Energy lapses targeted for change

Tuesday, December 3

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Mount St. Mary's

Tickets

12/2/2019 3:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

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Lopes want to re-establish effort vs. Mount St. Mary's

By: Paul Coro

Tuesday, Dec. 3 \| 7 p.m. \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	GRAND CANYON LOPES (3-6)	VS	MOUNT ST. MARY'S MOUNTAINEERS (3-5)

WATCH: FOX 10 Xtra, ESPN3, GCULopes.com \| LISTEN: 1580 The Fanatic \| STATS: View

Grand Canyon is undefeated in practices.

The Lopes often go through shell drills in practices with flawless execution on their defensive rotations.

But at the end of a practice day like Monday, GCU head coach Dan Majerle is not able to permit himself or the team to be pleased because the journey from the GCU Basketball Practice Facility to the neighboring GCU Arena has proved more difficult than the short walk suggests.

The Lopes are 3-6, and game video review hurts more than a gander at the record because the players know they need to bring more energy to their 7 p.m. Tuesday home game against Mount St. Mary's.

Majerle turned more of Monday's practice over to the team, forcing players to makes calls and corrections to each other. A more communicative practice ensued.

"It's only a good thing if we carry it over and then we can say we made some progress," GCU guard Isiah Brown said. "We're being challenged right now. We're going through adversity. We've got to respond. There has to be a sense of urgency from every single guy who hits the floor. You have to do whatever it takes – pretty, ugly, in between. We just have to get it done. There's nothing schematic or cosmetic. It's just got to be a little grittier, a little nastier, a little uglier. Whatever's necessary."

The Lopes staggered through November while Mount St. Mary's (3-5) shook off losses to the likes of Georgetown, Washington and Kentucky to put together a two-game winning streak in Maryland.

Majerle said GCU's change will have to start with defense. The Lopes are 3-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 70 points, following in line with an 85-17 (.833) record when doing so during Majerle's seven years.

"I decided to sit down and let them talk through it," Majerle said of practice. "They've got to get through it. That's the only way this thing is going to change. The effort we have (in games) is embarrassing. The transfer from here (on the practice court) to there (in GCU Arena) is nonexistent.

"Practices are for the coaches. That's when we work them and teach them. Game time should be for players. It's time to go out and play the way you've been practicing. That's their time."

High-energy defense will be in demand against Mount St. Mary's, a Northeast Conference team that plays with great effort and persistently tries to get into the paint. GCU was beaten by allowing 40 points in the paint in Saturday's 71-60 home loss to Purdue Fort Wayne.

The Mountaineers lean on driving scores because they have the 22nd-lowest 3-point percentage (26.6%) in the nation.

"I think we realize it's going to have to be us," Brown said. "We've been sitting around waiting for things to change. Nobody is going to turn the tide for us. Only the guys out there playing can do it. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and say we haven't been getting the job done. We've got to change that individually and then collectively for it to change the momentum so we can turn a corner."

Lope tracks

Junior center Alessandro Lever needs 28 points to reach the 1,000-point mark for his GCU career.
Lever is the only WAC player who is averaging at least 14 points while shooting at least 48%.
Lever scored at least 20 points in consecutive games last week for the first time since last December, the only time he did it in 2018-19.
GCU's previous opponents are 43-25 (.632) cumulatively this season.
Lopes freshman point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. remains fourth in the nation for minutes played (328).
Mount St. Mary's has held four of its eight opponents to less than 40% shooting this season.
Mount St. Mary's has reached the NCAA tournament five times, including 2014 and 2017.

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.