Oakland Grizzlies

Chest Rockwell

Chest Rockwell

1,000+ Posts
I love all the "experts" that are putting Texas on upset alert, but I just don't see it. Sure, they have an NBA-caliber Center in Keith Benson and a nice outside game with Reggie Hamilton and Travis Bader. But they have played 7 teams in the Tournament and come away with 6 losses:
West Virginia - lost by 24
Purdue - lost by 15
Illini - lost by 11
Mich State - lost by 1
Michigan - lost by 18
Ohio State - lost by 29
Tennessee - won by 7

Oakland got spanked by a 3-seeded Pitt last year, 89-66.

We got this one.
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I don't see it either. Their signature win comes against a nine seed in Tennessee that hasn't exactly set the world on fire this year. In every game they've played against a good non-conference opponent that 90-point offense has been down in the 60s and 70s. If Texas shows up and plays its game, I honestly don't think this game is within 15 points.
 
Keith Benson? any relation to Kent Benson? Grandson, nephew? it's been a long time, I think 1976 when Kent Benson led Indiana to a perfect season.
 
They are a good team. I am not going to look at their past track record in the big dance to help me decide how they will do this year.

They are a high scoring team and have the edge in size. Hudson and Benson are going to be a tough matchup for our frontcourt. Johnson got out played by Kansas inside and he will have to play big for Texas to look great in this game.
 
They are the second highest scoring team in the NCAA this year, with an excellent three-point bomber. If we let the game reach the 80's or 90's we could have trouble keeping up. UT must play good team defense, some predict we won't do it.
 
"I am not going to look at their past track record in the big dance to help me decide how they will do this year. "
As well you shouldn't. Who is saying anything about their previous appearances in the Tourney?
Not Rockwell
he posted their win/loss record this year against teams in the tournment this year
 
I'm all about us vs. Duke in the Sweet 16. I think this team will unite and make that happen. If we can play lights out and beat Duke, the next game would be an even greater chance of winnng. IMO, we beat Duke and we'll get to Final Four. As far as the first game, yeah Oakland is in for a beatdown.
 
I went to their ESPN site to check out these scary Golden Grizzlies:

The Link

The Oakland Golden Grizzlies won the Summit League with a 17-1 record, an overall of 25-9. Sounds kind of impressive. But, the runner up, Oral Roberts went 13-5, 4 games out of 1st, and 19-15 overall --- no other Summit League team lost fewer than 12 games overall, they seem to be mostly chum for the bigger leagues.

Before their last 19 games of 2011, Oakland lost to WVU, Purdue, Wright State, Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan, Valparaiso, Ohio State, IUPUI.

They beat Tennessee (IIRC, with Pearl suspended), Austin Peay, Ohio, Southern, Southern Utah, University of Missouri Kansas City, RC (a team that doesn't even have a link at the ESPN site).

Then, their last 19 games, they went 18-1, and you might think, okay, they're hot, until you look at the details:

W Centenary Gentlemen, 1-29 (season record)
W Oral Roberts (ORU) Golden Eagles, 19-15
W Indiana Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Jaguars, 19-14
W Western Illinois (WIU) Leathernecks, 7-23
W Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) Mastadons, 18-12
W South Dakota State (SDST) Jackrabbits, 19-12
W North Dakota State (NDSU) Bison, 14-15
W ORU, 19-15
W Centenary, 1-29
W WIU, 7-23
L IUPUI, 19-14
W IPFW, 18-12
W NDSU, 14-15
W SDST, 14-15
W University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) Kangaroos, 16-14
W Southern Utah University (SUU) Thunderbirds, 11-19
W SUU, 11-19
W SDST, 19-12
W ORU, 19-15

I don't care if they have the next Wilt Chamberlain on the roster, this record, by itself does not indicate that they are that good team of a team at all. HALF of those 18 wins were over sub-500 SUMMIT conference losers or worse.
 
A guy who is an NBA prospect at center is going to be good against any opponents. A guy who can nail a bunch of three pointers...I think the line is in the same place whether they are playing Kansas or Noname State.
Doomed. We have little chance against these backboard bullies. Maybe we can keep it close for the first half.
 
Not only do i love our odds against Oakie Ultra Lite, i really like our odds against the Zona/Memphis winner in Tulsa.

TXThorn - agree with you completely!!! We beat Duke and this team will go to be freak nasty goin into Houston. Who wouldn't LOVE a chance to play SDSU or UConn with a trip to Houston on the line????
 
Gary Johnson 2 out of 16 in his last two games and 15 out of 52 in his last 6 games is a concern. Texas free throw shooting could keep it close also.
 
The Link

They went 0-27 until beating the WIU Leathernecks 73-60 at home, only to end the 1-game win streak 2 days later by losing to IUPUI.

Dashed their hopes at the NCAA or NIT, that 29th game. I understand the chairman of the NCAA selection committee was pushing them for a play-in, what with their strong 1-1 finish and all.
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We really are doomed. I just heard the guy who played Booger in Revenge of the Nerds is an Oakland alum. They have star power.
 
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