Oakland fans, the light at the end of the tunnel has arrived.
A three-game stretch that included connecting flights across the country, seven-hour bus rides, a game at altitude and facing three Top 25 caliber opponents has come and gone. On Thursday, the Golden Grizzlies return to the blacktop.
Home sweet home.
Awaiting Oakland is in-state rival Eastern Michigan, who comes into this contest with a 2-2 record.
The last two games the Eagles have played are of particular interest to Oakland, as EMU is on a mini tour of the Horizon League. After a big loss to Texas State and a comfortable win over non-D1 Siena Heights, Eastern Michigan traveled to IU Indy and Cleveland State.
In Indianapolis, EMU came away with a 74-71 victory after a very competitive affair. Their trip to Cleveland was also a good matchup, with the Vikings taking home a 71-63 win.
What those results mean is that this is really the first test for Oakland to see where they compare to the other teams that matter, their league foes. A loss by no means is the end of the world, but if Oakland can come away with a nice win, it puts them right where they need to be entering conference play.
As a program, Eastern Michigan has had their struggles in recent years. The Eagles have not had a winning season since 2018 and has not had a conference record better than 6-12 since 2019. Head coach Stan Heath enters his fourth season, and he is trying the lead the Eagles to their first NCAA Tournament since the 1990s, when they made three of them, winning three tournament games in that time as well. Even with talent such as Gatorade National Player of the Year Emoni Bates, who is now in the NBA, it just hasn’t clicked yet for Heath and the Eagles.
This year’s edition of Eastern Michigan has been led by Oregon and Depaul transfer Jalen Terry. A three-year starter in the Big East, the Michigan native comes home for his last year of college basketball. He is averaging over 18 points a game, seven rebounds and almost three assists. Many thought Terry would end up at Oakland, but he decided to head to Ypsilanti.
Jalin Billingsley and Christain Henry are both averaging over 12 points a game so far, and they are both in the starting lineup. Other key guys include Depaul transfer Da’Sean Nelson, who came over with Terry after starting in the Big East, and former Oakland player Yusuf Jihad. Jihad redshirted at Oakland in 2019-2020 and then played 17 games during the covid altered season.
For Oakland, this game was likely circled on the calendar right when the schedule came out. Not because it is important to beat the other Michigan schools, but because this is the first look against a mid-major. Oakland gets a chance to really evaluate what is happening on this roster. How dominate are Mukeba and Buru against similar size? Will DQ look more ready to take the big leap? Are the shooters making shots? This game is fascinating because all of these questions can get their first real answers.
Those answers will come at 7pm on Thursday night. It is Oakland’s first home game this season against a Division 1 opponent. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
