By Catherine Slonksnis
GoldenGrizzlies.com Contributor

Oakland's new blacktop basketball court is a stark departure from the tan-colored surface in years past, and it was a huge hit with the student-athletes the first time they saw it. The players are used to the darker surface by now after practices and preseason games, but when the blacktop initially went up it was the talk among the players. Even on opening night guard Kay Felder still remarked how "beautiful" the one-of-a-kind floor is.

"I saw some video up on the board, and it really looked good," coach Greg Kampe said after the team's 91-81 win over EMU. "And with a full house in there and everything, I thought it was great. I wanted to do that for a long, long time. I'm just really pleased with the excitement that it's created, and the team's excited about that. It was really neat."

When the winning design was unveiled nearing the end of the 2014-15 season -- being voted on by students and fans during the season -- it had a near-black rendering. But initial pictures after completion showed a dark brown-gold tone, intentionally chosen by the Golden Grizzlies when the department was looking at finishes. Upgraded lighting and sound effects that were also installed enhance what is now the most unique court in college basketball.

"Oh everybody loves it," Director of Athletics Jeff Konya said. "They love it. It's unique. We had camps and all the kids, they couldn't wait to play on it. They were taking Twitter selfies and when you get that kind of positive response from the younger generation, you know that you've hit a home run."

The black strip defining the borders of the court are painted black, whereas the court itself is stained with the darkest tone Oakland could get. With new LED lighting going in throughout the building, the team needed something dark enough yet not too drastic that it detracted from the game. What they got sparked comments on social media remarking that Oakland had one of, if not the best, courts in college hoops.

Oakland was faced with several daunting tasks against EMU: not only were they without Jalen Hayes (out with an ankle injury that popped up the day of the game), but the team was tested against a tough zone defense that they hadn't faced before. Kampe's team hadn't practiced for it, nor had they seen it in preseason play.

Facing Eastern Michigan University, a No. 4-ranked MAC team, the crowd helped carry the team to their first victory of the season. The combined effect of the court, the lighting, and enhanced sound system was only one part of the electric atmosphere on Wednesday night. Focusing on bringing the minutia of what makes Oakland unique may not have been glamorous, but it was crucial.

"[The floor] was going to have that gold tint in it, and that's perfect for our colors," Kampe said. "It was just perfect. I didn't like the state of Michigan in the renderings, but I thought the Michigan [logo] on the floor was really cool. There's nothing about it I don't like."

Along with their new campaign focusing on #WearTheBear and the unique culture that Oakland offers, a larger Golden Grizzlies logo was placed at the center of the court. The state of Michigan blacked out on both sides of the playing surface. Several games are now being broadcast on ESPN affiliations and the men's team has gained more notoriety than in years past.

Last Wednesday, the men's team welcomed an excess of 3,800 fans for the home opener and higher expectations for the 2015-16 season. For the student-athletes, they were less concerned about the surface under their feet than the game at hand. With family members in attendance, the crowd was what the players remembered, but the new blacktop helped display what makes Oakland unique.

#WEARtheBEAR