Oakland has the potential to be one of the strongest Mid-Major programs this season. They opened the season ranked #14 in the first Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Poll. The Golden Grizzlies were picked as the overwhelming favorites to win the Summit League this season as they received 34 of the 35 first place votes from the writers who cover the Summit League. Senior point guard Johnathon Jones was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year.

Oakland is returning four starters from last season’s team, five if you count Derrick Nelson who sat out last season with a medical redshirt after breaking his foot two days before the regular season began. Nelson will be joined in the starting line-up by point guard Johnathon Jones, who broke the league record for assists in a season and led the NCAA with 8.1 assists per game. Junior Keith “Kito” Benson is the leading scorer returning this season averaging 14.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He led the Grizzlies with 87 blocks and he led the Summit League last season in offensive rebounds.

Junior Will Hudson should be another starter and the Grizzlies hope he continues to develop. Hudson doubled his points output from his freshman to sophomore seasons, 3.5 ppg to 7.4 ppg as a sophomore, and is a good defender. The other guard spot should go to sophomore Drew Maynard who, according to Coach Greg Kampe, could become the next great player at Oakland. Maynard averaged seven points a game last season in Derrick Nelson’s absence and with Nelson on the court with him should be able to contribute more for the Golden Grizzlies.

Oakland is playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country in preparation for Summit League play. Oakland travels to #1 ranked Kansas, #2 Michigan State and #25 ranked Syracuse this season. Also Oakland travels to unranked Oregon, Wisconsin and Memphis, while league play begins on Dec. 5 at IPFW. Oakland opens the season at home on Nov. 14 against Eastern Michigan University.