2017–18 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team

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]

2017–18 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball
CBI, First round
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
2017–18 record22–12 (9–5 WAC)
Head coachDan Majerle (5th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Todd Lee
  • Chris Crevelone
  • T. J. Benson
Home arenaGCU Arena
2017–18 WAC men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
New Mexico State †12–2 .857  28–6  .824
Utah Valley10–4 .714  23–11  .676
Grand Canyon9–5 .643  22–12  .647
Seattle8–6 .571  20–14  .588
UT Rio Grande Valley6–8 .429  15–18  .455
Cal State Bakersfield5–9 .357  12–18  .400
UMKC5–9 .357  10–22  .313
Chicago State1–13 .071  3–29  .094
† 2018 WAC Tournament winner

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
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Darion Clark23F6'7"235RS SeniorConyers, GAGraduated
DeWayne Russell0G5'11"155RS SeniorPeoria, AZGraduated

Incoming transfers
NamePos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotePrevious 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:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   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: Scout: N/A   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: Scout: N/A   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 2015-09-15.

    Roster
    2017–18 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G -- Adrian Carrion Armas (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)173 lb (78 kg) SrCanarias Basketball Academy Seville, Spain
    G 0 Shaq Carr 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)172 lb (78 kg) SrCanyon Springs
    College of Southern Idaho    		 Las Vegas, NV
    G 1 Fiifi Aidoo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)200 lb (91 kg) SoHelsinki Basketball Academy Helsinki, Finland
    G 2 Joshua Braun 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS SrWestwind Prep Academy Anthem, AZ
    G 3 Parker Dale 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrScots College Sydney, Australia
    F 4 Oscar Frayer 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)191 lb (87 kg) SoMoreau Catholic Hayward, CA
    F 5 Matt Jackson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg) RS JrDiamond Valley Diamond Creek, Australia
    G 10 Damari Milstead 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)160 lb (73 kg) FrMoreau Catholic HS Hayward, CA
    G 11 Casey Benson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg) SrCorona del Sol HS
    Oregon    		 Tempe, AZ
    F 12 Roberts Blumbergs 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)220 lb (100 kg) FrGBA (Prague) Ventspils, Latvia
    G 13 Ibrahima Sankaré 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS FrSEED Academy Thiès, Senegal
    G 15 Cheick Sy-Savane 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg) SrOur Savior New American Harlem, NY
    F 21 Kerwin Smith 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)222 lb (101 kg) RS JrWoodrow Wilson Dallas, TX
    G 22 Nehemiah Allen (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)170 lb (77 kg) SoLake Oswego Lake Oswego, OR
    F 24 Keonta Vernon 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)242 lb (110 kg) SrTulare Union
    College of Southern Idaho    		 Tulare, CA
    F 25 Alessandro Lever 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)230 lb (104 kg) FrIstituto Secchi, Reggio Emilia Bolzano, Italy
    G 35 Kenzo Nudo 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)204 lb (93 kg) RS SoChaparral Scottsdale, AZ
    G 42 Gerard Martin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)223 lb (101 kg) RS JrAustralian 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 2018-05-22.
    2. "Chicago State men's basketball ends 40-game Division I skid and hopes to begin a climb upward". Medill Reports Chicago. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
    3. http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/gcu/2017/03/10/grand-canyon-mens-basketball-elects-not-play-any-postseason-tourney/99023392/
    4. Greif, Andrew. "Oregon Ducks guard Casey Benson is latest to depart program, announcing plans to graduate and transfer". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
    5. http://www.gculopes.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball
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