GCU hoops schedule includes game at Texas
Grand Canyon’s men’s basketball team opens the 2018-19 season at NCAA Tournament participant South Dakota State, will be part of the Wooden Legacy in California and has a trip to Texas.
Those are some of the highlights in the Antelopes’ second season being eligible for the NCAA Tournament.
South Dakota State has reached the NCAA Tournament each of the past three seasons.
“That’s going to be a tough place to play,” coach Dan Majerle said.
GCU will play at Texas on Dec. 15, six days after taking on Nevada - a Sweet 16 team last year - at Talking Stick Resort Arena as part of the Jerry Colangelo Classic presented by Citi.
The Antelopes open at home on Nov. 10 against Delaware State, followed by home games against Jacksonville on Nov. 12 and Arkansas State on Nov. 16.
The ESPN-televised Wooden Classic is Nov. 22, Nov. 23 and Nov. 25 in Fullerton, Calif. The games have yet to be determined but GCU is part of a group that also includes Miami, Seton Hall and Utah.
“We’re excited about our non-conference schedule,” Majerle said. “There are some really good teams.”
GCU’s first big home test should come Dec. 1 against Boise State.
After making it tough on Louisville at home and beating San Diego State at GCU Arena two years ago, it’s getting challenging for GCU to get big-name basketball schools to agree to visit GCU Arena, home of the growing Havocs, one of the country’s most passionate student sections.
“It’s not like we’re dodging anybody,” Majerle said.
Also on the schedule: the start of a home-and-home with Northern Iowa, with the Antelopes traveling to Northern Iowa this season and hosting UNI the next.
GCU went 22-11 last season, losing in the WAC tournament final to New Mexico State with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.