Oakland University coach Greg Kampe just turned 70, is the longest-tenured coach in Division I men’s basketball (41 seasons), has overseen his program go from Division II to Division I, and recorded an NCAA Tournament win over Kentucky in 2024.
But while it seems as if Kampe has achieved just about everything he can at a mid-major program, there is one yearned-for piece missing from his resume.
Kampe has always wanted a win over in-state rival Michigan State, and he and Oakland will get another chance at that elusive victory when the Golden Grizzlies play No. 9 Michigan State on Saturday afternoon in Detroit.
Oakland has lost all 23 of its all-time meetings against Michigan State, with one defeat being by a point in 2010, another by four points in 2013, and another in overtime in 2015.
Following an 82-77 win at Northern Kentucky on Wednesday, Kampe hinted that he believes his team can give the Spartans another competitive game in front of what will be a near-sellout crowd at Little Caesars Arena.
“My team is pretty good,” Kampe said with a wry smirk.
The game will feature the two coaches who have been at the helm of their programs the longest in the nation. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is second behind Kampe at 31 consecutive years coaching the same program.
“Oakland, we’ve never had an easy time with them,” Izzo said.
Oakland enters 6-6 overall, with three losses against Top-10 foes Michigan, Purdue and Houston, so there shouldn’t be much of an intimidation factor playing the ninth-ranked Spartans.
The Golden Grizzlies have a balanced scoring attack, with five players averaging double figures in points per game this season.
Point guard Brody Robinson, a transfer from UT-Arlington, leads the way at 16.3 ppg, followed by Isaac Garrett (15.2), Michael Houge (15.0), preseason Horizon League Player of the Year Tuburu Naivalurua (12.8), and Ziare Wells (10.1).
“If we can get to a point that we can win games because of our defense, we are going to have a helluva year, because we can really score,” Kampe said.
Michigan State (10-1), meanwhile, is coming off a 92-69 home win over Toledo on Tuesday, and the game against Oakland will be the Spartans’ last before an eight-day break over Christmas.
So far, Michigan State has been led by its core of four returning players from last year.
Senior forward Jaxon Kohler paces the team in scoring (14.0 ppg) and rebounds (10.1), while Jeremy Fears averages 11.5 ppg and 9.5 assists per game, Coen Carr is at 10.6 ppg, and Carson Cooper averages 10.1 points and 7.2 rebounds.
More than anything, Izzo said he wants his team to use the Oakland game and others before the New Year arrives to improve in advance of heavy conference play come January.
“That’s where this program is,” Izzo said. “I don’t need to win games. I need to win games and improve. And if you’re not improving in winning games, then eventually it’s going to catch up with you.”
