Oakland men’s basketball head coach Greg Kampe is hanging out in Hutchinson, Kansas, this week, scouting the top players in the JUCO ranks.
But he’s keeping an eye on the NCAA Tournament, which is down to 16 teams, including Michigan State and Michigan, which play Sweet 16 games in Atlanta on Friday, against Ole Miss and Auburn, respectively.
We caught up with Kampe, who just finished his 41st season at Oakland, over the phone Wednesday afternoon for his take on what’s left of the bracket, which features all teams from the power-four conferences and no mid-majors.
Question: Let’s start with the South Region, which includes Michigan State and Michigan.
Kampe: The biggest statement I have here is Auburn gets the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and they’re looking at a Sweet 16 against the Big Ten tournament champions (Michigan), and the Big Ten (regular-season) champions (Michigan State). I’m not sure the No. 1 overall seed got anything special. I think they have the hardest route of anybody in the tournament, and I’m still hoping for that Michigan-Michigan State matchup. I think that’d be epic, with the winner going to the Final Four. Michigan lost twice (to Michigan State). Can they beat them? Twitter would blow up. I think it would be epic. I think it’d be awesome.
Q: What do you make of Michigan-Auburn?
Kampe: Michigan can beat anybody because of the uniqueness of their matchup, and in the NCAA Tournament, unique matchups win. Michigan was really good early because nobody had played against that. (Teams eventually) figured out ways to stop 7-foot on 7-foot pick-and-rolls. But when you’ve never seen it before, you don’t know. I think they have a chance, and because that guard (Tre Donaldson) is playing his ass off in the clutch. They’re a team that wins close games, and those are the teams that win in the NCAA Tournament.
Question: OK, how about Michigan State-Ole Miss?
Kampe: I think that’s a tough matchup for Michigan State. I think it’s tougher than they would’ve thought because Ole Miss is coached by a hell of a coach (Chris Beard) that’s a tournament winner (he took Texas Tech to the national championship game in 2019). He’s won everywhere he’s been, with toughness and defense. It’s like looking in a mirror for Michigan State. Ole Miss has a chip on their shoulder, and I think it’s a really hard matchup for Michigan State.
Question: So who wins the region?
Kampe: Michigan State.
Question: So it’s so hard of a matchup, that they eventually win?
Kampe: I just think they’re destined. (Tom Izzo is) too great of a coach to not get back there (to the Final Four).
Question: Let’s go to the West Region.
Kampe: I think Arkansas’ Cinderella run is over, and I think it’ll be Texas Tech vs. Florida, and Florida goes to the Final Four. Florida had their close call.
Question: You don’t think Arkansas head coach John Calipari makes amends for his loss to you guys in last year’s NCAA Tournament (when he was still at Kentucky)?
Kampe: If I could pick who I want to go, I would pick Arkansas. I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Question: Let’s go to the Midwest Region.
Kampe: I think Tennessee beats Kentucky, Houston bombs Purdue, and then Tennessee ekes out a winner over Houston to go to the Final Four.
Question: And finally, the East Region. Let me see who’s in that …
Kampe: It doesn’t matter. I think Duke’s the best team and they’re gonna win. I think Alabama probably finds a way to sneak into the Elite Eight, but I don’t think they make it to the Final Four.
Question: Finally, your good friend, Tom Izzo, made some headlines Tuesday when he griped about the transfer portal opening Monday, with the NCAA Tournament still going on. Your thoughts?
Kampe: They pushed it back a week. Now, I think with all the bitching this week, they’ll probably move it back again (next year). … It is what it is. You just deal with it. It’s the way of life now. If you’re lucky enough to be in the Sweet 16, then you should be happy waiting two weeks (to go shopping in the portal).
Question: Finally, it’s all power-conference teams in the Sweet 16. No mid-majors. The new reality of the NIL era?
Kampe: I don’t think that we can say that yet. I think if we’re in this spot again next year, we can say that. But each year is an entity of itself, and the NCAA Tournament is so much about matchups, and this year the matchups (favored) the big boys. Colorado State was a possession or two away, and Drake had a chance. There were chances, but no Cinderellas, that’s for sure. But I don’t want to say that yet. Let’s see another year.
