May 19, 2010

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

Heartbreak is defined of great sorrow, grief or anguish. This is something that Oakland felt at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season. The Golden Grizzlies led by double-digits in The Summit League Championship game, only to squander that lead down the stretch and watch North Dakota State cut down the nets in its first-ever season at the tournament.

For the Grizzlies, it was the third time in the last five years in the title game, only coming away with one championship in 2005. The other seasons were filled with heartbreak again. So in the summer of 2009, Oakland had t-shirts made that read, "Can you Finish?"

"Last summer was a tremendous summer for us," said OU coach Greg Kampe who just completed his 26th season at the helm. "We had come off losing the heartbreaking championship game and another at Bradley and our kids were highly motivated."

Well the summer led into the fall and Oakland had its mission, finish! The Golden Grizzlies most certainly did that with a Summit League record 17-1 record and league-best .944 winning percentage. OU also won a program-best 26 games, only tasting defeat nine times. The Golden Grizzlies also finished the year 26-2 against non-traditional powers.

With all that was accomplished, Summit League Coach of the Year Greg Kampe still felt unsatisfied. "It was a great year, but it did not end the way we wanted it to end. I don't think it ended the way anybody wanted it to with the exception of one team (Duke), and maybe Butler and their magical run. We were disappointed in the Pittsburgh game, because we had a five-point lead and when Derick (Nelson) got hurt, we stopped defending."

The Golden Grizzlies would go on to fall to No. 18 Pittsburgh, 89-66, in the NCAA first round game in Milwaukee, Wis. on March 19. Along with records in wins, league wins and league winning percentage, OU also posted a school record 11-game winning streak heading into the NCAA dance. Oakland ended the year with the nation's 14th-longest home winning streak at 13.

Before reaching the NCAA postseason, Oakland posted a league-record 17 wins and entered The Summit League Tournament as the No. 1 seed for the first time in school history. The Grizzlies lived up to that billing, making their fourth championship game appearance in six seasons.

With double-digit wins over No. 8 seed UMKC (85-70) and No. 5 seed IPFW (71-58) in the quarterfinals and semifinals, Oakland still had one more game to win for this season to be a success. A win over No. 2 seed IUPUI in the championship game.

The Jaguars and Golden Grizzlies split the regular-season series and OU had never beaten IUPUI at the league tournament. This time, senior Derick Nelson would not be denied. Despite suffering a broken nose in the quarterfinal game and barely being able to walk hours before the championship game due to his back, Nelson went on to score 36 points and lift OU over the Jaguars, 76-54, and send the Grizzlies to their second NCAA tournament in six seasons (2005, '10).

"I am really pleased for Johnathon Jones and the way he finished his senior year," said Kampe. "He did some spectacular things for us. I was happy for Derick Nelson who stepped up for us in the championship game when all was lost. It was one of those special nights in a young man's life and one he will never forget."

Another star was born for the Golden Grizzlies in Summit League Player of the Year Keith Benson. A 6-foot-11 center from Farmington Hills, Mich., Benson led the league with a school record 367 rebounds (1 shy of league record) and broke his own school record with 117 blocks. He finished in the top 15 nationally in both those categories and was named Lou Henson Mid-Major Player of the Year by CollegeInsider.com.

"The growth of Keith Benson has been astounding," said Kampe. "Now having gone through the process, we know he is (eventually) going to be an NBA pick. He was really a dominant force in our league this season. In his three league tournament games, he had 13, 17 and 17 rebounds. That in itself is fantastic."

The Black and Gold also posted their highest-ever Rating Percentage Index (RPI) ranking, finishing the season at 53, better than every Michigan college with the exception of Michigan State (19). The Grizzlies have also posted the top conference record of any Michigan Division I schools at 51-17 (.750). MSU ranks second at 49-21 (.700), Western Michigan third at 37-28 (.569), Central Michigan fourth at 31-33 (.484), Eastern Michigan fifth at 29-36 (.446), Michigan sixth at 29-39 (.426) and Detroit sixth at 20-50 (.286).

"We've always stated our mission, our mantra is 'Consistency is the Hallmark of Greatness'," said Kampe. "That is what we have strive for as a basketball program. We don't want to be the best team one year, and then go down to the bottom in the next. We want to always be good. You'll have your ups and downs, but they have to be small peaks and valleys."

Along with all of its successes, Oakland continued to play a tough non-conference schedule (8th in the country) at No. 4 Michigan State (28-8), No. 6 Kansas (33-3), No. 8 Syracuse (30-5) and No. 24 Wisconsin (24-9) [rankings according to final ESPN Top 25 Poll]. Although the Grizzlies did not come away from any of those games with a victory, there is no doubt Oakland players were ready for road atmospheres anywhere in the league.

Now this summer, coaches, players and staff have a different feeling than heartbreak, jubilation. With so much riding on the line, the Golden Grizzlies passed with flying colors. Now, the Golden Grizzlies will have to stay away from feeling complacent.

"We have some very good players coming back next season and we feel like we will fight for another league championship," said Kampe. "We won everything so where is that motivation level going to be? That's going to be the strength of our leadership, because our leadership left."

2010 Awards

Associated Press All-America
Keith Benson, honorable mention

CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-America
Keith Benson (Mid-Major Player of the Year/CollegeInsider.com) Johnathon Jones

CollegeHoops.net Mid-Major All-America
Keith Benson, first team

NABC All-District 12 Team
Keith Benson, first team
Johnathon Jones, first team

The Summit League
Keith Benson, first team (Player of the Year)
Johnathon Jones, first team
Derick Nelson, second team

Greg Kampe, Coach of the Year

Larry Wright, Newcomer of the Year

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