Tuesday night marked a historic moment in the history of Oakland University.

The men’s basketball team punched a ticket to just its fourth Division I NCAA Tournament in program history with an 83-76 win over Milwaukee. After the win, Oakland fans, cheerleaders and band members poured onto the floor to watch the team cut down the nets and celebrate the milestone.

On the court were a few of the most prominent figures currently at Oakland University. The Oakland Post grabbed interviews with some of Oakland’s biggest names.

Greg Kampe (Head Coach)

“Last night I had 147 text messages. I just grabbed my phone I have 403. I guess that’s 13 years of not going to the tournament, everybody is coming out of the woodworks. Actually, it’s 12 years, this is the 13th, so it was only 12 years we weren’t there.

I think we’re a 13 seed and maybe a 12. I hope the committee watches that and I hope they agree with me and I hope they put us really close to Detroit so that our fanbase can get to it.”

Trey Townsend (Forward)

“I can’t put into words what this means. Honestly, I don’t know when it will hit me but I’m glad we’re playing this late in March.

If you guys could see how close everyone is off the court you wouldn’t be surprised with how things are turning out on the court. But, this group of guys is the closest I’ve been with a team in any sport I’ve played, any year I’ve played and that’s just credit to them for everyone appreciating and understanding their roles. We wouldn’t be here without every single person.”

Blake Lampman (Guard)

“I’ve dreamed about this as a kid… I wasn’t even dreaming about this moment now that I’m here.

I came to Oakland because I wanted to learn from Coach Kampe and hoped to coach one day and I never really looked back from there. I always trusted him, I love that dude. I knew if I trusted in him and I could get guys to trust in him with me then he could lead us to where we’re at right now.”

Ora Pescovitz (University President)

“It’s huge. First of all, of course, it’s huge for the student-athletes. It’s huge for the coaches. Not just, of course, Coach Kampe, but for all the coaches. There are a lot of coaches and trainers that pour their blood, sweat and tears into preparing the team, and it comes down to this one game, but actually it’s months and months and months, actually, years of preparing. So, it is really huge.

And, of course, it’s huge for the university. And all the students, by the way. The band, our dance team, and all of our student fans, our faculty, our staff, and all of our supporters. And I’ve been getting emails from all around the country, congratulating us. One of the things I hope is that a lot of prospective students will look at Oakland and say, ‘Gosh, I want to go to that school,’ and I expect they will.

And their parents will look at us and say ‘Do you want to go to that school with that great team that has, not just a great athletic program, but so much spirit?’ And to see our student-athletes, they’re not just great athletes. They’re great people. And that’s one of the things I think prospective students will see and appreciate.”

Steve Waterfield (Athletic Director)

“Relief. I’m so happy for the team and the coaches. You see so much of what they do outside of what happens on the court, whether it’s practice, whether it’s just in the O’rena, I’m just proud of what they did. It’s a great group — a great team. I’m excited for them.

People are going to wonder what Oakland is and starting from now until hopefully past the first-round games. Oakland’s going to be in brackets, folks are going to look it up, it creates a platform that you can’t get unless you earn your way into the tournament.”

Kevin Beers (Public Address Announcer)

“[Greg] Kampe said it best: It’s hard. They’re the No. 1 seed, they won the regular-season championship and now won this, it’s so hard to do that. We haven’t done this since 2011. That tells you how hard it is. So that’s the thing. Mixed in with all the emotions has to be relief, in a way, especially for Kampe. And I feel that. I feel relief a lot. Everybody’s kind of floating. Everybody’s kind of floating on air. Everybody’s kind of individually and collectively gonna sort of float out of this place to their cars, so it’s so joyous.

And who knows what we’re gonna face in the first round. This is the kind of team that can upset somebody. There’s no question about that. So, that’s the thing that feels a little bit different to me than the last two in 2010 and 2011 is I get a sense from everybody, especially the team that ‘You know what? This is awesome, however, there’s still more to this story. There’s more chapters to write.’ And that, I think that’s pretty cool, but it’s a celebration for everybody because everybody plays a part in it. Anybody who went to a single home game that we happened to win. Or anybody who went to a road game, and they saw you in the crowd, it made those players feel like a million bucks.

Everybody truly does play a part in it. The alums and these guys in the E3 section — they’re crazy at games. And the flag, Anthony with the flag and everything. I mean, everybody plays a part in it, and that’s what’s cool about everybody being able to be out here on the floor right now.”

David Vinsaw (Band Director)

“We’re just trying to bring a lot of spirit, a lot of energy, pump up the crowd. I think we’re huge in stuff like this. We’re having a good time.”