Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball

Grand Canyon Antelopes
2024–25 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team
UniversityGrand Canyon University
Head coachBryce Drew (5th season)
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
(Mountain West in 2026–27)
LocationPhoenix, Arizona
ArenaGlobal Credit Union Arena
(capacity: 7,000)
NicknameAntelopes
ColorsPurple, black, and white[1]
     
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament round of 32
1992*, 1993*, 1996*, 1997*, 2007*, 2024
NCAA tournament appearances
1992*, 1993*, 1994*, 1995*, 1996*, 1997*, 1998*, 2007*, 2012*, 2013*, 2021, 2023, 2024
*at Division II level
NAIA tournament champions
1975, 1978, 1988
Conference tournament champions
CCAA: 1994
WAC: 2021, 2023, 2024
Conference regular season champions
Pacific West: 2007
WAC: 2021, 2024

The Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team represents Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. They are a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). They are led by head coach Bryce Drew and play their home games at Global Credit Union Arena. They made the jump to NCAA Division I and joined the WAC on July 1, 2013.[2][3]

During their time as a member of the NAIA, they were national champions in 1975, 1978, and 1988. Since joining Division I in 2013–14, the Antelopes have appeared three times in the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 2024.

History

Grand Canyon College was founded in 1949. In their first year, they hired Howard Mansfield as coach of the Antelopes basketball team, the first sports team sponsored by the school.[4]

The Antelopes played in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) through the 1989–90 season before moving up to NCAA Division II for the 1990–91 season.[5]

In March 2013, former Phoenix Suns shooting guard Dan Majerle became the 13th men's basketball coach. Majerle oversaw GCU's transition into NCAA Division I basketball in the WAC.[6] The Antelopes began playing in Division I for the 2013–14 season, and became a full member eligible for postseason play in the 2017–2018 season.

In March 2020, Majerle was fired after seven seasons as head coach of GCU's men's basketball team.[7][8] In May 2020, Majerle sued the university for breach of contract, alleging that the university did not give reason to terminate him or make any severance payments.[9] The lawsuit was dismissed the following year with an unclear resolution.[10]

On March 17, 2020, Bryce Drew was named the new GCU men's basketball head coach.[11] Drew was previously the head coach of Valparaiso University. Immediately prior to arriving at GCU, he was head coach of the Vanderbilt University men's basketball team.[12]

Postseason

NCAA Division I tournament results

Grand Canyon has appeared in three NCAA Division I tournaments. Their combined record is 1–3.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
2021 #15 First Round #2 Iowa L 74–86
2023 #14 First Round #3 Gonzaga L 70–82
2024 #12 First Round
Second Round 		#5 Saint Mary's
#4 Alabama 		W 75–66
L 61–72

NCAA Division II tournament results

The Antelopes have appeared in ten NCAA Division II tournaments. Their combined record is 5–10.

Year Round Opponent Result
1992 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional 3rd-place game		 UC Riverside
Chico State		 L 61–74
W 88–87
1993 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional 3rd-place game		 Cal State Bakersfield
Chico State		 L 68–98
W 103–98
1994 Regional Quarterfinals San Francisco State L 79–84 OT
1995 Regional Quarterfinals UC Davis L 88–92 OT
1996 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals		 Alaska-Anchorage
Cal State Bakersfield		 W 105–96 OT
L 65–71
1997 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals		 UC Davis
Cal State Bakersfield		 W 78–66
L 70–80
1998 Regional Quarterfinals Cal State Los Angeles L 58–53
2007 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals		 Seattle Pacific
Humboldt State		 W 87–65
L 81–95
2012 Regional Quarterfinals Western Washington L 73–79
2013 Regional Quarterfinals Seattle Pacific L 59–85

NAIA tournament results

The Antelopes have appeared in 11 NAIA tournaments. Their combined record is 18–8 and they are three-time NAIA national champions (1975, 1978, 1988).

Bayard Forrest led the Antelopes to the 1975 national title.
Year Round Opponent Result
1962 First round Cal State Fullerton L 79–94
1973 First round Winona State L 64–70
1974 First round
Second Round		 Virginia State
Indiana (PA)		 W 67–65
L 65–66
1975 First round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		 Willamette
Illinois Wesleyan
Wisconsin-Parkside
Alcorn State
Midwestern State		 W 83–60
W 66–63
W 70–54
W 88–68
W 65–54
1976 First round
Second Round		 Central State (OH)
Newberry		 W 57–52
L 58–65
1978 First round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		 Cumberland
Hawaiʻi-Hilo
Central State (OH)
Texas A&M-Commerce
Nebraska-Kearney		 W 70–64
W 83–67
W 88–82 5OT
W 74–69
W 79–75
1979 First round Marymount (KS) L 74–79
1980 First round Clarion L 75–83
1988 First round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		 Hastings
Fort Hays State
College of Idaho
Waynesburg
Auburn-Montgomery		 W 103–75
W 101–95
W 99–96 OT
W 108–106
W 88–86 OT
1989 First round Western Montana L 65–79
1990 First round
Second Round		 Briar Cliff
South Carolina-Upstate		 W 72–66
L 69–75

CIT results

The Antelopes have appeared in three Division I CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) Tournaments. Their combined record is 2–3.

Year Round Opponent Result
2014 First Round Pacific L 67–69
2015 First Round Northern Arizona L 70–75
2016 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals		 South Carolina State
Jackson State
Coastal Carolina		 W 78–74
W 64–54
L 58–60

CBI results

The Antelopes have appeared in the Division I College Basketball Invitational (CBI) two times. Their combined record is 0–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2018 First Round Mercer L 73–78
2019 First Round West Virginia L 63–77

Record year-by-year

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Grand Canyon (Great Northwest Conference) (1949–1994)
1990–1991 Leighton McCrary 19–11[13] 5–3
1991–1992 Leighton McCrary 21–7[14] 7–3
1992–1993 Leighton McCrary 20–11[15] 7–5
1993–1994 Leighton McCrary 14–15[16] 6–6
Grand Canyon (California Collegiate Athletic Association) (1994–2004)
1994–1995 Leighton McCrary 17–11[17] 8–4 2nd of 7 NCAA first round
1995–1996 Leighton McCrary 23–6[18] 8–4 2nd of 7 NCAA second round
1996–1997 Leighton McCrary 23–6[19] 9–3 2nd of 7 NCAA second round
1997–1998 Leighton McCrary 17–10[20] 6–6 T–2nd of 7 NCAA first round
1998–1999 Leighton McCrary 16–11[21] 12–10 6th of 12
1999–2000 Leighton McCrary 15–14[22] 11–11[23][24] T–7th of 12
2000–2001 Leighton McCrary 9–17[25] 9–13[26] T–8th of 12
2001–2002 Leighton McCrary 10–17 8–14 9th of 12
2002–2003 Leighton McCrary 9–18 7–15 9th of 12
2003–2004 Leighton McCrary 3–24 2–20 12th of 12
Grand Canyon (Pacific West Conference) (2004–2013)
2004–2005 Scott Mossman 13–16
2005–2006 Scott Mossman 19–8
2006–2007 Scott Mossman 21–8 13–2[27] 1st of 7 NCAA second round
2007–2008 Scott Mossman 12–15 6–12[28] T–5th of 7
2008–2009 Dan Nichols 14–14 5–7[29] 5th of 7
2009–2010 Russ Pennell 16–16 10–6[30] 4th of 9
2010–2011 Russ Pennell 14–12 9–7[31] 4th of 9
2011–2012 Russ Pennell 19–8 13–5[32] 3rd of 10 NCAA first round
2012–2013 Russ Pennell 23–8 14–4 3rd of 14 NCAA first round
Grand Canyon (Western Athletic Conference) (2013–present)
2013–2014 Dan Majerle 15–15 [33] 10–6 3rd CIT first round
2014–2015 Dan Majerle 17–15 8–6 T–2nd CIT first round
2015–2016 Dan Majerle 27–7 11–3 2nd CIT Quarterfinals
2016–2017 Dan Majerle 22–9 11–3 T–2nd
2017–2018 Dan Majerle 22–12 9–5 3rd CBI First round
2018–2019 Dan Majerle 20–14 10–6 3rd CBI First round
2019–2020 Dan Majerle 13–17 8–8 T–5th
2020–2021 Bryce Drew 17–7 9–3 T–1st NCAA Division I Round of 64
2021–2022 Bryce Drew 23–8 13–5 T–4th
2022–2023 Bryce Drew 24–12 11–7 T–4th NCAA Division I Round of 64
2023–2024 Bryce Drew 30–5 17–3 1st NCAA Division I Round of 32
Total: 1,194–732 ?–??

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

* Ineligible for NCAA Tournament during transition to Division I from 2013–2017 seasons.

Antelopes in the NBA

Two former Grand Canyon players have played at least one game in the NBA.

Name Draft Year Draft Team
Bayard Forrest 1976 Seattle SuperSonics
Horacio Llamas 1996 Undrafted

References

  1. ^ "Grand Canyon University Athletic Brand Standards". September 20, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "Grand Canyon University to Join WAC". Denver, Colorado: Western Athletic Conference. November 27, 2012. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Grand Canyon University Accepts Invitation to Western Athletic Conference". Phoenix, Arizona: Grand Canyon University. November 27, 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Antelope Quint Improves". The Arizona Daily Star. 12 January 1951. p. 21.
  5. ^ "Grand Canyon Men's Basketball History". NCAA Statistics. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "Grand Canyon fires Dan Majerle after 7 seasons". USA TODAY. Associated Press. March 12, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  7. ^ Marshall, John (2020-03-12). "Grand Canyon University fires basketball coach Dan Majerle after 7 seasons". Fox 10 Phoenix (TV station). Associated Press. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  8. ^ "Grand Canyon University fires Dan Majerle as men's basketball coach". Phoenix Business Journal. March 13, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  9. ^ "Fired coach Majerle files suit vs. Grand Canyon". ESPN.com. 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  10. ^ Libit, Daniel; Novy-Williams, Eben (March 19, 2021). "GRAND CANYON'S FIRST NCAA TOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS ITS FOR-PROFIT PAST". Sportico. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  11. ^ "Bryce Drew named head coach". GCU Athletics. 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  12. ^ "Bryce Drew". GCU Athletics. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  13. ^ "Final 1991 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  14. ^ "Final 1992 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  15. ^ "Final 1993 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  16. ^ "Final 1994 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  17. ^ "Final 1995 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  18. ^ "Final 1996 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  19. ^ "Final 1997 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  20. ^ "Final 1998 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  21. ^ "Final 1999 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  22. ^ "Final 2000 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  23. ^ "All-Conference Men's Basketball Teams" (PDF). Static.psbin.com. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  24. ^ "California Collegiate Athletic Association-Sports". Archived from the original on June 1, 2000. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  25. ^ "Final 2001 Division II Men's Basketball Statistics Report" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  26. ^ "California Collegiate Athletic Association-Sports". 2001-04-24. Archived from the original on April 24, 2001. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  27. ^ "2006–07 Men's Basketball Standings – the PacWest". Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  28. ^ "2007–08 Men's Basketball Standings – the PacWest". Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  29. ^ "Men's Basketball – the PacWest". Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  30. ^ "Men's Basketball – the PacWest". Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  31. ^ "Pacific West Conference". Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  32. ^ "Pacific West Conference". Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  33. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20141031024414/http://www.wacsports.com/standings/Standings.dbml?SPID=4126&DB_OEM_ID=10100&DEF_FY=2013. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)