Oakland University’s NCAA Tournament History

As Oakland University gears up for its fourth-ever NCAA Tournament, it’s essential to reflect on the team’s performance in its previous appearances. Despite Coach Greg Kampe’s 40-year tenure, the program has only been eligible for the Division I NCAA Tournament for 26 seasons, following its transition from Division II in 1999. Kampe has steered Oakland to four Division I NCAA Tournament appearances in 26 eligible seasons, averaging about one national tournament appearance every six or seven seasons. The team’s first appearance occurred in 2005, six years after the transition to Division I was completed. In 2005, Oakland made its inaugural Division I NCAA Tournament appearance and secured a victory, led by seniors Rawle Marshall and Cortney Scott. Despite entering as a No. 16 seed, the Golden Grizzlies triumphed over Alabama A&M in an opening-round play-in game. However, their journey was cut short by top-seeded North Carolina in the Round of 64. Five years later, junior center Keith Benson propelled Oakland to its second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, where they faced a challenging matchup against third-seeded Pittsburgh. Despite Benson’s notable performance, the Panthers emerged victorious, ending Oakland’s run in the tournament. With a more balanced scoring attack in the 2011 season, Oakland secured a favorable No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Despite a close game against Texas, the Golden Grizzlies fell short of an upset and a spot in the Round of 32. As Oakland University prepares for its upcoming NCAA Tournament appearance, fans eagerly anticipate the team’s performance and hope for a successful run in the tournament.