It may not seem like it since school started not too long ago, but college basketball season is right around the corner. Oakland released its non-conference schedule last week, and the entire 2023-24 schedule is now known for the Golden Grizzlies.
Oakland will take the floor in less than a month for its first exhibition game. The Golden Grizzlies will host Walsh University to kick off the season on Oct. 19 unofficially. Walsh is a private, non-profit university that enrolls approximately 2,700 students.
Following the game against Walsh, Oakland will practice for a week and a half before its second and final exhibition game against Wayne State on Oct. 30.
Head coach Greg Kampe and the Golden Grizzlies will officially begin their 2023-24 season on the road against Ohio State on Nov. 6. Four days later, Oakland will visit another Big Ten program in the Illinois Fighting Illini.
The Illini earned a No. 9 seed in last season’s NCAA Tournament. They lost in the first round to No. 8 Arkansas.
Then, Oakland heads back home to host Bowling Green before embarking on its annual international trip.
This season, Kampe will take Oakland to the Cayman Islands, where the Golden Grizzlies will play three games in three days. Drake will be OU’s first opponent on Sunday, Nov. 19, but the opponents on Nov. 20 and Nov. 21 won’t be determined until results from the first round come in.
In the second round of the Cayman Islands Classic, Oakland will face either Loyola Marymount or Stephen F. Austin.
Then, in the third round on Nov. 21, Oakland will face one of four teams — Marshall, Utah State, Florida International or Akron.
Six days after the conclusion of the Cayman Islands Classic, Oakland will make its second trip to Ohio to face Xavier. The Musketeers were a No. 3 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 before they were sent home by No. 2 seed Texas.
Nine days after the game against Xavier, Oakland will host Toledo at the OU Credit Union O’rena on Dec. 6.
The Golden Grizzlies’ ensuing three games are all on the road against Eastern Michigan, Michigan State and Dayton.
That will conclude Oakland’s 11-game non-conference schedule. The full 2023-24 regular-season schedule is listed below.
Oct. 19 vs. Walsh (Exhibition)
Oct. 30 vs. Wayne State (Exhibition)
Nov. 6 at Ohio State
Nov. 10 at Illinois
Nov. 14 vs. Bowling Green
Nov. 19 vs. Drake (Cayman Islands Classic)
Nov. 20 vs. TBD (Cayman Islands Classic)
Nov. 21 vs. TBD (Cayman Islands Classic)
Nov. 27 at Xavier
Nov. 29 at Detroit Mercy*
Dec. 2 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne*
Dec. 6 vs. Toledo
Dec. 8 at Eastern Michigan
Dec. 18 at Michigan State
Dec. 20 at Dayton
Dec. 28 at Cleveland State*
Dec. 31 at Youngstown State*
Jan. 4 vs. Milwaukee*
Jan. 6 vs. Green Bay*
Jan. 10 vs. Northern Kentucky*
Jan. 13 at IUPUI*
Jan. 17 vs. Youngstown State*
Jan. 25 at Green Bay*
Jan. 27 at Milwaukee*
Feb. 1 vs. Robert Morris*
Feb. 3 vs. Cleveland State*
Feb. 8 at Northern Kentucky*
Feb. 10 at Wright State*
Feb. 14 at Purdue Fort Wayne*
Feb. 17 vs. IUPUI*
Feb. 22 at Robert Morris*
Feb. 25 vs. Wright State*
March 2 vs. Detroit Mercy*
* Indicates Horizon League matchup
