Grizzlies Predicted to Slam Dunk Opponents

Expectations are high for the Oakland University men's basketball team, but coach Greg Kampe and his Golden Grizzlies aren't worried.

They are getting used to being held to a high standard.

The team was voted by Summit League coaches and the media as best bet to win the conference title, the league announced Thursday, and senior Keith Benson, a recognized NBA prospect, was named preseason player of the year.

"We always have high expectations but that doesn't mean anything," Kampe said. "We've been picked first (in the conference media poll) and have finished first. We've been picked first and finished seventh. But I would agree that this year our expectations are higher than ever before."

Oakland has been a power in the Summit League, and before that the Mid-Continent Conference, since its move to Division I 13 seasons ago. But coming off a 20-1 conference record last year and the school's second berth in the NCAA tournament, living with high expectations is nothing new.

Centered on Keith Benson

Much of the projected success is based on the return of 6-foot-11 center Benson, a senior who likely would have been selected in the first or second round of the NBA draft had he not suffered a thumb injury that kept him from competing at full strength at pre-draft camps and NBA team workouts, Kampe said. Benson averaged 17.3 points  and 10.5 rebounds per game and brings the type of skill and ability rarely seen at the mid-major level in college basketball.

"There aren't a lot of absolute NBA prospects in our league," Kampe said. "When you look at his size and length, there hasn't been another player in the history of this league like him."

Early in his college career Benson was best known for his shot-blocking and rebounding following a successful but underpublicized high school career at Detroit Country Day.  He has evolved into one of the top offensive post players in the country.

"People have questioned his (durability) but he's a tough kid," Kampe said. "He's never missed a game for us and he has smaller players grabbing and hacking him all the time. When he gets to the next level he will be facing guys more his size."

What's lost, gained

The team is adjusting to the graduation of four-year starting point guard Jonathan Jones, whom Kampe described as the "heart and soul" of the team the past few seasons, and last year's Summit League tournament MVP Derick Nelson, a five-year player who recovered from a serious knee injury to help guide his team to the NCAA Tournament. Jones and Nelson combined to average 24.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as seniors.

Decorated senior Larry Wright (11 points per game, 55 assists) will be one of the options taking over for Jones at point guard. Oakland also returns 6-foot-9 senior Will Hudson (six points, five rebounds per game) at forward. Blake Cushingberry (4.7 points per game, 31 three-pointers) returns as a scorer and perimeter threat. Ledrick Eackles (6.1 points per game) provided Oakland some strong minutes off the bench last year at guard.

And the Golden Grizzlies will be bolstered by another transfer this year, swingman Reggie Hamilton, transferring from Summit League rival University of Missouri-Kansas City. Hamilton averaged 12.6 points per game and finished with 75 assists in just 21 games as a sophomore before asking for his release from UMKC. Hamilton also brings three-point shooting skills to the team.

"I was surprised when Reggie transferred, and we feel fortunate that he chose to play here," Kampe said. "We're going to find ways to run him off screens like we did with (former Oakland standout and 2009 graduate Eric Kangas). One of our weaknesses last year was a lack of outside shooting but we have more of that this year and that just opens things up for (Benson) inside."

At the point

The point guard duties could be shared by a variety of players, including Wright, Eackles and Ryan Bass, perhaps the only true point guard on the Oakland roster. However Kampe has plenty of choices to select from, as his rotation may go 10 players deep.

"That's going to be a challenge because we are deep and experienced," he said. "It's my job to find minutes for the guys who have earned it."

With a brutal nonconference schedule, Oakland should be battle-tested for a postseason run. Games against both Michigan State (at the Palace of Auburn Hills) and University of Michigan (in Ann Arbor) will help bring further exposure to a program that a decade ago was still making the transition from Division 2.

"We've been eligible for seven conference tournaments and made the NCAA twice," Kampe said. "And we would have gone to the NCAA two more times had it not been for two last-second shots in the conference title games. (The move to Division 1) has far exceeded my expectations."