Oakland University facing off against Kentucky Thursday in March Madness

The Oakland University Men’s Basketball team will take on the Kentucky Wildcats Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Golden Grizzlies have not played in March Madness since 2011.

Coach Greg Kampe, who’s in his 40th year as head coach, says Kentucky is a team with great three point shooting that likes to play at a fast pace. 

“And so the only way we have a chance to win the game is to control the tempo. You know, they usually play at about 80 possessions a game and we have to keep it to 65,” Kampe said. “If we can keep that to 65 or less possessions, make them score against our defense, and not in transition, that’s when we’ll have a real chance to win this thing.”

OU had an impressive regular season, finishing with 23 wins and 11 losses. The team also led the Horizon League in the regular season and won the end of season tournament. 

“Thirty-two conferences in the country – 21 of the 32 champions got beat in their conference tournament,” Kampe said. “So we’re in a select few and I think that’s why we have a good chance tonight to win too.”

Senior forward Trey Townsend is one of the players that helped secure a spot in the tournament. He had 38 points in the Horizon League Tournament Championships against Milwaukee. 

Kampe coached Townsend’s father, Skip Townsend, he said. Skip graduated and started a career at Cadillac which kept him in southeast Michigan. Kampe has seen firsthand the growth of Trey’s play. 

“Trey, the player today has been in our gym and in my camps. And, you know, I’ve known him since he was born. And you know, it’s very unusual that, you know, a father of a kid would come play for you. Of course, it’s unusual to be at one place for 40 years, so I guess, I guess it’s not a surprise that that would happen. But, Trey is a tremendous player, tremendous person and a tremendous student.”

The game starts at 7:10 p.m. Thursday and you can watch it on CBS. The winner will face off against Texas Tech or North Carolina State.

Use the media player above to hear the full interview from “The Metro” with Oakland University Men’s Basketball Coach Greg Kampe.

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