Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 at 2 p.m. (MST)
M Basketball
2 p.m. (MST)
at Baylor
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, November 5
GCU Arena
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
vs
Arizona State (Exhibition)
Brad Carroll
'Lopes to Host Arizona State Today
11/5/2011 1:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
A sold-out crowd will be on hand for tonight’s Arizona State – Grand Canyon University basketball game. The game will be the first for the GCU men’s team in the new Grand Canyon University Arena.
GAME NOTES
MOVING ON UP: GCU is opening the 2011-12 season with three of their first four games coming against D-I opponents. GCU opened their exhibition season in Eugene against the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 2. After today’s game with ASU, the Antelopes wrap up their exhibition slate with a home game against San Diego Christian on Nov. 8. GCU will officially open their season when it plays at UNLV on Nov. 11. Last season, the Antelopes lost exhibition games at UNLV and Utah State. They lost their season opener on the road against Utah.
VS. ARIZONA STATE: This will be the third meeting between the schools. The Antelopes fell 80-68 on Jan. 22, 1980. The team's also played an exhibition game at Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 3, 2007, with ASU winning 80-53.
LAST TIME OUT: GCU dropped its opening exhibition game, 82-75, on Nov. 2 in Eugene, Ore. against the Oregon Ducks. The ‘Lopes held the lead through the first 17+ minutes and led by as many as nine in the first half. The two teams played to a 43-43 draw in the second half, with GCU out-rebounding the Ducks 28-18 in the second half. Jerome Garrison led GCU with 17 points, 15 of which came in the second half.
AT THE HELM: Russ Pennell is in his third season with GCU. He has a 30-28 record over his first two seasons, leading the ‘Lopes to a 14-12 record in 2010-11. It was the first winning campaign for the Antelopes since 2006-07. Pennell was the interim head coach at Arizona during the 2008-09 season, after Lute Olson retired, leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 and 21-14 record. He was an assistant coach for Rob Evans at Arizona State and Mississippi. Pennell began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State under Eddie Sutton. Pennell has an overall coaching record of 51-42 in three seasons.
THE NEW DIGS: This season marks the debut of Grand Canyon University Arena. GCU Arena is the latest in the campus’ continued growth and will seat 4,602 fans for basketball in a state-of-the-art venue that will also host musical performances, speaking engagements and conferences. Last October the University opened a brand-new 55,000 square foot Recreational Center that features three basketball courts and practice facilities for wrestling and volleyball. The “Rec Center” is decked out with impressive athletic training and strength and conditioning rooms for all GCU athletes.
LOOKING BACK: GCU went 14-12 last season, finishing fourth in the PacWest. The Antelopes jumped out to an 8-3 conference mark, before falling in five of their last six contests. GCU was second in the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to 68.1 points per game. They were third in PacWest 3-point percentage with a .369 average (155-for-420). The 155 3-point baskets made ranked third in the conference.
SPEED TRAP: Senior Kyle Speed finished the 2010-11 season leading the PacWest in assist/turnover ratio (3.37). He ranked fourth in the nation. Speed was second in the league in steals (1.3), fifth in assists (3.5) and 10th in 3-point field-goal percentage (38.0). He led GCU in scoring at 10.0 per game.
THE BIG “O”: Brad Carroll enters his junior season after averaging 9.2 points per game last year, third-best on the team. Carroll led the team with a .418 shooting percentage (38-for-91) behind the arc. Carroll was clutch from the line, sinking 46 of 51 shots attempted for a .902 average.
THE FROSH: Jerome Garrison and Justin Foreman opened their college careers with a bang in Eugene this past week, combining for 29 of the ‘Lopes 75 points. Garrison, from Mountain Pointe HS in Phoenix, led GCU with 17 points. He shot 6-for-11 from the floor. Foreman scored 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting and had five rebounds. He was 3-for-4 from behind the arc. Freshman Jake Zuilhof and redshirt freshman Micah Fetters also saw action in the game.
IT’S A FAMILY THING: Chris Johnson’s brother, Nick, plays for Sean Miller at the University of Arizona. The brothers both spent time at Highland High School in Gilbert. Micah Fetter’s father, Mike, was a long-time Major League Baseball player with the Angels, Brewers, A’s, Orioles, Dodgers, Pirates, D-backs and Twins. Mike is currently the Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President & GM with Arizona. Blake Davis’ father, Rick, works for KSAZ Fox 10 here in Phoenix. Brad Carroll’s father, Doug, has also worked in the media circles here in Phoenix and is currently working for the GCU communications office. Baret Robbins’ father, Tootie, played many seasons in the NFL.
ABOUT THE PACIFIC WEST CONFERENCE: The Pacific West Conference has 10 members representing the states of Arizona, California, Hawai’i and Utah. The conference sent three teams to the postseason last year. BYU-Hawai’i was the national runner-up, losing in the NCAA Division II Championship game to Bellarmine, 71-68. Dixie State downed conference-foe Chaminade in the first round of the West Region bracket, eventually losing to BYU-Hawai’i in the regional championship.
HOW CAN I FOLLOW? We will have many different options to follow the ‘Lopes this season. Keep checking here for the latest news. Fox Sports Arizona will be webcasting tonight’s game with Brad Steinke and Tom Kuyper calling the action. The game can be viewed by going to http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/pages/arizona_streaming. Cox Communications will be airing games on Nov. 25 and Dec. 16. All other action for the season can be viewed or heard by going to www.gculopes.com. GCU Alum, Michael Potter, will be handling the play-by-play for the games. Dan Nichols, GCU Assistant AD and basketball head coach at South Mountain CC, will join the broadcast this season as an analyst. Live stats are also available at www.gculopes.com.
RUSS PENNELL COACHES SHOW: Grand Canyon University and THE FAN AM 1060, recently announced that the “Russ Pennell Coaches Show” will air every Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. during the college basketball season. The show will be hosted by Mike Muraco and Dan Manuchi (Roc and Manuch) during their “Calling All Sports” program, weekdays from 3 - 6 p.m. For people outside of the Phoenix market, the show can be heard live at www.kdus.com.
STEP RIGHT UP AND GET YOUR TICKETS: Season and single game tickets are available for purchase at www.gcuarena.com, by phone at 602.639.8999 or the Grand Canyon University Arena Box Office located at 3300 W. Camelback Road in Phoenix.
A BIG THANKS TO THE MEDIA COVERING THE GAME: GCU issued over 60 credentials for this evening’s game, 40 of which went to members of the local media covering the game. GCU would like to thank all of the media for attending the game and please let us know how we can continue to assist you in the future. We look forward to seeing you back soon.
GAME NOTES
MOVING ON UP: GCU is opening the 2011-12 season with three of their first four games coming against D-I opponents. GCU opened their exhibition season in Eugene against the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 2. After today’s game with ASU, the Antelopes wrap up their exhibition slate with a home game against San Diego Christian on Nov. 8. GCU will officially open their season when it plays at UNLV on Nov. 11. Last season, the Antelopes lost exhibition games at UNLV and Utah State. They lost their season opener on the road against Utah.
VS. ARIZONA STATE: This will be the third meeting between the schools. The Antelopes fell 80-68 on Jan. 22, 1980. The team's also played an exhibition game at Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 3, 2007, with ASU winning 80-53.
LAST TIME OUT: GCU dropped its opening exhibition game, 82-75, on Nov. 2 in Eugene, Ore. against the Oregon Ducks. The ‘Lopes held the lead through the first 17+ minutes and led by as many as nine in the first half. The two teams played to a 43-43 draw in the second half, with GCU out-rebounding the Ducks 28-18 in the second half. Jerome Garrison led GCU with 17 points, 15 of which came in the second half.
AT THE HELM: Russ Pennell is in his third season with GCU. He has a 30-28 record over his first two seasons, leading the ‘Lopes to a 14-12 record in 2010-11. It was the first winning campaign for the Antelopes since 2006-07. Pennell was the interim head coach at Arizona during the 2008-09 season, after Lute Olson retired, leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 and 21-14 record. He was an assistant coach for Rob Evans at Arizona State and Mississippi. Pennell began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State under Eddie Sutton. Pennell has an overall coaching record of 51-42 in three seasons.
THE NEW DIGS: This season marks the debut of Grand Canyon University Arena. GCU Arena is the latest in the campus’ continued growth and will seat 4,602 fans for basketball in a state-of-the-art venue that will also host musical performances, speaking engagements and conferences. Last October the University opened a brand-new 55,000 square foot Recreational Center that features three basketball courts and practice facilities for wrestling and volleyball. The “Rec Center” is decked out with impressive athletic training and strength and conditioning rooms for all GCU athletes.
LOOKING BACK: GCU went 14-12 last season, finishing fourth in the PacWest. The Antelopes jumped out to an 8-3 conference mark, before falling in five of their last six contests. GCU was second in the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to 68.1 points per game. They were third in PacWest 3-point percentage with a .369 average (155-for-420). The 155 3-point baskets made ranked third in the conference.
SPEED TRAP: Senior Kyle Speed finished the 2010-11 season leading the PacWest in assist/turnover ratio (3.37). He ranked fourth in the nation. Speed was second in the league in steals (1.3), fifth in assists (3.5) and 10th in 3-point field-goal percentage (38.0). He led GCU in scoring at 10.0 per game.
THE BIG “O”: Brad Carroll enters his junior season after averaging 9.2 points per game last year, third-best on the team. Carroll led the team with a .418 shooting percentage (38-for-91) behind the arc. Carroll was clutch from the line, sinking 46 of 51 shots attempted for a .902 average.
THE FROSH: Jerome Garrison and Justin Foreman opened their college careers with a bang in Eugene this past week, combining for 29 of the ‘Lopes 75 points. Garrison, from Mountain Pointe HS in Phoenix, led GCU with 17 points. He shot 6-for-11 from the floor. Foreman scored 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting and had five rebounds. He was 3-for-4 from behind the arc. Freshman Jake Zuilhof and redshirt freshman Micah Fetters also saw action in the game.
IT’S A FAMILY THING: Chris Johnson’s brother, Nick, plays for Sean Miller at the University of Arizona. The brothers both spent time at Highland High School in Gilbert. Micah Fetter’s father, Mike, was a long-time Major League Baseball player with the Angels, Brewers, A’s, Orioles, Dodgers, Pirates, D-backs and Twins. Mike is currently the Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President & GM with Arizona. Blake Davis’ father, Rick, works for KSAZ Fox 10 here in Phoenix. Brad Carroll’s father, Doug, has also worked in the media circles here in Phoenix and is currently working for the GCU communications office. Baret Robbins’ father, Tootie, played many seasons in the NFL.
ABOUT THE PACIFIC WEST CONFERENCE: The Pacific West Conference has 10 members representing the states of Arizona, California, Hawai’i and Utah. The conference sent three teams to the postseason last year. BYU-Hawai’i was the national runner-up, losing in the NCAA Division II Championship game to Bellarmine, 71-68. Dixie State downed conference-foe Chaminade in the first round of the West Region bracket, eventually losing to BYU-Hawai’i in the regional championship.
HOW CAN I FOLLOW? We will have many different options to follow the ‘Lopes this season. Keep checking here for the latest news. Fox Sports Arizona will be webcasting tonight’s game with Brad Steinke and Tom Kuyper calling the action. The game can be viewed by going to http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/pages/arizona_streaming. Cox Communications will be airing games on Nov. 25 and Dec. 16. All other action for the season can be viewed or heard by going to www.gculopes.com. GCU Alum, Michael Potter, will be handling the play-by-play for the games. Dan Nichols, GCU Assistant AD and basketball head coach at South Mountain CC, will join the broadcast this season as an analyst. Live stats are also available at www.gculopes.com.
RUSS PENNELL COACHES SHOW: Grand Canyon University and THE FAN AM 1060, recently announced that the “Russ Pennell Coaches Show” will air every Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. during the college basketball season. The show will be hosted by Mike Muraco and Dan Manuchi (Roc and Manuch) during their “Calling All Sports” program, weekdays from 3 - 6 p.m. For people outside of the Phoenix market, the show can be heard live at www.kdus.com.
STEP RIGHT UP AND GET YOUR TICKETS: Season and single game tickets are available for purchase at www.gcuarena.com, by phone at 602.639.8999 or the Grand Canyon University Arena Box Office located at 3300 W. Camelback Road in Phoenix.
A BIG THANKS TO THE MEDIA COVERING THE GAME: GCU issued over 60 credentials for this evening’s game, 40 of which went to members of the local media covering the game. GCU would like to thank all of the media for attending the game and please let us know how we can continue to assist you in the future. We look forward to seeing you back soon.
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