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The Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team represents Oakland University in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team plays home games at the O'rena, a 4,000-seat sports venue within the university's Recreation and Athletics Center Complex. The Oakland Golden Grizzlies have competed in the NCAA Division I since 1997, after transitioning from Division II. They play in the Horizon League, which was founded in 1979 and includes 11 teams from the Great Lakes region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Oakland Golden Grizzlies |
| University | Oakland University |
| University Location | Rochester, Michigan |
| University Campuses | Rochester and Auburn Hills, Michigan |
| Team Coach | Greg Kampe |
| Team Stadium | O'rena |
| Stadium Capacity | 4,000 |
| Team Conference | Horizon League |
| Division | NCAA Division I |
| Rival Team | Detroit Mercy Titans |
| Record Against Rival | 20-10 |
| Number of NCAA Tournament Appearances | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Oakland University's Golden Grizzlies basketball team
Oakland University's Golden Grizzlies is the name of the Michigan-based institution's basketball team. The Golden Grizzlies play home games at the O'rena, a 4,000-seat sports venue in the university's Recreation and Athletics Center Complex. The team played at the Division II level until 1997 when they changed their nickname to the Golden Grizzlies and began the transition to Division I. In 1998, Oakland opened the Athletics Center O'rena with a game against Michigan State.
The Golden Grizzlies have historically dominated the series since its inception, with Detroit Mercy having won only three games against them since the Golden Grizzlies joined the Horizon League. Oakland leads the series against Detroit Mercy 20-10, winning ten straight matchups from 2017 to 2021. In 2021, the Golden Grizzlies lost their 1,000-day streak of winning against Detroit Mercy. 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 March 2024, the No. 14 seeded Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team made their fourth appearance in the NCAA tournament, defeating the No. 3 seed Kentucky Wildcats 80-76. Senior transfer Jack Gohlke scored 32 points in the game, including 10 three-pointers. This was Oakland's first appearance in the tournament since 2011 and marked Kentucky's 185th game in tournament history.
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The team's history in the NCAA tournament
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies are the athletic teams representing Oakland University in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The men's basketball team has competed in the NCAA Division I tournament, with their first appearance in 1997.
The Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team has a rich history in the NCAA tournament, with a total of eight appearances. Their first appearance was in 1994 when they competed in Division II. They reached the Division II postseason four times before transitioning to Division I. The team's overall record in Division II is 3-5.
In 1997, the team changed its nickname to the Golden Grizzlies and began the transition to Division I. They completed this transition in 1999, joining the Mid-Continent Conference, now known as The Summit League. The Golden Grizzlies have had notable success in Division I, appearing in four NCAA Tournaments with an overall record of 2-4.
In 2005, Rawle Marshall led the team to its first NCAA tournament berth. In 2024, the Golden Grizzlies made their fourth appearance in the Division I NCAA tournament, defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 80-76 in a thrilling first-round matchup. This victory brought Oakland University into the national spotlight, showcasing the team's talent and determination.
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies have a proud history in the NCAA tournament, with a total of eight appearances across both Division I and Division II. The team has continued to build on its success, striving for more victories and a lasting impact in college basketball.
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The team's home games venue
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team represents Oakland University, which is located in Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, and Rochester, Michigan, United States. The team's home games are played at the O'rena, a 4,000-seat sports venue located within the university's Recreation and
Prior to the completion of the O'rena, the Golden Grizzlies played their home basketball games in the Sports Dome, an inflatable "bubble" that was used for practice by Oakland's athletic teams during the winter months. The team transitioned from Division II to Division I in 1997, completing the move in 1999. During their final two seasons in Division II, they won two regular-season GLIAC championships.
Oakland University first opened its doors in 1957 as Michigan State University-Oakland, operating under the Michigan State University Board of Trustees. The university was founded thanks to a donation by Matilda Dodge Wilson, wife of John Francis Dodge, who established the Dodge motor company in Detroit. In 1963, the school was renamed Oakland University after the county in which it was located, and it became officially independent from Michigan State University in 1970.
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team has competed in the NCAA Division I since the 1997-1998 season. They have appeared in four Division I NCAA Tournaments, with their most recent appearance being in 2024. The team is coached by Greg Kampe, who is the longest-tenured active Division I head coach. Oakland's athletic programs compete in the Horizon League, which includes 11 teams located in the Great Lakes region.
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The team's coach
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team is currently coached by Greg Kampe, who has been the head coach at Oakland University since 1984. Kampe is the longest-tenured active Division I head coach and has been at the same school for the longest amount of time out of all DI coaches. In 2017, he was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame.
Kampe joined Oakland after working as an assistant coach at Toledo from 1978 to 1984. He played basketball and football at Bowling Green. Kampe's record as a coach is impressive, with 698 wins and 536 losses. He won his 500th career game in 2013 and his 600th in 2018.
Under Kampe's guidance, Oakland has achieved notable success. The team transitioned to Division I during the 1999-2000 season and secured their first NCAA Tournament victory in 2005, defeating Alabama A&M 79-69. Oakland has appeared in four Division I NCAA Tournaments, with an overall record of 2-4. They have also competed in four CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments, with a record of 4-4.
The Golden Grizzlies play their home games at the Athletics Center O'rena, a 4,000-seat arena located in the university's Recreation and Athletics Center Complex.
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The team's rivalry with Detroit Mercy
Oakland University's basketball team, the Golden Grizzlies, has a notable rivalry with the Detroit Mercy Titans. Both institutions are located in Michigan, with Detroit Mercy based in Detroit proper and Oakland in the suburb of Rochester. As the only two Division I schools in the Detroit area, the two teams have a long-standing athletic rivalry, particularly in men's basketball.
The first meeting between the two teams took place during the 1997-1998 season, which was Oakland's inaugural Division I campaign. In that first matchup, Detroit Mercy handed Oakland a lopsided defeat, winning 110-61, which remains the largest margin of defeat in the series to date. Despite facing each other a few more times in the early 2000s, the rivalry was intensified in 2013 when Oakland announced it would be joining Detroit Mercy in the Horizon League starting with the 2013-2014 athletic season. This move guaranteed regular matchups between the two schools, giving birth to what became known as the Metro Series.
The Metro Series quickly developed into a highly anticipated annual event, with the first in-conference game taking place on January 11, 2014, and resulting in a 77-69 victory for Oakland. The addition of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Cup in 2015 further elevated the rivalry. This trophy is awarded to the winner of the season basketball series between the two schools. If the series is split, the cup goes to the team with the better Rating Percentage Index (RPI) at the end of the series. Oakland claimed the inaugural trophy in 2015, winning the series 1-1 but boasting the higher RPI.
The rivalry between Oakland and Detroit Mercy extends beyond the basketball court, as both institutions are located in the Metro Detroit area and compete for the best athletes and students in the region. The proximity of the two schools adds fuel to the fire, as they battle for bragging rights and the pride of their respective student bodies and alumni. The Metro Series has become a highlight of the athletic calendar for both universities, with the winner claiming temporary superiority in the ever-growing rivalry.
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Frequently asked questions
Oakland University's Golden Grizzlies basketball team plays in Division I of the NCAA.
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies play in the Horizon League. They joined this conference in 2013, coming from the Summit League.
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies play their home games at the O'rena, a 4,000-seat sports venue in the university's Recreation and Athletics Center Complex.
