March Madness has delivered its fair share of David versus Goliath stories, and this time Oakland University is the one dancing after slaying the Kentucky Wildcats giant. The No. 14 seeded Golden Grizzlies, unknown to some before this upset, are now turning heads and compelling Google users everywhere to figure out just where and what Oakland University is, as reported by the Detroit Free Press.
Tucked away in Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills, Michigan, the university is basking in the newfound attention. "They got thunder now, they got motion, we got momentum, don't lose it, stay hot," Jonathon Ashley, a junior at the university, told CBS News Detroit. The team's victory has propelled the school into an intense limelight, one that has caused a dramatic increase in online traffic to the university's website, which experienced a temporary crash due to the sheer volume of interest.
A noticeable spike in digital engagement was reported by Todd Nucci, Director of Marketing and Digital Web Services at Oakland University. According to WXYZ, Nucci said that immediately after Thursday's game, "You could see the whole map of the United States was lit up with that source of traffic." The sheer surge in curiosity crashed the university's website, with staggering increases to their "about" and "history" pages.
The impact on enrolment and the school's image might be significant. According to WXYZ, OU alumni Nick Lucido, who witnessed the historic win, said, "Now America's looking at us like, Oh, OK, they're not in California, they're in Rochester, Auburn Hills, Michigan — OK!" With the next game on the horizon, the entire Oakland community and fanbase are buzzing with anticipation and pride, turning their eyes toward the potential Sweet 16 berth. Steve Waterfield, the director of athletics, summed up the building momentum: "With 3.9 seconds to go, it was going to take a miracle for Kentucky to pull it out. You felt pretty good, but you never feel completely good till the buzzer rings and you're winning," he told CBS News Detroit.
One standout player, Jack Gohlke, was praised by fans for his performance. "I can't tell you how many times I stood out of my seat when Gohlke was hitting those threes," Jonathon Ashley recalled in a statement to CBS News Detroit. The Golden Grizzlies are set to take the court again at 7:10 p.m. on Saturday, facing North Carolina State in a game that could further catapult the team, and the university, into college basketball's elite narrative.
