Sept. 14, 2009
Complete Schedule
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Oakland University will take on one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country in 2009-10 with road games at Wisconsin (Nov. 18), Kansas (Nov. 25), Memphis (Nov. 30), Michigan State (Dec. 10), Oregon (Dec. 19) and Syracuse (Dec. 22), along with home games versus Eastern Michigan (Nov. 14) and Green Bay (Dec. 13), announced head coach Greg Kampe on Monday.
"I apologize to Oakland fans for taking so long to get this schedule done, but it's been a very difficult year for scheduling," said Kampe who enters his 26th season at the helm. "There's a high expectation out there for our team and people know that, and a lot of people who would play us decided not to this year.
"I'm excited about it, playing two or three teams that will be in the preseason top 10, and we have some home games early. Last year's home schedule wasn't very good, this year I think it is. We're excited and really looking forward to get going."
The Golden Grizzlies currently hold the nation's 11th-best home court winning streak with 14 consecutive wins inside the Athletics Center O'Rena. This will mark the fifth straight year OU will take on the MSU Spartans, who made a tremendous run all the way to the national title game a season ago.
Oakland has beaten the Ducks in two straight seasons, including a thrilling 82-79 overtime win in Eugene, Ore. last season. The Badgers (20-13), Orange (28-10), Jayhawks (27-8) and Tigers (33-4) all made the NCAA Tournament with SU, KU and UM all advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
The Golden Grizzlies will have three televised home games on FS DETROIT. Oakland will take on Green Bay at 4:30 p.m. ET, along with Summit League foes IUPUI (Jan. 2) at 5:30 p.m. ET and North Dakota State (Feb. 20) at 6 p.m. ET.
OU returns five starters this season with senior forward Derick Nelson coming back after taking a medical redshirt in 2008-09. Senior Johnathon Jones led the nation in assists per game (8.1) last season, while junior Keith Benson finished fourth in the country in field goal percentage (.622). Oakland does lose sharp shooter Erik Kangas (18.9 ppg) who broke the single-season league record with 135 treys made, third in the nation with 3.9 per game and finished with 1,540 points.
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