GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Oakland Golden Grizzlies return to Rochester after a perfect 2-0 weekend in Wisconsin, securing their status as one of the Horizon League’s most dangerous teams. Following a gritty 73-60 win against Milwaukee on Thursday, Greg Kampe’s squad capped the trip with a commanding 88-63 victory over Green Bay on Sunday afternoon. Now sitting at 11-9 overall and 7-2 in conference play, the Grizzlies are showing the poise of a team hardened by a brutal nonconference schedule.
Frontcourt dominance: Naivalurua and Garrett shine
The story of the weekend was the massive bounce-back performance from Tuburu Naivalurua. After struggling with efficiency against Milwaukee — shooting just 2-for-9 from the field — Naivalurua looked like a completely different player against the Phoenix.
He exploded for a career-high 26 points on Sunday, shooting an efficient 9-for-15 from the floor and a lights-out 3-for-3 from 3-point range. This added spacing is a vital development for the Oakland offense. He added 10 rebounds to complete a double-double.
Naivalurua wasn’t the only force inside; Isaac Garrett also secured a double-double against Green Bay, tallying 17 points and 10 rebounds. Together, they led a frontcourt that outscored Green Bay 50-26 in the paint.
The Robinson engine and Wells’ efficiency
Senior guard Brody Robinson continues to be the primary engine of the Oakland offense, using his twitchy athleticism to create havoc in transition. While his scoring has cooled off since his 35-point explosion against Wright State, his ability to draw contact remains elite.
Against Milwaukee, Robinson recorded an extremely high free-throw rate of 2.00, shooting 14 free throws compared to just seven field-goal attempts. Despite shooting a mere 2-for-7 from the field and struggling with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio of four assists to seven turnovers in that contest, he relied on the charity stripe to finish with 17 points.
The backcourt also received a massive spark from Ziare Wells against Green Bay. Wells provided an impressive and energetic performance, finishing with near-perfect 6-for-7 shooting from the field. He balanced his scoring with three assists, three steals and only a single turnover, providing exactly the kind of efficient secondary playmaking Oakland needs.
Hardened by the fire
One of the most notable takeaways from this road trip is how relaxed and ready this team appears in tough situations. Even when games get hectic or they find themselves in a tussle, the Grizzlies finish comfortably.
This poise likely stems from Oakland’s incredibly tough nonconference schedule, which seems to have prepared them for the rigors of Horizon League play.
However, areas for improvement remain. Outside of Robinson and Brett White, the team still lacks a high-level, consistent shot-maker from deep. Three-point shooting remains heavily inconsistent, as seen in the horrific 25.0% mark against Milwaukee.
Against Green Bay, the team improved to an elite 40.0% from deep. While that 40.0% is a top-tier mark, it came on a relatively low volume of only 15 attempts, suggesting the team is still not entirely comfortable hunting those shots consistently.
Defensively, there are still concerns regarding rim protection. Despite Oakland having the more talented roster, Green Bay actually recorded nine blocks compared to Oakland’s three on Sunday.
Defensive intensity and the Green Bay struggle
Oakland’s defense was stifling against Green Bay, particularly against Michigan guard Stevie Elam. Elam was frequently rushed off his spots and forced into difficult looks, finishing a horrific 2-for-10 from the field.
The Phoenix simply had no reply for the Grizzlies’ pressure; only one player on the Green Bay roster, Ramel Bethea, managed to score more than 10 points.
While the Grizzlies were out-blocked, they made up for it with active hands, recording seven steals compared to Green Bay’s two. There were still moments of concern — specifically late closeouts in the second half that a better shooting team might have punished — but the result was never in doubt.
Oakland blew the Green Bay game open with a 51-point second half, following a wire-to-wire performance against Milwaukee where they led for 39:33 of the 40-minute contest.
Next up: Previewing the Jaguars
Oakland returns home to the O’Rena this Wednesday, Jan. 21, for a 7 p.m. matchup against IU Indy. The Jaguars enter the contest as one of the struggling programs in the Horizon League, currently sitting at the bottom of the standings with a 1-9 conference record and an overall mark of 5-16.
IU Indy enters the O’Rena following a difficult offensive showing against Detroit Mercy, where they struggled significantly with their shooting, particularly from beyond the arc.
Despite their record, the Grizzlies must remain focused on containing standout Kyler D’Augustino. D’Augustino has been a high-level force for the Jaguars, averaging 18.7 points, 3.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game while carrying a heavy offensive load with a usage rate of 24.4%.
He is coming off a stretch where he scored 20 or more points in four of his last five outings. D’Augustino is one of only two double-digit scorers for the Jaguars, alongside senior Jaxon Edwards. However, Oakland should also keep an eye on Finley Woodward, who is coming off a strong performance and stands 6-foot-7.
A key advantage for Oakland in this matchup will be in the paint. The Jaguars lack significant size, with their tallest players being Gabe Stewart (6-foot-9, though not a consistent rotation piece), Aiden Miller (6-foot-8) and Reece Hagy (6-foot-8).
Oakland’s bigs should match up well against this interior, though the Grizzlies must remain disciplined; despite their size limitations, the Jaguars managed to find productivity inside by scoring 42 points in the paint during their recent matchup against Detroit Mercy.
Both teams currently average an identical 3.4 blocks per game, setting the stage for a physical battle at the rim. Maintaining focus against a “trap” team like IU Indy is essential; Oakland cannot afford a letdown performance against a bottom-tier opponent if they want to maintain their current momentum near the top of the conference standings.