Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Notes on Grand Canyon
By Paul Jordan
The time is finally here! The 2014-15 Kentucky Wildcats basketball season tips off tonight at 8:00 PM at Rupp Arena against the Grand Canyon Antelopes. To help get you ready and to get familiar with the Antelopes, here are the official game notes from the UKAA.
GAME NOTES
VS. KENTUCKY
This marks the first meeting between GCU and Kentucky. The Wildcats were tabbed as preseason No. 1 according to both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ polls. Head coach John Calipari has guided the team to four NCAA tournament appearances in five seasons, including a national championship in 2011-12 and runner-up finish in 2013-14.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lopes defeated Western New Mexico 74-47 in front of 7,133 fans in an exhibition meeting on Nov. 6 at GCU Arena. In his GCU debut, Royce Woolridge led all scorers with 16 points, 13 of which came in the Lopes’ 50-point second half. Kerwin Smith (11), Ryan Majerle (10), and Daniel Alexander (10) also scored in double figures. GCU outrebounded the Mustangs, 49-26, and shot 44.9 percent from the field (22-for-49).
2013-14 (BRIEF) SEASON RECAP
In their inaugural season at the Division I level, the GCU men’s basketball team posted a 15-15 overall record, including a 10-6 mark in Western Athletic Conference play. Originally tabbed to finish last in the conference in the Preseason Media Poll, the Lopes claimed third place among the nine team field. GCU earned a bid to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, dropping a tightly contested 69-67 decision to the University of Pacific at Antelope Gym. The Lopes placed three players on the all-WAC team, led by Killian Larson on the First Team. Jerome Garrison picked up all-WAC Second Team and all-Defensive Team honors, while Daniel Alexander was an all-Newcomer Team honoree.
2014-15 WAC PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
The Antelopes were tabbed to finish second in the media poll and third in the coaches poll, as announced by the conference office on Oct. 15. New Mexico State was selected to finish first in both polls, receiving 23 of the possible 25 first-place votes. Jerome Garrison was named to the Preseason all-WAC First Team after averaging 16.5 points and 37.8 minutes per game last season. Daniel Alexander garnered Preseason all-WAC Second Team accolades after averaging 12.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in 2013-14. Daniel Mullings of New Mexico State was named the Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
LOPES FACING TOUGH SCHEDULE
Along with their matchup at preseason No. 1 Kentucky on Nov. 14, GCU will square off against another top-25 preseason team in Harvard (No. 25 in AP Poll) at GCU Arena on Dec. 30. The Lopes also have non-conference meetings versus New Mexico on Dec. 23 at GCU Arena and at Indiana on Dec. 13. The Lobos went 27-7 last season, advancing to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Mountain West Tournament Championship. Indiana went 17-15 last season and have been in the NCAA Tournament in two of the past three years.
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
#12 Daniel Alexander
SR • F • Austin, TX
PPG RPG BLK MIN
12.7 5.6 34 33.0
#21 Jerome Garrison
SR • G • Phoenix, AZ
PPG RPG BLK MPG
16.5 2.8 10 37.8
#5 Matt Jackson
FR • F • Diamond Valley, AUS
PPG RPG BLK MPG
— — — —
#50 Tobe Okafor
JR • C • Lagos, Nigeria
PPG RPG BLK MPG
— — — —
#22 Royce Woolridge
SR • G • Phoenix, AZ
PPG RPG BLK MPG
— — — —