GCU's message begins with HPU

No, these guys aren't happy with what went on in Hawaii.

At least not on the basketball court. And in some cases, not off the court either.

But while the end of the finish line is in sight, there is still a race to run.

"Our goal is always to finish as best as possible," Grand Canyon first-year coach Dan Nichols said. "We always want to see what the reckoning is. That's my philosophy in life and basketball. As a man, I think men always want to see the ending."

The end is less than a month away, barring some unforseen major shakeups. But the start -- at least in terms of the journey the Antelopes are beginning now -- begins Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. against Hawai'i Pacific. It is a journey that the Lopes hope will lead them away from the preseason prognostications the league eyeballs had them pegged for. Right now, the Lopes are right where everyone thought they would be.

So there's a message to deliver, and it begins Wednesday.

GCU (10-11, 3-5 PacWest) began this current three-game losing funk at HPU (9-9, 3-5) last week. HPU is coming off a two-point win at Notre Dame de Namur, whom the Antelopes host in a pair of games Friday and Saturday nights.

"There is always a pride factor in a game like this," Nichols said. "Some of the guys are taking it as a challenge. They kicked our can pretty good."

HPU has been a team the past two years that, despite what anyone might say, can evoke problems on any team in the league on a given night. The Sea Warriors gave the Antelopes fits in back-to-back GCU wins in Antelope Gym last year before beating Grand Canyon in Hawaii.

With different dynamics in a helter-skelter season, the Lopes know this: they are better at home. GCU's 6-4 record in Antelope Gym offers validation. But consistency has been a problem. This week there are three opportunities to correct that.

"I think the possibility of finishing the season pretty strong is pretty good," Nichols said. "I think everybody's still enthusiastic. We feel like we want to re-establish ourselves."

The Antelopes may be doing it with as few as seven players, maybe nine. Nichols suspended Blake Moore and Brandon McGruder indefinitely, and has not decided their future as of yet. A few players were banged up in Hawaii. Now it becomes a numbers game.

"We ended up being the walk and wounded," Nichols said.

But a continual improvement on the part of Eric Cuen, a nice two-game lift from Shansan Chambers and the re-emergence of Brandon Dempster's perimeter game are glowing signs in a seemingly gloomy stretch.

"Eric Cuen was very consistent," Nichols said. "He showed a lot of energy. Shansan Chambers started to shoot the ball better. Maybe the only guy who can complain about not getting more shots is Dempster because he has a high percentage."

All of the individual accolades, or in some cases baggage, means nothing if this team doesn't find a way to stop the bleeding.

HPU may just be the tourniquet they're searching for.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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