Ya Heard? Probably Not.

The ranking of post-season college basketball tournaments for Division I schools goes something like this:

1. NCAA Tournament
2. NIT
3. Women's NCAA Tournament
4. College Basketball Invitational
5. WNIT
6. CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament

Luckily for me, Oakland just happens to have teams in the latter two. Today there was a home game where the Grizzlies took on Kent State in a tournament I've never heard of for a website I didn't know existed. I figure I should give a quick recap.

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Oakland came out of the gate completely flat. Aside from Keith Benson dunking on someone something vicious, they looked like they didn't want to be out there. Maybe it was hangover from letting an NCAA tournament berth slip through their fingers, but none of the players really looked like they cared what was going on. Players were just starring at loose balls and making dumb decisions. Kent State's half-court trap was rather effective, but the 2nd half proved it could be broken.

Their lack of effort was really evident for about the last 3 minutes of the 1st half, where they just let a 4 point game balloon into a 27-40 half time deficit with very little resistance.

The reality of the situation must have set in for the players at halftime, because they came out focused. After giving up 2 free throws, the Grizzlies went on a 20-4 run. Much of that was due to more effective ball movement, and Eric Kangas hitting 3 triples. In fact, Kent State's 4 points in that came off of a beautiful 4-point play by guard Tyree Evans, or "Agent Zero" as someone sitting near me in the stands affectionately called him. It fits pretty well given his number and his propensity to launch a shot just about as soon as he catches it.

Right after that run, Kent State hit a three pointer to take their last lead of the game. Oakland quickly responded and it was pretty much a wrap from then on. The energy in the building was crazy, I've never seen it that hype. Senior, and often team firecracker, Dan Waterstradt wrapped up a rebound getting the Grizzlies possession on a jump ball then randomly let out an emotional yell. If there was one moment that symbolized Oakland's mentality in the 2nd half, it was that. Mind you I laughed because it was completely random, but his team rallied around him. The crowd also rallied around the team for the entire half. The O'Rena was far from packed, but I have never seen it that emotionally invested in a game. The severity of the moment was not lost upon them. For the maybe 1000 people in attendance, the place was rocking! I wish all Oakland games were like that.

Now the Grizzlies go on to play a team to be determined later in a location to be determined later on Monday. This is normally where I'd put up a bracket, but none exists. Just as the gimmick for the CBI is the 3 game series to determine it's champion (Terrible Idea), the CIPT (?) reseeds after every round. That's a better idea than the CBI, and works for a small tournament since it rewards the better teams with home court, but let's hope they'd never consider that in the NCAA's. It'd ruin it completely.

Tomorrow, we tackle the "real" tournament.

Noooooooooooooooooo

In 3 years as an Oakland student:

-I took an L because I pay to attend this wack school.
-I took an L because I never transferred.
-I had to watch the Men's and Women's basketball teams lose to Oral Roberts in the Conference Finals in 2007.
-I just had to watch both the Men and Women blow 10 point leads to teams from Dakota. DAKOTA. Both North AND South. This is disgusting.

I just have to deal with the fact that the program is nothing but empty promises and broken dreams. Of course they look great for next year, but they will find a way to blow it. They always do.

This is how I feel right now:
http://darthno.ytmnd.com/

Go Grizzlies!

It's not often I big up Oakland. The school has mad flaws, including a lack of social events sponsored by any student body. I need to change that, it's not that hard. This is coming from the guy who spends most of his time in his dorm. All of that is irrelevant now. For the 2nd time since I've been here, both the men's and women's basketball teams have made it to the conference championship.

The men will be taking on North Dakota State (Regular Season Conference Champs) at 8pm on ESPN2. Should be a good game, hopefully Oakland can keep Woodside and Winkleman in check. Woodside hasn't really lit up the Grizzlies like he has other teams, and Jonathon Jones is definitely talented enough to outplay him. Kangas' injury will be big, the team definitely needs his outside shooting unless freshman like Kush and Maynard can step it up. I think if they can get the ball down low to Keith Benson early and he's hitting shots, they will be tough to beat. A big game from Will Hudson or Dan Waterstradt would go a long way to a tournament appearance.

On the other side of things, the women will be taking on the national ranked (#14) South Dakota State. Like the men in their match-up, they split their regular season meetings giving SDSU one of it's two losses. I can't sit hear and analyze the game, but I didn't catch any women's games this year.

I'm hoping it doesn't turn out like it did last time, with both teams getting sent home by Oral Roberts. We can't be getting sent home by the Dakota's, that's just not "whoa". I think at least one team will pull it out, my money is on the men.

GO GRIZZLIES!