Oakland's defense gets big boost with return of Isaiah Jones, Rocket Watts

Pittsburgh — Oakland will need everything it has got to beat Kentucky.

And the Golden Grizzlies are getting back some reinforcements for their NCAA Tournament opening game Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena.

Coach Greg Kampe told The News about five hours before tip-off that both senior guard Rocket Watts and sophomore forward Isaiah Jones are set to play. Both have missed time lately with rolled ankles. Jones missed all three Horizon League tournament games, and Watts missed all but three minutes of the last two.

Jones and Watts are big for Oakland's defense, which is the team's strength, and will have to be again against Kentucky, the No. 2-scoring team in the nation.

Both Jones and Watts have been practicing in recent days, though not at 100%.

Jones was asked what it take to keep him out of the game against Kentucky.

"I'd have to have my leg chopped off," Jones said, with a laugh at practice earlier this week, before Oakland left campus.

Kampe has said Oakland will have a chance Thursday, so long as Kentucky doesn't have its "A" offense. Kampe has put a target at 74 points or fewer for the Wildcats.

To hit that target, Oakland is expected to slow things way down on offense, and limit the possessions to 65, and 60 would be even better. The Golden Grizzlies also are likely to have to make a bunch of 3s — hello, seniors Blake Lampman and Jack Gohlke — because Kentucky's interior defense, with a forest of 7-footers, is tough. Jones can help there, too, given his ability to grab offensive rebounds, which often set up open 3-point shooters.

Watts, who was moved to a reserve role midway through this season, began his career at Michigan State with the hype of a shooter, a moniker he took with him when he transferred to Mississippi State. But he’s embraced and thrived in the zone defense of Kampe since he transferred to Oakland before last season.

This will be Watts’ second NCAA Tournament game, after playing for Michigan State in 2021. No other Oakland player has Division I NCAA Tournament experience, though Gohlke made the Elite Eight in Division II with Hillsdale.

This is Oakland's fourth trip to the Division I NCAA Tournament, and it has one win, a play-in game against another No. 16 seed in 2005. The Golden Grizzlies came close to upsetting Texas in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, which was Oakland's last trip to the Big Dance before winning the Horizon League this year.

Oakland (23-11) will look to become the 23rd No. 14 seed to beat a No. 3, and first since Abilene Christian beat Texas in 2021. Kentucky (23-9) is a 13½-point favorite.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984