With 11 days before WAC semis, Grand Canyon now must wait
The Grand Canyon men’s basketball team got back on track with two home wins last week to complete its first 16-0 home record since the 1991-92 season.
The Antelopes (26-4, 16-3) know where they’re headed, unlike last year at this time when they appeared to be in a free fall in the WAC, facing desperation time. That team won two games in Utah, then four WAC Tournament games in Las Vegas to get to the NCAA Tournament.
Now, there is no desperation mode. Only waiting. Waiting to see who they’ll meet up with on March 15 in a 6 p.m. semifinal at Las Vegas’ Orleans Arena, where they’re already assured the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament based on the conference’s resume system that counts non-conference games. The top two seeds get double byes to the semifinals.
GCU only has one game this week, traveling to play California Baptist (1514, 8-10) on Saturday night at 6 that will be the Lancers’ Senior Night. Eight teams advance to the conference tournament. CBU entered the week in eighth place.
There still is a sense of urgency from the Lopes, who looked vulnerable two weeks ago when they lost two games in Texas: 77-74 at Tarleton State, which has won 10 straight games, and 79-73 at Abilene Christian, which could end up with the fifth seed.
“There’s pressure every game,” GCU coach Bryce Drew said. “We want to play our best every game if we can.”
The Lopes are using this week to heal up and stay sharp with brisk, intense practices.
Staying in shape for this last week of the regular season schedule
“The nice thing is guys can get a little healthier,” Drew said. “The bad thing is a rhythm standpoint. At least next week is a little bit shorter of a week. We’ll leave for Vegas in the middle of the week, so that will help.”
Guard Ray Harrison, who had 19 points and seven assists with no
turnovers in GCU’s 80-58 rout of Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, said he doesn’t see any complacency settle in over the next week.
“Work,” Harrison said about how they’re staying sharp. “We’ve been working in practice this week. We’ve ramped things up a little bit, just trying to stay in game shape.”
GCU is hopeful that the gap between games — the Lopes will play one game in a 13-day span — won’t cool off 6foot-7 senior wing Tyon Grant-Foster, who has been sensational the last two weeks. He had his best game in Saturday’s 80-58 rout of Stephen F. Austin on Senior Night. Scoring 21 of his 29 points in the first half, and making all 14 of his free throws, he also grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots.
In his past four games -- Grant-Foster -- who is averaging 19.4 points a game, has made 30 of 52 field goals. He’s averaging 23 points, his most efficient four-game span of the season.
“Tyon has been really good,” Drew said. “Last game I thought might have been his best game of the year.
Hopefully, he continues that.”
Getting Gabe McGlothan right
Forward Gabe McGlothan, who averages 13.9 points and 7.5 rebounds, has not had his best four-game stretch. He has made 11 of 34 shots in the past four games, hitting 4 of 18 3pointers. He had a combined seven points in the two wins last week.
Drew said that McGlothan has been banged up but feels he’ll be better at CBU with time to heal up.
“It’s good to give guys time to rest and get our feet back under us,” McGlothan said.
McGlothan doesn’t believe the gaps in game will hurt any flow and rhythm.
“The beautiful thing about Coach Drew is that he’s making sure we stay engaged immensely,” McGlothan said. “You don’t just relax.
“Last year, we went from a high-intensity moment in Utah to high-intensity games. It’s a little bit of a down week to recover our bodies, but stay mentally locked in on what’s ahead.”