News From The Summit: Midconfans News 2/25/2006

TODAY'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAMES--The Detroit Free Press

Oakland at Chicago State

Matchup: Oakland University 11-16, 6-9 Mid-Continent Conference; Chicago State 8-18, 7-8.

Tip-off: 6 p.m. Dickens Athletic Center, Chicago.

Overview: The winner gets the sixth seed in next week's conference tournament. Oakland beat Chicago State, 89-76, last month. The Grizzlies have won two in a row, both on the road. Junior forward Vova Severovas, who has averaged 14.5 points and 6.6 rebounds since becoming eligible in December, is coming off a 25-point performance at Southern Utah.

Oakland turning it around at the line--The Oakland Press
By DUSTIN FRUCCI Special to The Oakland Press

ROCHESTER — For the Oakland University men’s basketball team, going to the free-throw line tonight in its regular-season finale at Chicago State could be the difference between a No. 5 seed or a No. 7 seed in the upcoming Mid-Continent Conference tournament.
In its last two road games (both wins), Oakland is a combined 55-for-65 from the free-throw line, while its opponents are just 18-for-28.
“We’ve started to use our athleticism and decided to not rely on jump shots so much,” OU head coach Greg Kampe said. “Some players are starting to pick up their play at the right time, and we’re putting ourselves in good position for the tournament.”
With a win against Chicago State, OU would move into the No. 6 seed for the conference tournament. The Golden Grizzlies could climb all the way up to the No. 5 seed with a win and a Southern Utah loss to league-leading IUPUI.
The Grizzlies’ success has been a reflection of their aggressiveness.
OU is 6-1 this season when it scores at least 20 points from the free-throw line. That includes an 89-76 win over Chicago State in January in which OU went to the free-throw line 24 more times than the Cougars.
Junior Vova Severovas and sophomore Brandon Cassise are taking advantage of the parade to the free-throw line. They are a combined 25-for-28 in the last two games.
Kampe said getting to the line is important for Severovas because he’s undersized in the middle at 6-feet-6, and for Cassise because it “gives any shooter confidence.”
“It’s not as easy to get those calls when you’re on the road,” Kampe said. “Even with the calls, our players have to knock down those (free-throw) shots. We weren’t able to do that through much of the year.”
OU has steadily improved its percentages at the free-throw line, but remains second-to-last in the Mid-Con at 68.5 percent.
“It’s the difference between winning and losing,” Kampe said after OU defeated Valparaiso in January. “When you’re last in the conference in free-throw shooting, you’re probably not winning very often.”
That was the case for much of the conference season, but the Grizzlies have turned around their free-throw woes and will look to use it to their advantage tonight against Chicago State.

Oakland men at Chicago State--The Oakland Press
— DUSTIN FRUCCI

When: 6 tonight
Where: Dickens Athletic Center, Chicago
Records: Oakland 11-16 (6-9 Mid-Con); Chicago State 8-18 (7-8)
Overview: OU is playing its regular-season fi nale and third straight road game. OU won the first two games of its road trip (at Centenary and Southern Utah). … The winner of tonight’s game will gain at least the No. 6 seed in the upcoming Mid-Con tournament. … OU beat Chicago State, 89-76, in January. In that game, all five OU starters reached double figures in points. … OU is 13-3 all-time against Chicago State. … The last time OU won three straight games to end the season was 2002-03.
Up next: Mid-Con tournament, March 4-7, Tulsa, Okla.

Oakland women at Chicago State--The Oakland Press
— DUSTIN FRUCCI

When: 3 p.m. today
Where: Dickens Athletic Center, Chicago
Records: Oakland 12-13 (8-6 Mid-Con); Chicago State 11-14 (6-8)
Overview: OU ha s won three of its last four and finishes the regular season with two games on the road. … OU defeated Chicago State, 72-43, in January. It was the largest margin of victory for OU in conference play. … Senior Jayme Wilson has led the team in scoring in the last three games and became just the sixth OU player to score 1,700 points in a career. … OU heads into the last two games of the season tied for fourth place in the Mid-Con with Oral Roberts. … OU is 13-3 all-time against CSU.
Up next: OU at Southern Utah, 9:05 p.m. Monday, Cedar City, Utah