The top-ranked Houston Cougars face Greg Kampe and his Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Wednesday night. Oakland lost at then-No. 1 Purdue and at #7 Michigan in the opening week. That has to be the most difficult opening week of games in the nation! It won’t get easier for them at Fertitta Center.

Oakland took Purdue to the wire last Friday night, ultimately losing 77-87. I have been VERY impressed with the Golden Grizzlies so far. They have five players averaging double-digit points. Michigan blasted them 121-78 after hitting 19 threes, but they have everything it takes to pull a major upset.

I’m going to be honest: This game worries me. The Coogs have not seen a team playing zone defense as much as Oakland. Towson did not play one possession of zone. Oakland will play every possession in zone, other than on baseline out-of-bounds plays. It will be absolutely crucial for Houston to get paint touches. The corner three should be open if guys like Milos and Kingston can attack the gaps in their zones. If the Coogs struggle to make outside shots and settle for shooting after making side-to-side passes, Oakland is more than capable of pulling an upset.

I expect huge games from Emanuel and Milos, and I really like Chase McCarty in this one. He is an unbelievable corner three-point shooter, and there should be plenty of opportunities from there. The Coogs will win this one, but please do not underestimate Coach Kampe and his Golden Grizzlies.

I struggled to find a “Head of the Snake” for this one. I love their little point guard, Brody Robinson (#55), who is a local Houston kid. He is a playmaker. Isaac Garrett (#32) is fun to watch due to his patience and creativity in the paint. Tuburu “Buru” Naivalurua (#12) is a very strong forward who is a three-level scorer and uses his strength to bully guys in the post. He is the Horizon League “Preseason Player of the Year.” Ziare Wells (#2) has been terrific, leading the team in scoring and rebounding after the first two games. Wells is a pure mid-range, play-making guard. All four guys could be considered the head of the snake, and it will come down to whoever gets hot for them. When I can’t decide, I tend to lean toward the point guard, so for this one, I will go with the local kid, Brody Robinson.

Oakland Cheatsheet

Oakland Offense Notes

• The Golden Grizzlies run a dribble-drive/motion offense. They rarely have anyone standing still. They love to set “off-ball screens” to get guys open to shoot the mid-range jumper. They will try to get all the way to the basket for a layup if possible, and if stopped, they do a great job of finding the open man for the outside shot.
• Through two games against good competition, they are shooting 37% from the 3pt line (19/52). Their best outside shooting threats are #0 Nassim Mashhour (39%), #11 Brody Robinson (39%), and Brett White II (38%).
• #32 Isaac Garrett is fun to watch on offense. He has super sneaky athleticism and is a very creative finisher in the paint.

Golden Grizzlies Defense Notes

• Oakland tends to run a 1-3-1 and a 1-1-3 zone defense. Both of these look similar. When they are in their 1-3-1 defense, the corners will be wide open if the Coog guards attack the gaps in the zone and then look to kick to the corners. When they are in their 1-1-3 defense, I would get Milos, JoJo, or Cenac to the free-throw line and let them facilitate from there.
• They will occasionally throw in a 2-3 zone or a 3-2 zone, but prefer to run the zones previously mentioned.
• The Golden Grizzlies are a bit slow at times getting back in transition defense. The Coogs could steal a few easy baskets if they are to play with some tempo and run out on rebounds.
• The only time I saw Oakland play man-to-man defense was when they were defending the baseline out-of-bounds plays (BLOB Plays).
• They gave up 11 offensive rebounds to Purdue. Houston could have an opportunity for some Dagger 3s if they get second-chance opportunities.
• Oakland’s weak spot on defense is that they give up a lot of threes. Michigan hit 19 (!!) and Purdue hit 13—they are the worst among 355 DI teams in three-point buckets per game. Houston has made only 15 total in its first two games (296% in three-point FG percentage).

Oakland Personnel

(*Indicates who started their first game)

*#2 – Ziare Wells – 6’6″ – SR – Guard – (Monroe, Lenoir-Rhyne) – 18ppg, 9rpg.

• LEFTY; Really athletic/thin guard;
• Leads the team in points and rebounds;
• Loves to drive to rim going left;
• Unbelievably good at curling off of dribble hand-offs and off-ball screens to shoot a mid-range pull-up jumper;
• Capable of shooting the three, but would MUCH rather shoot the mid-range jumper; Has attempted 29 shots in two games and only four have been from 3pt.

*#32 – Isaac Garrett – 6’8″ – JR – Forward – (Snow College) – 15ppg, 3rpg.

• Big body forward; Super sneaky athletic;
• Outstanding/crafty finisher in the paint; Has an array of post-moves; Very patient;
• Can finish with either hand in the paint; Can shoot the hook, up-and-under, scoop shot…He’s super creative; Really good passer when double-teamed;
• Really nice exaggerated head fake to get the defender to jump and drive by;
• Can step out and shoot the three, but prefers to score in the paint; (1-2, 50%).

*#55 – Brody Robinson – 5’11” – SR – Guard – (Chattanooga, Garden City CC, UT-Arlington) – 11ppg, 2rpg, 4.5apg.

• One of the funnest players I’ve scouted;
• Head of the Snake by default;
• Small point guard; Skilled ball handler and GREAT passer;
• World Traveler! At his 4th college;
• Houston kid; Played at Houston Christian HS;
• Likes to push in transition offense;
• Loves to drive left to get in the paint; Shoots the ball high off the glass to prevent blocked shots;
• Can shoot the three from deep; Nice step-back jumper; 5-13 (39%).

*#12 – Tuburu “Buru” Naivalurua – 6’8 – 5th – Forward – (Garden City CC) – 15ppg, 6rpg.

• Preseason Horizon League Player of the Year;
• Big body forward; Strong;
• Decent three-point shooter; 4-12 (33%);
• Loves to run in transition;
• Nice little hook-shot in the paint; Solid finisher in the paint; Can shoot over either shoulder;

*#0 – Nassim Mashhour – 6’6″ – SO – Guard – 12ppg, 4rpg.

• Tall shooting guard;
• A little uncertain at times what he wants to do when he gets the ball and takes it off the bounce; He starts his drive and doesn’t really go anywhere, then picks it up and looks to pass;
• Played with MUCH more confidence against Purdue;
• Can really shoot the three; 5-13 (39%);
• Capable of scoring in the paint, but typically passes when he drives;

#10 – Brett White II – 6’6″ – 5th – Guard – (Kellog CC, Rochester Christian) – 6ppg, 3rpg.

• Long back-up shooting guard;
• Looking to come in and immediately knock down a three-pointer; Has nine shot attempts and eight have been from beyond the arc; 3-8 (38%);
• Nice dribble pull-up jumper.

#21 – Khoi Thurmon – 6’1″ – JR – Guard – (Purdue Ft Wayne, Panola College) – 2ppg, 1rpg.

• Small back-up point guard;
• Wants to get to the rim if possible, but will settle for a floater if he can’t get all the way to the basket;
• Has not attempted a shot outside of the paint this season;

#11 – Nate Deer – 6’10” – SR – Forward – (Howard College, Texas State) – 0ppg, 1rpg.

• Big body forward off the bench;
• Doesn’t play much. But when he does, he’s primarily a screen-setter and rebounder.

#6 – Michael Houge – 6’7″ – 5th – Forward – (Mars Hill, Walters State CC, St. Peter’s, Jacksonville State) – 9ppg, 7rpg @ JSU Last Season.

• Replaces Kansas LEGEND AJ Storr as the leading world traveler at his 5TH COLLEGE;
• Hasn’t dressed out this year, as he is dealing with a high ankle sprain;
• Big/athletic forward;
• Horrible outside shooter (6-39, 15% 3pt) last year at JSU.

#13 – Warren Marshall IV – 6’6″ – RS FR – Guard

• Has not played this year due to a heel injury;
• Coach Kampe said on Twitter that they will be much improved when Houge and Marshall return from their injuries,
• Played in three games last year, before redshirting due to injury; Had zero stats during those games;

Keys to Victory

1. Guards must attack gaps in their zones. If the Coogs settle for side-to-side passes and a quick outside shot, Oakland can pull the upset. Houston needs to get a foot in the paint (looking to score!) and if nothing is there, kick out to an open shooter.
2. Defend without fouling. Houston will need guys like Emanuel on the court. He missed most of the first half against Towson with two early fouls. They will need his shooting ability on Wednesday night.
3. Second chances/Dagger three’s. The Coogs need to crash the boards on the offensive end. Oakland is not super athletic, so they may have an opportunity for second-chance three-pointers, aka “Dagger 3s”.
4. Run in transition. Oakland is slow at times getting back on defense. The Coogs could create some easy opportunities if they push the ball ahead on rebounds/steals and hit their spots for early offense.
5. Protect your house. No one comes to the Fertitta Center and wins! Since the 2020-2021 season, the Houston Cougars are ONLY 82-4 at home (that’s insane to say out loud). Oakland is a respectable program with an elite coach. But the Coogs are still the Coogs, and Coach Sampson is still the GOAT. They can’t look past Oakland to think about the revenge game next week against Auburn. Houston must take care of business at home and defend their house!