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2017–18 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team

2017–18 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball
CBI, First round
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
Record22–12 (9–5 WAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Todd Lee
  • Chris Crevelone
  • T. J. Benson
Home arenaGCU Arena
Seasons
2017–18 WAC men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
New Mexico State † 12 – 2   .857 28 – 6   .824
Utah Valley 10 – 4   .714 23 – 11   .676
Grand Canyon 9 – 5   .643 22 – 12   .647
Seattle 8 – 6   .571 20 – 14   .588
Texas–Rio Grande Valley 6 – 8   .429 15 – 18   .455
Cal State Bakersfield 5 – 9   .357 12 – 18   .400
UMKC 5 – 9   .357 10 – 22   .313
Chicago State 1 – 13   .071 3 – 29   .094
† 2018 WAC tournament winner

The 2017–18 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team represented Grand Canyon University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Dan Majerle in his fifth season at Grand Canyon. The Antelopes played their home games at the GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona as members of the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 22–12, 9–5 in WAC play to finish in third place. They defeated UMKC and Utah Valley to advance to the championship game of the WAC tournament where they lost to New Mexico.[1] They were invited to the College Basketball Invitational where they lost in the first round to Mercer.[2]

The season marked the Antelopes' first full season as a Division I school after a four-year transition period from Division II to Division I. This means the team was officially eligible for the NCAA tournament if they had qualified, as well as becoming fully eligible for the WAC tournament.

Previous season

The Antelopes finished the 2016–17 season 22–9, 11–3 in WAC play to finish in a tie for second place. Citing injuries, they decided to not participate in a postseason tournament.[3] They had participated in the CIT the previous three seasons.

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Darion Clark 23 F 6'7" 235 RS Senior Conyers, GA Graduated
DeWayne Russell 0 G 5'11" 155 RS Senior Peoria, AZ Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Note Previous School
Casey Benson G 6'3" 185 Jr. Tempe, AZ Graduate transfer from Oregon. Immediately eligible with one year eligibility.[4] Oregon

Incoming recruits

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Damarion Milstead
PG 		Hayward, CA Moreau Catholic High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Mar 1, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 79
Roberts Blumbergs
PF 		Latvia Get Better Academy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 209 lb (95 kg) Jun 26, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Alessandro Lever
PF 		Bolzano, Italy Istituto Secchi 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 209 lb (95 kg) Mar 14, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.

Roster

2017–18 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G -- Adrian Carrion Armas (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 173 lb (78 kg) Sr Canarias Basketball Academy Seville, Spain
G 0 Shaq Carr 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 172 lb (78 kg) Sr Canyon Springs
College of Southern Idaho 		Las Vegas, NV
G 1 Fiifi Aidoo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Helsinki Basketball Academy Helsinki, Finland
G 2 Joshua Braun 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Sr Westwind Prep Academy Anthem, AZ
G 3 Parker Dale 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Scots College Sydney, Australia
F 4 Oscar Frayer 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 191 lb (87 kg) So Moreau Catholic Hayward, CA
F 5 Matt Jackson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Jr Diamond Valley Diamond Creek, Australia
G 10 Damari Milstead 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Fr Moreau Catholic HS Hayward, CA
G 11 Casey Benson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Corona del Sol HS
Oregon 		Tempe, AZ
F 12 Roberts Blumbergs 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr GBA (Prague) Ventspils, Latvia
G 13 Ibrahima Sankaré 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Fr SEED Academy Thiès, Senegal
G 15 Cheick Sy-Savane 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr Our Savior New American Harlem, NY
F 21 Kerwin Smith 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 222 lb (101 kg) RS Jr Woodrow Wilson Dallas, TX
G 22 Nehemiah Allen (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Lake Oswego Lake Oswego, OR
F 24 Keonta Vernon 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 242 lb (110 kg) Sr Tulare Union
College of Southern Idaho 		Tulare, CA
F 25 Alessandro Lever 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr Istituto Secchi, Reggio Emilia Bolzano, Italy
G 35 Kenzo Nudo 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 204 lb (93 kg) RS So Chaparral Scottsdale, AZ
G 42 Gerard Martin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 223 lb (101 kg) RS Jr Australian Institute of Sport Manly, Australia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Oct 22, 2017*
5:00 pm 		at Nevada
Charity exhibition benefiting North Bay Fire Relief 		L 72–81 
 15 – Frayer   7 – Blumbergs   3 – Martin  Lawlor Events Center (3,072)
Reno, NV
Nov 2, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		St. Francis (IL) W 89–49 
 17 – Lever   8 – Smith   9 – Benson  GCU Arena (7,118)
Phoenix, AZ
Regular season
Nov 10, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Florida A&M W 67–51  1–0
  11 – Aidoo/Braun   9 – Vernon   4 – Benson/Braun  GCU Arena (7,202)
Phoenix, AZ
Nov 13, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Robert Morris
Grand Canyon Classic 		W 75–61  2–0
  20 – Braun   9 – Frayer   5 – Benson  GCU Arena (6,833)
Phoenix, AZ
Nov 18, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Little Rock
Grand Canyon Classic 		W 76–51  3–0
  29 – Braun   6 – Frayer/Vernon   3 – 5 players tied  GCU Arena (7,394)
Phoenix, AZ
Nov 20, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Norfolk State
Grand Canyon Classic 		W 75–60  4–0
  19 – Frayer   8 – Blumbergs/Vernon   8 – Benson  GCU Arena (6,889)
Phoenix, AZ
Nov 25, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		San Diego
Grand Canyon Classic 		L 62–75  4–1
  20 – Braun   10 – Benson   6 – Benson  GCU Arena (7,391)
Phoenix, AZ
Dec 2, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		UC Riverside W 68–56  5–1
  14 – Blumbergs   7 – Blumbergs/Braun/Vernon   7 – Benson  GCU Arena (6,844)
Phoenix, AZ
Dec 5, 2017*
9:30 pm, ESPNU 		vs. St. John's
Valley of the Sun Showcase 		L 60–68  5–2
  18 – Benson   15 – Vernon   3 – Aidoo  Talking Stick Resort Arena (8,907)
Phoenix, AZ
Dec 9, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Grambling State W 87–53  6–2
  19 – Vernon   6 – Martin/Vernon   8 – Benson  GCU Arena (6,829)
Phoenix, AZ
Dec 11, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		North Carolina Central W 64–59  7–2
  20 – Braun   7 – Braun   7 – Benson  GCU Arena (6,276)
Phoenix, AZ
Dec 13, 2017*
7:00 pm 		at Boise State L 80–85 2OT 7–3
  16 – Benson   12 – Vernon   5 – Carr  Taco Bell Arena (4,628)
Boise, ID
Dec 18, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Mississippi Valley State W 71–38  8–3
  16 – Braun   6 – Braun/Lever   6 – Benson  GCU Arena (6,464)
Phoenix, AZ
Dec 21, 2017*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Longwood W 86–56  9–3
  14 – Aidoo   10 – Lever   5 – Benson/Carr  GCU Arena (7,006)
Phoenix, AZ
Dec 23, 2017*
11:00 am, ACCN Extra 		at Louisville L 56–74  9–4
  14 – Frayer   9 – Vernon   7 – Benson  KFC Yum! Center (16,841)
Louisville, KY
Dec 27, 2017*
6:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		vs. Morgan State
Las Vegas Showcase 		W 100–74  10–4
  18 – Braun   9 – Lever   6 – Carr  Orleans Arena (1,544)
Paradise, NV
Dec 30, 2017*
2:00 pm, BTN+ 		at Illinois L 58–62  10–5
  14 – Vernon   5 – Braun/Lever/Vernon   3 – Braun/Carr  State Farm Center (13762)
Champaign, IL
Jan 6, 2018
8:00 pm 		at Seattle W 73–57  11–5
(1–0) 		 18 – Frayer   7 – Frayer/Martin   3 – Carr/Vernon  KeyArena (2,156)
Seattle, WA
Jan 11, 2018
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		New Mexico State L 59–70  11–6
(1–1) 		 15 – Braun   12 – Vernon   2 – 5 players tied  GCU Arena (7,521)
Phoenix, AZ
Jan 13, 2018
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Texas–Rio Grande Valley W 84–71  12–6
(2–1) 		 25 – Blumbergs   15 – Vernon   3 – Braun/Carr  GCU Arena (7,222)
Phoenix, AZ
Jan 18, 2018
6:00 pm 		at Chicago State W 86–58  13–6
(3–1) 		 28 – Lever   8 – Lever   6 – Benson  Jones Convocation Center (463)
Chicago, IL
Jan 20, 2018
6:00 pm 		at UMKC W 86–69  14–6
(4–1) 		 24 – Lever   10 – Lever   9 – Benson  Municipal Auditorium (1,440)
Kansas City, MO
Jan 23, 2018*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		William Jessup W 96–80  15–6
  25 – Lever   8 – Blumbergs/Vernon   10 – Benson  GCU Arena (6,952)
Phoenix, AZ
Jan 27, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Utah Valley L 56–68  15–7
(4–2) 		 22 – Lever   9 – Frayer   5 – Benson  UCCU Center (4,881)
Orem, UT
Feb 1, 2018
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		UMKC W 79–62  16–7
(5–2) 		 18 – Vernon   13 – Frayer   4 – Benson/Martin  GCU Arena (7,005)
Phoenix, AZ
Feb 3, 2018
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Chicago State W 89–55  17–7
(6–2) 		 14 – Braun   8 – Vernon   6 – Benson  GCU Arena (7,244)
Phoenix, AZ
Feb 8, 2018
7:00 pm 		at Texas–Rio Grande Valley L 81–83  17–8
(6–3) 		 22 – Lever   10 – Benson   6 – Benson  UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,038)
Edinburg, TX
Feb 10, 2018
6:00 pm, ESPN3 		at New Mexico State L 70–74  17–9
(6–4) 		 23 – Frayer   10 – Frayer   3 – Benson/Blumbergs/Vernon  Pan American Center (12,989)
Las Cruces, NM
Feb 17, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Cal State Bakersfield L 58–71  17–10
(6–5) 		 11 – Frayer   6 – Lever   2 – Lever/Milstead  Icardo Center (3,002)
Bakersfield, CA
Feb 22, 2018
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Seattle W 76–64  18–10
(7–5) 		 30 – Lever   10 – Lever   5 – Benson  GCU Arena (6,925)
Phoenix, AZ
Feb 24, 2018
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Utah Valley W 60–59  19–10
(8–5) 		 16 – Frayer/Lever   8 – Jackson   5 – Jackson  GCU Arena (7,179)
Phoenix, AZ
Mar 3, 2018
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Cal State Bakersfield W 81–62  20–10
(9–5) 		 23 – Lever   9 – Vernon   5 – Vernon  GCU Arena (7,372)
Phoenix, AZ
WAC tournament
Mar 8, 2018
1:00 pm, ESPN3 		(3) vs. (6) UMKC
Quarterfinals 		W 77–74  21–10
  29 – Lever   15 – Frayer   3 – Martin/Milstead  Orleans Arena (1,508)
Paradise, NV
Mar 9, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		(3) vs. (2) Utah Valley
Semifinals 		W 75–60  22–10
  15 – Tied   8 – Tied   5 – Frayer  Orleans Arena (2,739)
Paradise, NV
Mar 10, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPNU 		(3) vs. (1) New Mexico State
Championship game 		L 58–72  22–11
  20 – Lever   8 – Vernon   4 – Vernon  Orleans Arena (3,065)
Paradise, NV
CBI
Mar 14, 2018*
7:00 pm, YurView/ESPN3 		Mercer
First round 		L 73–78  22–12
  20 – Vernon   8 – Benson   7 – Benson  GCU Arena (5,941)
Phoenix, AZ
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Mountain Time.

Source[5]

References

  1. ^ "New Mexico State beats Grand Canyon in WAC final to advance to NCAA Tournament". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  2. ^ "Chicago State men's basketball ends 40-game Division I skid and hopes to begin a climb upward". Medill Reports Chicago. March 5, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  3. ^ "Grand Canyon men's basketball elects to not play in any postseason tourney".
  4. ^ Greif, Andrew (April 13, 2017). "Oregon Ducks guard Casey Benson is latest to depart program, announcing plans to graduate and transfer". OregonLive.com. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  5. ^ "2021-22 Men's Basketball Schedule".
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