After 40+ years at Oakland, Greg Kampe reached his latest milestone.
700 wins.
The postgame celebration was the most notable event on this night. Kampe addressed the crowd, showing appreciation for everyone involved at the university for helping grow the school and program into what it is today.
When asked what the number one thing Kampe has learned from win number one to win 700, Kampe again praised those around him.
“When I was 28 years old, it was ‘I need to win’,” Kampe said. “What I have learned is it’s about being able to see others around you win.”
Then, a video played of former players from across generations who helped secure each 100th win en route to this number.
Kampe walked off the floor a little emotional, but the rest of the night was business as usual.
As big of a deal as 700 was, the number that mattered for this version of the Golden Grizzlies was 1-0. After a bit of a struggle, Oakland eventually got what they wanted.
The first half was a slog. Oakland trailed for much of the opening part of the half, and only held a 33-23 at half.
“We were awful,” Kampe said.
That message must have had a little bit of a carry over, as Oakland came out much sharper in the second half.
DQ Cole led with 15 points in 24 minutes, while Buru Naivalurua recorded a career high 13 points with 13 rebounds. The two veterans will be leaned on heavily during this next stretch of games, as Oakland continues to be shorthanded.
“It’s coming along pretty well,” Naivalurua said when asked about how his leadership is helping the group. “I think considering we have 11 new guys who this is all brand new too, we are in a good spot.” He mentioned leaning on DQ and Isaiah as key leaders as well.
Isaiah Jones, a returning starter, Oakland’s best defender and leader, was already out. Now Allen Mukeba, who looked like potentially Oakland’s best player, is sidelined with an ankle injury. Kampe said it wasn’t a high ankle sprain, which is good, but he may be out for the next few weeks. However, Kampe also left the door open for a Wednesday return at Boise State, but that seems unlikely as of now.
“I asked him (Allen) if tonight was the NCAA Tournament could you play and he said no,” Kampe said. “He thinks he is playing Wednesday, but we will see.”
That left Oakland with 8 scholarship players available tonight. But others were up to the task.
Cooper Craggs began his third season in the program on Monday, but this was his home debut. As a result of the injuries at his position, he got a chance to play. Craggs poured in a career high 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.
“It feels good,” Craggs said. “Obviously a pretty weird journey but I have been able to just put my head down, stay the course and trust my process. Gotta keep it going.”
If Mukeba is out Wednesday, or even further down the road, Craggs will continue to get a chance. But if Oakland is going to survive with the loss of Mukeba’s offensive production, the key may be behind the three point line.
Through two exhibition games, and his first few shots tonight, Malcolm Christie was 0-fer. The senior who had led Canadian college basketball in scoring and threes could not find anything.
When Christie hit his first shot on Monday, his reaction said it all. He shared a look with Kampe that resembled a look of massive relief, and it may have changed everything,
He then hit another, and then another, and then another. Ending the night with four threes, good for 12 points. His emergence early in the non-con portion of the schedule may be key for Oakland’s success.
His outside partner Jayson Woodrich struggled from three tonight, going 1-8. Woodrich however grabbed a career high 12 rebounds.
The point guard position continues to be in flux a little bit.
Freshman Nassim Mashhour started tonight, but struggled early on. He was quickly removed for Jaylen Jones, who had his ups and downs on the night, but continued to show increased comfort running the show.
“When Isaiah and Allen come back, I want him off the bench. Which is why I am doing that right now,” Kampe said. “I may not be able to continue that.”
Jones has shown enough flashes that he may be considered the favorite now to start as point guard when the team hits the floor in Idaho.
The margin on the scoreboard was closer than Oakland had hoped for much of the game, but a nice run, mainly sparked by Christie and Craggs, pushed the lead to 30. That was enough for Oakland to play a few end of the rotation pieces for some extended time, with everyone on the available roster playing at least nine minutes, which lowered the final margin a tad.
Perhaps most importantly for Oakland though, is that no one played more than 30 minutes. With a currently shortened rotation, a cross country flight on Tuesday, and a battle tested opponent waiting on Wednesday night, it was crucial to not expend maximum effort tonight.
It may not have been pretty for most of the night, but Oakland will head to Boise 1-0, and that is what matters.
