2016–17 Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team

Would-be senior point guard Kay Felder forwent his college eligibility and entered the 2016 NBA Draft.[2] He was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Hawks, who traded him to the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers for cash considerations.

Associate head coach Saddi Washington left Oakland to become an assistant coach for the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team[3] while assistant coach Dionne Phelps left to return to Arizona to be with his family.[4] Washington and Phelps were replaced by Dan Hipsher and Cornell Mann.[4]

The Golden Grizzlies received a commitment from junior college point guard Stevie Clark.[5] Clark transferred from Arkansas Baptist College where he played a season after being dismissed from Oklahoma State after his 2013–14 freshman year. Clark was previously a four-star recruit and was ranked the No. 68 high school senior in 2013.[6]

Oakland also received a commitment from 22-year old, United States Army veteran Isaiah Brock. Kampe recruited Brock on an overseas coaching trip. He thought Brock was athletic, but did not have a lot of basketball experience and probably would not receive much playing time.[7] However, he thought the team could benefit from having Brock on it.[8] Kampe offered Brock a scholarship when his service contract was over. Initially the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ruled Brock academically ineligible, but after the story made national news, the NCAA reconsidered and Brock was granted immediate eligibility.[9]

Former Illinois guard Kendrick Nunn transferred to Oakland after he was removed from the team after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge. Nunn will sit out the 2016–17 season due to NCAA transfer rules and has one year of eligibility remaining for 2017–18. Nunn was named to the All-Big Ten Conference freshman team and averaged 10.6 points per game in his career at Illinois.[10]

Guards Chris Gilbert and Alek Frascone both suffered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and will miss the season.[11]

Second half against the Detroit Titans at Calihan Hall

Oakland finished in fourth place in the 2016 Great Alaska Shootout.[12] They lost their first game to Nevada and defeated Alaska Anchorage in the consolation bracket and UC Davis in the fourth place game. Junior guard Martez Walker was named to the all-tournament team.[13]

After their win over Robert Morris, the Golden Grizzlies improved to 9–1, their best start in Division I history.[14] The best start in school history is 10–1 during the 1994–95 season.[15]

During a three-game, four-day stretch in December, Oakland lost at home to Northeastern on a buzzer beater[16] and at Michigan State in back-to-back days. Two days later, then defeated Georgia at home 86–79,[17] in the then-fifth-highest attended game in Athletics Center O'rena history.[18] With the win over Georgia, a member of the Southeastern Conference, Oakland is 4–2 all-time against Power Five conference schools at home.[17]

In a low-scoring game against UIC, Oakland blocked a school and Horizon League record 18 shots, including one on the final possession to ensure a 58–57 win.[19] The previous school record was 14 blocks, against Duquesne during the 2007–08 season.[20] With the win, Oakland moved to 14–3 (4–0 in the Horizon League) and received a point in the Coaches Poll.[21] They then lost four of the next five games and did not receive votes in any remaining polls.

Oakland set the all-time O'rena attendance record with 4,123 in a 93–88 upset loss against Detroit.[22] The loss was OU's first conference loss of the season.

The following table lists Oakland's roster as of November 4, 2016.

2016–17 Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown C 13 Brad Brechting 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 217 lb (98 kg) So Cedar Springs H.S. Cedar Springs, Michigan F 10 Isaiah Brock 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 191 lb (87 kg) Fr Forest Park H.S. Baltimore, Maryland G 5 Stevie Clark 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 181 lb (82 kg) Jr Oklahoma State Oklahoma City, Oklahoma F 32 Tom Cotter 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 232 lb (105 kg) Jr Wayne State Williamston, Michigan G 21 Jaevin Cumberland 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 179 lb (81 kg) So Wilmington H.S. Wilmington, Ohio G 2 Nick Daniels 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) RS Jr John Glenn H.S. Westland, Michigan G 30 Sherron Dorsey-Walker 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 211 lb (96 kg) RS Sr Iowa State Detroit, Michigan F 53 James Edwards, Jr.  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 184 lb (83 kg) Fr Franklin H.S. Seattle, Washington G 22 Alek Frascone  (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 212 lb (96 kg) Jr Utica Eisenhower H.S. Washington Township, Michigan G 0 Chris Gilbert  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 181 lb (82 kg) Fr Fenton H.S. Fenton, Michigan F 4 Jalen Hayes 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 213 lb (97 kg) RS Jr Sexton H.S. Lansing, Michigan F 14 Xavier Hill-Mais 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 248 lb (112 kg) So Page H.S. Greensboro, North Carolina G 11 Brailen Neely (W) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 154 lb (70 kg) Fr Western H.S. Detroit, Michigan G 1 Kendrick Nunn  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 184 lb (83 kg) Jr Illinois Chicago, Illinois G/F 15 Chris Palombizio 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 212 lb (96 kg) Fr Don Bosco Prep Chesterton, Indiana G 35 Martez Walker 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS Jr Texas Detroit, Michigan	Head coach Greg Kampe Assistant coach(es) Dan Hipsher Cornell Mann Drew Valentine Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: October 5, 2016

The following is Oakland's schedule.[30] OU defeated Grand Valley State University in a November 7 exhibition game 98–68.[31]

• Official site
• Team statistics