The Oakland University men’s Basketball team is set to partake in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship in November. According to BahaMarHoops.com, “In only its second year, “Baha Mar Hoops” will play host to the largest event in the sport of college basketball when 20 men’s and women’s teams play this Thanksgiving at Baha Mar, the leading resort destination in The Bahamas. The 10-day slate of games includes Oklahoma State, DePaul, UCF, and Santa Clara playing in the men’s Baha Mar Hoops “Bahamas Championship” and five NCAA Tournament women’s teams participating in the Baha Mar Hoops “Pink Flamingo Championship.” In total, 24 games will be played across three events Nov. 18-27 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center.”

The Oakland Grizzlies will be playing in the Nassau Championship with teams that include the University of Vermont, Ball State University, Missouri State University, University of North Carolina Wilmington, University of North Texas, San José State University and California State University, Long Beach. 

The Grizzlies will face Long Beach State at 8 p.m. on November 25. BahaMarHoops.com mentions, “First-round games will be played on Friday, November 25, with four games each day on Nov. 25-27. All 12 games of the Nassau Championship will be broadcast on FloHoops.”

Last year in November, the Grizzlies won the Gulf Coast Showcase, defeating the University of Vermont, Rice University, and the University of Delaware in a three-day span. This time the Grizzlies are headed to the Bahamas to obtain the same result as the previous year. 

In addition to this tournament, the Grizzlies will face some non-conference opponents such as Syracuse University, Michigan State University and Oklahoma State University. The combination of the tournament and power five opponents will prepare the Grizzlies for Horizon League matchups.

Returning players such as Jalen Moore, Trey Townsend and Blake Lampman, along with incoming transfers Lorne Bowman Ⅱ, Rocket Watts, Keaton Hervey, and Choul Deng, should make for a competitive and successful roster. 

With any roster, some players leave and new players come in. The fit and how well those athletes play and work together determine the outcome of the team’s season. Head coach Greg Kampe will have some sorting out to do to ensure the pieces fit. 

Nonetheless, between the returning production, the new talent added and veteran leadership, the Grizzlies have what they need to go up against their conference and nonconference schedule.