Oct. 14, 2008
ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Oakland University community will get its first chance to meet the OU men's and women's basketball teams this Friday night at "Midnite Madnezz," hosted in the Athletics Center O'Rena. A block party in the P-16 parking lot, across from the O'Rena, will commence at 8:30 p.m., with free food, disc jockey and dancing, and doors to the O'Rena will open at 9:45 p.m.
"Our athletics department is excited to be hosting this event," said Director of Athletics Tracy Huth. "We have put together an evening full of entertainment that will give our fans a great opportunity to get to meet our basketball teams for the first time this year. With the performances, special appearances, and giveaways we have planned the night is sure to be a fun night for everyone."
Hooper and the Flight Crew, the OU Cheer team and Images will all perform, and hundreds of fun fan giveaways are planned.
The first 1,000 fans will receive an OU baseball hat, and students can enter to win one of two scholarship awards from the Office of the President or a flat screen television. The awards will be presented at the end of the pep rally, and the winners must be present.
The men's basketball team is coming off a 17-14 season where they advanced to The Summit League tournament semifinals. The Golden Grizzlies will make their charge at a league championship and trip to the NCAA tournament this season behind five returning starters, including all-Summit League selections Derick Nelson (17.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and Johnathon Jones (14.9 ppg, 6 apg) and seniors Erik Kangas (14.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg) and Dan Waterstradt (5.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg).
The women's basketball team finished 20-10, advancing to The Summit League tournament semifinals. OU returns all five starters, including all-Summit League selections Jessica Pike (16.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.9 apg) and Melissa Jeltema (13.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg), honorable mention all-Summit League selection Hanna Reising (11.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg), and seniors April Kidd (9.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Riikka Terava (3.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.4 apg).
The men's team will open its season Saturday, Nov. 15 with a 7 p.m. contest at Cleveland State. OU will play its first nine games on the road before opening the home portion of its schedule Dec. 7 with a 1 p.m. contest against Toledo. The women's team will open play with an exhibition against Western Ontario on Sunday, Nov. 9, and open regular season play at the O'Rena on Friday, Nov. 14 against Columbia. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
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