The No. 3 seed Oakland men’s basketball team is finally here in Sioux Falls on the morning of their conference tournament matchup against No. 6 seed Southern Utah.

“On our level, the whole season is wrapped around this weekend,” Greg Kampe, head coach, said. “Everything you do, everything you prepare for is for this weekend.”

Unlike major conference teams who have a chance at an at-large bid, most mid-major teams like Oakland must win their conference tournament to even get a chance at a run in the NCAA tournament.

“This is our NCAA tournament. This is our chances to storm the court and cut nets down,” Kampe said. “This is where the pressure is at.”

The Golden Grizzlies acknowledge the tournament has a different vibe than the regular season and the expectations are at a high level.

“The whole atmosphere of the tournament is different,” Valentine said. “It’s a different kind of focus and pressure.”

For the nation’s leading scorer and co-captain Reggie Hamilton, he’s been waiting for the return trip to Sioux Falls since

last season.

“I’ve been waiting for this since we’ve left the (NCAA) tournament last year playing Texas,” Hamilton said. “I plan on playing three games (in Sioux Falls).”

Playing big in critical games isn’t something that started this year for Hamilton. While playing behind the shadow of future NBA draft pick Keith Benson, Hamilton averaged a team high 23.5 points in post-season play last season.

“You can talk the game, but (Hamilton) plays the game,” Kampe said. “The reason I believe we are going to be successful this weekend is because I think you’re going to see the ‘Reggie Hamilton Show.’”

NBA scouts were in attendance in the building for opening games to see Summit League Player of the Year Dominique Morrison from Oral Roberts and star guard Nate Wolters of South Dakota State on Saturday.

They are expected to remain to see the Hamilton play.

“My thought process is on ‘us,'” Hamilton said. “I could really care less what other people are thinking about me.”

With the loss of key seniors Benson, Larry Wright and Will Hudson last season, experience is a factor being criticized against the Grizzlies this year. Kampe explained that he is proud of the contributions from younger players like Ryan Bass, Matt Poches and Corey Petros.

“When you have a Hamilton, a Bader, a Valentine — you have three players at that level no matter how young you are, you can beat anyone,” Kampe said. ” We’ve played top level teams this year and have been there and known that we could win.”

After rebounding from a six-game losing streak that stretched from December into January, the Grizzlies have risen from a near the bottom of the conference rankings to become third and finish 5-1 in their last six games.

Hamilton and Valentine have been stressing to their younger teammates the importance of the conference tournament.

“I try to preach to the young guys ‘play like you don’t have a tomorrow.'” Hamilton said. “Like me and (Lucas-Perry), if we lose, we’re done. I think that’s what the younger guys should take into account when they’re going (on the court). Don’t play like you have next year and the year after that because it can be taken away.”

Because of their seeding, the Grizzlies will need to win three games in three days to clinch their third consecutive conference championship.

“I think the team is committed to understanding that March is what matters,” Kampe said. “Now we’re going to find out (if that is true).”

When the topic of the large home crowds that the Sioux Falls Arena draws, Kampe thinks that is a non-factor.

“I don’t care if my mom is the only person in the stands, we’re going to play.”

Matchup Preview

In their first game at Southern Utah on Jan. 19, the Grizzlies’ bench were hogged the spotlight in terms of play with Laval Lucas-Perry and Corey Petros scoring 14 point and 13 points respectively.  This type of contribution from bench is going to be needed to take pressure off the starting rotation from carrying the load.

The Grizzlies also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Thunderbirds 33 to 23 and shot an overall 48.9 FG percentage.

In that 72-63 victory, the Grizzlies allowed them to shoot 45.5 percent from the arc, well above their season average of 28.6 percent. SUU is statistically one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the conference. They’ll have to tighten up on defense to not make them a threat from outside.

In their final game against SUU this season, the thunderbirds took OU to overtime on senior night in the O’rena, but the Grizzlies came out with a 76-68 win.

Reggie Hamilton and Travis Bader were the only Grizzlies to reach double figures and combined for 59 points in the game.

Center Corey Petros finished both contests with a combined total of 13 rebounds. Along with the rest of the frontcourt, Petros will need to be a factor to give time for OU’s efficient shooters to excel.

The two victories mark eight consecutive wins against the Thunderbirds, but the level of play from everyone in the Summit League tournament is elevated, so the Grizzlies know they’ll see everyone’s best this weekend.

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Kevin Romanchik is the Sports Editor for The Oakland Post. He covers the Oakland University men’s basketball team along with other local sports. You can contact him via email [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_ro