I still remember the day in early February when The Oakland Post’s Sports Editor, Brock Heilig, told me the 2023-24 Oakland University men’s basketball team had a good chance of going far in their season.
However, I don’t think either knew how far they would go looking back on their season today.
I got to know the men’s basketball team in an unconventional way. While others watched the Golden Grizzlies blossom at their games in the OU Credit Union O’rena, on the road, on TV, or by listening on the radio, I learned and grew to love the team through the articles The Oakland Post sports staff wrote.
I saw the Golden Grizzles win their home opener against Bowling Green State University by reading Sports Reporter Kurt Szymanski’s article. I witnessed the team beat the Milwaukee Panthers on Jan. 27, 2024, through Summer Weathers piece, and notably, I read the Golden Grizzlies secured a home game in the Horizon League Tournament after beating IUPUI in February with Heilig’s article.
After reading many Oakland Post articles about the OU men’s basketball team throughout the school year, I finally decided to attach faces to names by attending the Golden Grizzlies’ last regular season game on March 2.
There I watched the team beat Detroit Mercy, become the 2023-24 Horizon League Regular Season Champions, and helped celebrate the team’s four graduating seniors: Trey Townsend, Jack Gohlke, Blake Lampman and Rocket Watts. I was on board watching the Golden Grizzlies games live shortly after.
The day the team debuted in the Horizon League Tournament on March 7, I did something I had never considered doing before: I purchased an ESPN+ subscription. I then watched the Golden Grizzlies’ bout in the Horizon League quarterfinals and semifinals, celebrating with them when they won the Horizon League Championship and earned a bye into the NCAA Tournament on March 12.
I got my family into the games and as the Golden Grizzlies found their seed and opponent in The Big Dance at the Selection Sunday Watch Party on March 17, my excitement to watch the team primetime only grew.
Though the OU community had confidence in the Golden Grizzlies, many favored the Kentucky Wildcats over Oakland. However, after the team’s performance on March 21, the Golden Grizzlies proved they should not be overlooked.
Something magical happened the night the Golden Grizzlies had the world’s eyes on them. Rather than buckling under the pressure of competing against a No. 3 seed as a No. 14 seed, OU did something many thought was impossible. They upset Kentucky and advanced to the Round of 32 for the first time.
In an instant, everyone suddenly knew who Oakland University was. It was incredible going on social media and seeing people discover OU is located in Rochester, Michigan, and not Oakland, California, and even better seeing people bear witness to Jack Gohlke always going for 3-pointers for the first time. It is something I will never forget.
I watched the Golden Grizzlies fight hard against the NC State Wolfpack on March 23, and even though OU lost in overtime 73-79, this season will go down in history in more ways than one.
The Golden Grizzlies revitalized school pride within the OU community. They gave people something to look forward to and cheer for, and most importantly; at least to me, they gave The Oakland Post staff the experience of a lifetime.
When the Golden Grizzlies traveled to Indianapolis for the Horizon League Tournament, our sports staff was right there to witness all of the action. When the team faced off against Kentucky and NC State in Pittsburgh, our sports section saw what will one day be known as some of the biggest moments in Golden Grizzly history.
So while I want to thank the Golden Grizzlies for what they have given us, I also want to thank our sports staff, Brock Heilig, Kurt Szymanski, Evan Blanchard, Summer Weathers and photographer Katie Reid, for all of their hard work covering the Golden Grizzlies historic run.
Following the men’s basketball team has been one of the highlights of my time as editor-in-chief of The Oakland Post. Though their 2023-24 season has officially ended and the sun is setting on my time at Oakland University, I cannot wait to see what other surprises and upsets the Golden Grizzlies have in store for years to come.
