Even 17 games into the season, men’s basketball coach Greg Kampe would probably tell you his team hasn’t played too many games that have really mattered yet.

Sure, Oakland University (9-8) played through its non-conference schedule with the intent of winning, but it’s the remaining Summit League slate of games that will determine the team’s destination for postseason play. Kampe treats his team’s non-conference schedule like an extended tune-up for the conference games to follow.

Beginning conference play with a 4-0 record is an impressive start, but tougher games lie ahead for the Golden Grizzlies. Matching last season’s 17-1 Summit League record will be a difficult task in what appears to be a deeper, more competitive conference than in years past.

A peek at the Summit

The Mastodons of IPFW (9-4) have matched the Grizzlies with an unblemished 4-0 start of their own atop the conference standings. The two teams will meet for the first time this season on Jan. 15 when Oakland travels to Fort Wayne.

Like the Grizzlies, IPFW’s lineup is balanced; four players average at least 10 points per game, led by 3-point sharp-shooter Ben Botts (46 percent).

“I mentioned in the preseason that IPFW was my dark horse team because of their senior guards and their four-year starters,” Kampe said. “Botts is a heck of a player.”

Two meetings with Summit League Tournament runner-up IUPUI (8-8, 2-1) await OU, beginning with Thursday’s tilt at the O’rena. Junior Alex Young leads the Jaguars in scoring (18.0 points per game) and averaged more than 20 points in three games against Oakland last season.

“Alex Young is going to be a pro and when you’ve got a guy who is going to be a pro then you can beat anybody on any given night,” Kampe said.

South Dakota State (10-4, 2-1) did what the Grizzlies could not by beating a Big Ten opponent in Iowa during the non-conference season. The Jackrabbits feature the conference’s top scorer in sophomore Nate Wolters (19.2 points per game).

“I think South Dakota State is really good,” Kampe said. “They have a group of guys that can just shoot it. They’re a young team so they will have ups and downs.”

Perennial contender Oral Roberts can not be discounted either despite a meager record (5-10, 2-2) and an 85-77 home loss to the Grizzlies on Thursday.

“They’re still very talented, but they haven’t jelled and it looks like they’re having some chemistry issues right now,” Kampe said.

Mid-season reviews

With junior Drew Maynard’s recent decision to leave the program and transfer, Oakland’s young players are assured of even more meaningful playing time down the stretch. In the five games that Maynard played in this season, it was apparent how much his role with the team had truly diminished.

“What we needed from Drew (Maynard) just wasn’t going to happen,” Kampe said. “The chemistry of our team is outstanding and we beat a nationally ranked team. I wasn’t going to mess with our chemistry and throw (Maynard) back in there because he didn’t deserve it and the guys in front of him (on the depth chart) didn’t deserve that to happen to them. I didn’t think it was going to make us better and my job is to win games.”

The Grizzlies have rotated three different players into their starting lineup in the spot once expected to be occupied by either Maynard or a healthy Blake Cushingberry.

One of those players has been redshirt freshman Travis Bader, whose strong play has been perhaps the most welcome surprise so far this season. Often likened to former Grizzlies guard Erik Kangas for his perimeter shooting, Kampe said Bader is further along in his development than Kangas was at this stage of their respective careers. He has averaged 8.3 points per game and has been Oakland’s most consistent 3-point shooter.

“Bader is way ahead of where Kangas was his freshman year,” Kampe said. “Now will he develop into what Kangas was as a senior? I hope so, but I don’t know if he’ll get that far. He’s ahead of the curve right now.”

But Oakland’s offense, averaging over 80 points per game has been aided by a well-rounded cast of contributors.

Senior Will Hudson, a complimentary scorer for the bulk of his career, has made the most of every opportunity this season and increased his scoring output to 13.1 points per game.

More crucial to OU’s success, however, has been his ability to grab offensive rebounds. Hudson ranks second in the nation in that category, averaging 3.8 per game.

“Every shot that goes up, (Hudson) goes to the boards,” Kampe said. “Even if it’s not going to come off on his side, if it appears it’s going in, if it’s a layup, he goes every time, and he’s rewarded for that.”

Hudson’s emergence as a scorer in addition to his work on the boards has given Kampe a frontcourt duo that is unmatched by any other Summit League foe. The Grizzlies out-rebound their opponents by a league-best 6.8 per game.

“I don’t know that there are five programs in the country that have a (center and power forward) that are as good as (Keith) Benson and Hudson,” Kampe said. “(Tom) Izzo called us the best rebounding team he has played and for him to say that, it’s pretty impressive.”