left.   

9:57  OU still down five.  Bearcats at the line.  About a minute left.   

9:51pm  Kangas finally hits a three.  2:23 left Cincinnati up five. 

9:48pm  Cincy leads 56-50.  As OU’s play-by-play guy stated, “OU’s had chances”.  Yes, they have, but time is running out.   

The Grizz are down 1 at Cincinnati.  The Bearcats are up 50-49 with 7:26 to play.  OU led at the half, but have had to hang tough in the second half as Cincinnati has led most of the half.  Or, at least, it seems that way.

MSU Crushes Grizzlies, 71-53

This was an old fashioned woodshed beating.  The Grizzlies seemed tight from the start and fell so far behind early that the game was over at the half.  The Spartans led at the break, 40-13. 

MSU led by as much as thirty and, in spite of outscoring the Spartans in the second half, this was clearly the worst performance of the year for Oakland. 

After battling highly ranked Pittsburgh so closely, I had really hoped for a stronger outing today.  It’s a disappointing loss.  One that’s probably better to forget.  (Although, in my next post I am going to dwell on something I heard in the pre-game show.)

Here are the recap and boxscore from Oakland’s official site, if you care to re-visit this pasting. 

OU 67 Duquesne 53

Oakland improved to 4-2 with a 67-53 victory over Duquesne.  The Golden Grizzlies took advantage of the undersized Dukes, still reeling from the shooting incident that involved five of their players, as Vova Severovas had 22 points and Shawn Hopes added 20.

This was a good road win heading into Saturday’s tilt with Michigan State.  OU continues to play a strong low post game and very tough defense.  Both will need to continue for OU to hang with the Spartans.

D Is For Duquesne

Oakland’s game with Duquesne tips off in less than an hour.  The city of Pittsburgh is becoming a second home to the Golden Grizzlies.  Tonight’s battle will be OU’s fourth game in Pittsburgh — three in last weekend’s tournament hosted by Pitt and the Duquesne contest.  Conversely, they’ve played only two at home.

For a comprehensive stat breakdown of this evening affair, check out this preview courtesy of The Mid Majority.  Go Grizzlies!

Grizzlies Fall To #4 Pitt, 66-55

I haven’t read anything beyond this single paragraph from Oakland’s official site, but the Grizzlies played the fourth ranked Panthers very tough.  An 11 point loss, in Pittsburgh, isn’t all that bad for a team that’s predicted to finish in fifth in the Mid-Con.  The fact that OU held a four point halftime lead is a great sign. 

Coach Kampe is forcing me to reconsider my position on the man-to-man defense.  If they can hang with a top ten opponent playing straight up, then maybe come conference play, this switch in defensive philosophy will pay dividends.  (I’m not sold yet, but I’m starting to believe.)

Vova Severavos had his best performance offensively today and led the charge with 17 points.  It’s  good to see Vova get baskets against the better teams. 

So, the Grizz are 3-2 after five games.  Really only the UMass game was out of reach early.  OU’s either won or been “in” the other four games.  Duquesne is next up.  I feel that it’s a big game.  Between tonight’s Pitt battle and next Saturday’s encounter with Michigan State in East Lansing, a win against a tough Duquesne side appears somewhat imperative.

Update: Here is ESPN’s write-up.  Sounds like the Panthers may have looked passed Oakland.  Kampe got the boys to play hard and that’s all I can expect.  I continue to believe that this year’s Grizzlies team can be good.  Perhaps, very good by March.  If they can only survive this road schedule.

Recap of Northeastern Game

The Detroit Free Press provides this recap of yesterday’s Oakland triumph over Northeastern.

Live Blogging-Northeastern vs. OU

Post-game:  OU is now 3-1.  That’s about a good a start as anyone could expect.  As much as the man-to-man troubles me versus stronger opposition, I think Kampe has them playing pretty tough D.  Some of these sloppy performances have to be as a result of the Grizzlies defense.

I still like where Kampe has this team.  I think they are deeper than most expect.  They are beating teams on the boards.  They are working hard on D and anyone can lead the team in scoring. 

In Kampe’s post-game interview, he called this a “must win” game in light of their schedule.  He admits “there aren’t many wins out there”.  He also continues to concede he “over did it” on the schedule and this is a “good team”. 

I don’t expect a win tomorrow, but OU has to play Pittsburgh as they are next on the docket.  Go Grizzlies!

3:50 pm  Oakland wins, 67-52.  A very good road win.  Kampe is going to talk on the post-game show.  I expect plenty of love for the defense, JJ, McCloskey and Hopes.  #4 Pitt is tomorrow’s opponent.  Oh, boy. 

3:50 pm JJ steals and scores.  

3:50 pm Grizzlies up 13 with less than a minute. 

3:48 pm Huskies foul JJ.  The frosh hits the first. Then, the second.  He has 12 points.  (I think.)

3:47 pm NU’s Davis hits a FT and is the game’s leading scorer. 

3:45 pm JJ hits another clutch jumper.  The freshman then commits a foul at the other end, which NU misses and Vova grabs the bounce. 

3:44 pm JJ pushes OU’s lead back to nine with two from the charity stripe. 

3:40 pm Hopes hit both.  Grizzlies lead, 58-49. 

3:38 pm Hopes fouled after JJ draws four Huskies and dishes to the big guy.  Another TO.  (Next Saturday the Grizzlies travel to East Lansing to take on MSU.  Hmmm.  Can I fit that into my Thanksgiving weekend schedule?  Are tickets available?) 

3:37 pm  Yet another TO.  Geez, there are lots of stoppages in play.  I can’t imagine this game is getting much TV coverage, though. 

3:35 pm JJ hits a hoop.  OU goes up 56-47.  Tough, tough jumper for the freshman.

3:34 pm Cassise hits two FTs.  53-47, OU. 

3:33 pm Kelly hits another 3 for NU. 

3:28 pm  NU hits back to back threes, 51-44, OU.  6:51 remains.

3:25 pm Vova hits a pair of FTs.  He’s been a non-factor this afternoon.  Thankfully, Hopes, McCloskey and company have picked up the difference. 

3:22 pm Hopes with a FG off the no-look pass from McCloskey.  OU leads, 49-35.  McCloskey is going to get player of the game consideration.  Another TO. 

3:20 pm Davis with another hoop for NU.  McCloskey answers with a pair of free throws.  Patrick also has ten rebounds.   

3:19 pm Kangas with a three off the out-of-bounds set. 

3:16 pm  JJ gets a basket, OU 43-29.  A timeout is called.  This has been a sloppy second half.  Turnovers, fouls and just ugly basketball.  Grizz lead continues to grow, so complaints will be kept at a minimum.

3:11 pm Kangas triples, OU up 11. 

3:09 pm 37-29, OU. 

3:05 pm Cassise hits a three. 

3:02 pm Hopes get his 11 point, OU is up 32-27.  McCloskey draws a charge at the other end only to have Jones turn the ball back over to NU.  Arrgh. 

3:01 pm Turnover festival early for OU in the second half.  They still lead, though, 30-27. 

2:54 pm Coach Kampe’s post UMass presser airs.  Coach liked OU’s D vs. the Minutemen.   

2:43 pm  NU’s Kelly drains a long three at the halftime buzzer, but OU is up, 30-25.  The Huskies are gaining some continuity after struggling early.  The Grizzlies appear to be more dominant inside, as the rebound margin favors OU.  This is going to be close to the end.

2:41 pm  An OU timeout.  28-22 Golden Grizzlies. 

2:38pm  28-19, OU. 

2:35 pm OU 26 NU 17 with a timeout on the floor.  The Grizzlies are getting lots of rebounds early.  Hopes, Lawal, Nelson, McCloskey have all been active on the glass.  A very good sign, if the big guys can continue to lead the board battle. 

2:33 pm OU up nine after Hopes rebound and bucket. 

2:31 pm Lawal gets his second hoop. 

2:30 pm Kangas nails a triple, 22-16. 

2:28 pm NU’s Davis scores.  OU up 1. 

2:25 pm  McCloskey and Hopes are in together.  Sounds like they might be looking to go “big”. 

2:23 pm  OU 17  NE 14.  Time out Northeastern.

2:22 pm OU is up five.