The WAC used to be dominated by the New Mexico State Aggies, but now there is a new sheriff in town, so to speak. Over the last five seasons the Grand Canyon Antelopes have dominated the league and are the team that makes the NCAA tournament seemingly every year. It is at the point where it is expected for Grand Canyon to win the league and make the tournament. That is what happened this year, the Antelopes finished second overall in the league but were able to win the league tournament and secure the 26th automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament out of the WAC.
Grand Canyon is making their fourth appearance in the Dance, and it is their third in a row and fourth in the last five years. The Antelopes were not as dominant this year as they have been in years past but with a 26-7 overall record and finishing 13-3 in WAC was still dominant. Grand Canyon head coach Bryce Drew is going to be a popular name for some jobs that are open. This may be his last ride in Phoenix with the Antelopes
Grand Canyon earned a 13 seed in this year’s tournament, which is one seed line lower than last season when they won their very first game in the tournament after beating Saint Mary’s. Grand Canyon may have the same fortune this year. They are not as good, but they are still a tough matchup for anyone they play. Here are some reasons why the Antelopes can win another game in the NCAA Tournament.
Big 4
When everything is going right for the Lopes, many would put their starting five up against anyone in the country, and they would have a reasonable shot at winning the game. Grand Canyon has a talented 7-man rotation, but it is the starting 5 and, honestly, the Big 4 that are going to be the main concern for everyone they play. The four guys all do different things that lead to winning and making the perfect team for the Antelopes.
Tyon Grant-Foster was the preseason player of the year but had a bad season by his standards. Grant-Foster averages 15 points per game but does it mostly from the free throw line. He is also the defensive ace for Grand Canyon. JaKobe Coles leads the Antelopes in scoring. He is an efficient scorer who can put up points without a lot of shots. Rayshon Harrison is in the middle of his worst year scoring the ball, but most of that is because he has not needed to score a ton of points. He is the best three-point shooter. Finally, Duke Brennan leads the team in rebounding and shoots over 60% from the floor. These 4 guys will be the ones who are going to be the main catalysts for a victory every night.
Steals and Blocks
Antelope basketball under coach Drew has been based on the ability of the defense to create turnovers and get in transition. There is no easier way to get out in transition than to be a team that gets a ton of steals and protects the rim. Grand Canyon is very good at both of those things and their defensive ace, Grant-Foster, is in the middle of all of that. Tyon Grant-Foster leads the team in steals 1.8 per game and leads the team in blocks with 1.6. Those numbers both contribute to steals numbers that are in the top 15 nationally and a block rate that is in the top 20 nationally. The Antelopes all block shots and they can all get steals. They use these to get the ball up the floor quickly and get baskets. Grand Canyon never stops with the pressure and when the game is on the line expect the pressure to pick up.
Fouls
Grand Canyon doesn’t shoot the ball well from deep, and as a result, they don’t shoot the ball very much from outside. They are a team that will get downhill and get to the rim better than anyone, and on top of that, they draw a ton of fouls. The Antelopes draw the 5th most fouls in the country. As a result, they spend a lot of time at the line where they can score points without the clock moving. The Antelopes take upwards of 26 free throws a night which is the 6th best number in the country. Grand Canyon has five guys, all the starters, who have taken over 100 free throws on the year. This is how the Antelopes make up for not being able to shoot the ball very well and it helps them extend games. You better have some depth if you play Grand Canyon.
The Antelopes present some unique challenges especially with their elite ability to get the line. Grand Canyon will put pressure on a defense when they can get out in transition after a steal or blocked shot, and their ability to continually keep pressure on an offense makes them a good candidate for an upset in round one.