Fans eagerly awaiting the basketball season have reason for excitement as both the men and women’s teams have plenty of marquee matches this year.

The men’s slate features five teams that made the 2012 NCAA tournament, including a trip up to East Lansing to face local powerhouse Michigan State Nov. 23.

“This schedule is one of the toughest we have had when you factor in travel and a lack of home games,” men’s Head Coach Greg Kampe said.

After two home exhibitions against Davenport College (Oct. 30) and Defiance College (Nov. 6), Oakland kicks off the season Nov. 9 against Albion at the O’Rena.

What follows is a grueling seven-game stretch that will see OU crisscross the country to play teams such as Louisiana, Boise State and Pittsburgh and rematches with foes off of last season’s schedule in Tennessee and Western Michigan.

“People are going to be upset because it is void of home games, but people have to understand who we are in the pecking order,” Kampe said. “We had 18 home games last year and a school like us to have that many home games is an amazing feat, unfortunately you end up paying for that, but on next year’s schedule were going to have some really good teams at home.”

While only 10 Division I opponents will play at Oakland this year, fans can tune in to ESPNU Dec. 19 to see senior Forward, Drew Valentine, lead the Golden Grizzlies into Morgantown, W. Va. to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in a nationally televised affair.

Oakland begins conference play when they travel to IUPUI Dec. 29.

Oakland will be hosting an ESPN Sears BracketBuster game Dec. 23. This game has the possibility of being televised nationally depending on the opponent that the Golden Grizzlies will be matched up with, which is determined a few weeks ahead of time.

While the men only have three regular-season games during November and December, the women’s team will host 10 games during that time.

“I know the fans are going to be excited, and the parents are definitely excited,” women’s Head Coach Beckie Francis said. “But I’m nervous, because it’s a pretty hefty schedule.”

Despite having two Big Ten teams come to the O’Rena, the most highly anticipated game of the season is when the Golden Grizzlies travel to perennial championship contender Connecticut Dec. 19. UConn has advanced to five straight Final Fours and will be a heavy favorite against Oakland, but Coach Francis sees it as more than just a game.

“We played them in 2006,” Francis said. “I remember my seniors came up to me after that game and even though it was a loss, they said that atmosphere was one of the best experiences they ever had.”

Having top teams on the schedule helps Francis’ overall plan as she tries to move the program forward.

“It helps our recruiting, because I can say this is who were going to play and they did not pick you, and now you have a chance to go play them and beat them on our floor,” Francis said.

 

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Contact Senior Reporter Tim Pontzer via email at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @timothy_pontzer