The Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team represents Oakland University in Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States. The school's team competes in the Horizon League and plays their home games at the Athletics Center O'rena. The Golden Grizzlies are coached by Greg Kampe. Kampe is the longest-tenured active Division I head coach. Oakland last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2024.
Through the 2022âÂÂ23 season, Oakland has made a three-point field goal in 1,093 consecutive games, the fourth-longest active NCAA Division I streak. They last finished a game without a three-pointer on January 30, 1988.
The Oakland men's basketball program began competing in the 1967 season, 10 years after the university opened. Originally nicknamed the Pioneers, they won their first NCAA game 109âÂÂ106 in overtime against Albion. The Pioneers were without a conference until 1974 when they joined the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
The first year as members of the GLIAC, Oakland hired Greg Kampe, who is still the head coach at the university. Kampe had the fifth-longest tenure of all active Division I coaches, as of 2012. Oakland won two regular season GLIAC championships, in 1995âÂÂ96 and 1996âÂÂ97, their final two seasons in the league. In a 1993 game against Madonna, Oakland scored 91 points in the first half, on their way to a 189âÂÂ107 victory. That game set school records for most points in a half (98) and largest margin of victory (82). The next three seasons, OU scored more than 100 points 30 times, winning 29 of those games.
Oakland played at the Division II level until 1997 when they changed their nickname to the Golden Grizzlies and began the transition to Division I. OU opened the Athletics Center O'rena in 1998 against Michigan State. When the O'rena was being built, home basketball games were played in the Sports Dome, an inflatable "bubble" used for practice by Oakland's athletic teams during the winter. The original basketball stadium was in the Hollie L. Lepley Sports Center.
The Golden Grizzlies completed the transition to Division I in 1999 and joined the Mid-Continent Conference (now known as The Summit League).
The Golden Grizzlies joined the Horizon League starting in the 2013âÂÂ14 season.
In 2021, The Golden Grizzlies lose their 1,000 day streak of winning against Detroit Mercy.
In 2022, Oakland looks to build upon this game to challenge for its first Horizon League trophy since 2017.
In the 2023-24 season, the Golden Grizzlies won the Horizon League Tournament for the first time, securing an automatic bid to that season's NCAA Tournament. In the Round of 64, the 14th seeded Golden Grizzlies upset #3 Kentucky, 80-76, shocking the country and sending shockwaves throughout the tournament. Senior transfer Jack Gohlke caught the nation's eye with 10 three-pointers in the game, ending with 32 points. Kampe labelled it the "biggest win of (his) career" in post-game interviews.
The Golden Grizzlies first joined a Division I conference in 1998 when they joined the Mid-Continent Conference (now known as the Summit League). Oakland joined the Horizon League July 1, 2013.
Oakland competed in NCAA Division II since the inception of the basketball program in 1967 until they moved to NCAA Division I in 1997. The Golden Grizzlies reached the Division II postseason four times in their final four seasons at that level.
The Golden Grizzlies have appeared in four Division I NCAA Tournaments. Their overall record is 2âÂÂ4.
Oakland appeared in four Division II NCAA Tournaments. Their overall record was 3âÂÂ5.
The Golden Grizzlies have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament. Their overall record is 1âÂÂ1.
The Golden Grizzlies participated in the first and only Vegas 16. Their record was 2âÂÂ1.
The Golden Grizzlies have appeared in Four CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments (CIT). Their overall record is 4âÂÂ4.
Through 2022âÂÂ23 season
The rivalry between the Detroit Mercy Titans and Oakland is known as the Metro Series. Oakland has historically dominated the series since its inception, with Detroit Mercy having only won three games against them since the Golden Grizzlies first joined the Horizon League and winning ten straight matchups from 2017 to 2021. Oakland leads the series against Detroit Mercy 20âÂÂ10. Both schools first played against each other in 1985 with Detroit Mercy winning the first matchup against Oakland 77âÂÂ62. Oakland won the last matchup in 2023 65âÂÂ50.
OU men's basketball games are broadcast on WDFN (1130 AM). The play-by-play commentator is Neal Ruhl, with former Oakland and professional player, Dan Waterstradt. Oakland home games are simulcast on ESPN3, WMYD and WDFN.
Mario Impemba, also the play-by-play commentator for the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit, broadcast Oakland games from 2006âÂÂ2013.