ROCHESTER, Mich. – A retired Oakland University professor has become an honorary member of the men’s basketball team.
Dr. Barry Winkler was on the court with the players when they won the conference championship, and he’ll be in the stands on Saturday (March 23) as the team advances to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Winkler said his unfettered access to the team came easy.
After joining OU as a professor at the Eye Research Institute in 1971, he introduced himself to the coaching staff.
Winkler has a love for the game after playing basketball at Binghamton University in New York.
While at OU, Winkler remained a friend of the basketball program and became incredibly close with the team after retiring in 2021.
“I would say 95% of the time, I’m the only person in the gym unaffiliated with the team during the practice, and frankly, I kind of like that,” Winkler said.
For the first time this year, Winkler traveled with the team to an away game against the University of Dayton ahead of March Madness.
“Going was exciting,” Winkler said. “My first trip with the team reminded me of my own bus trips back in the day.”
After Thursday’s thrilling victory over the University of Kentucky Wildcats, Winkler called his grandson and son-in-law and booked a trip to Pittsburgh to watch the Golden Grizzlies advance to the round of 32.
OU will look to advance to the Sweet 16 when they face North Carolina State on Saturday at 7:10 p.m.
--> Jack Gohlke leads Oakland basketball to upset over Kentucky in near record-breaking performance