Sept. 3, 2010
ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Oakland University men's basketball team has been selected to repeat as Summit League champions by Athlon Sports Magazine, released in stores this week. Senior Keith Benson, last year's Mid-Major Player of the Year, was projected to repeat as Summit League Player of the Year as well.
Sitting behind the Golden Grizzlies in the preseason prediction was No. 2 Oral Roberts (20-13, 13-5), No. 3 IUPUI (25-11, 15-3), No. 4 South Dakota State (14-16, 10-8), No. 5 Western Illinois (13-17, 6-12), No. 6 IPFW (16-15, 9-9), No. 7 North Dakota State (11-18, 8-10), No. 8 UMKC (12-18, 6-12), No. 9 Southern Utah (7-22, 3-15) and No. 10 Centenary (8-21, 3-15).
OU finished the 2009-10 season with a near-perfect 17-1 record that set new league records in wins and winning percentage (.944). The Golden Grizzlies also set a new school record with 26 wins and currently hold a 13-game home court winning streak, 14th-best in the country.
Benson, a 6-foot-11 center from Farmington Hills, Mich., ended last season averaging a double-double with 17.3 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game. He also blocked a school record 3.3 shots per game and earned Associated Press All-America honorable mention honors. Athlon Sports Magazine goes on to say he is a legitimate NBA first-rounder.
The Grizzlies also return senior guard Larry Wright and senior forward Will Hudson from the starting lineup. Wright (6-2, 162), a transfer from St. John's, averaged 11.0 points per game and was named to the Summit League All-Newcomer team. Hudson (6-9, 233), a native of Madison, Wis., continued to shoot a high percentage from the floor last year, finishing the season with a team-high .638 field goal percentage (83-130).
Oakland will also welcome UMKC transfer Reggie Hamilton (6-0, 175) this season. Hamilton hails from Chicago and averaged double figures in both seasons he played for the Kangaroos. He was also named to The Summit League All-Newcomer team as a freshman.
Other returnees for the Golden Grizzlies that saw significant action will be junior Blake Cushingberry (6-3, 243), sophomore Ledrick Eackles (6-1, 184), junior Drew Maynard (6-7, 231), junior Ilija Milutinovic (7-0, 247) and sophomore Drew Valentine (6-4, 212).
According to the publication, the All-Summit League first team was made up of Benson, WIU's Ceola Clark, ORU's Dominique Morrison, NDSU's Michael Tveidt and IUPUI's Alex Young.
Oakland will begin individual work outs in a few weeks. First day of practice will come right before Grizz Madness on Oct. 15 inside the Athletics Center O'Rena.
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