Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UNLV on February 7, 2026 , Loss , 78, to, 80
M Basketball
at UNLV
L 78-80
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Drew takes new leaders into same goals
10/21/2021 5:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Blacksher, McGlothan join coach to talk GCU at WAC media day
In a conference that improved, Grand Canyon has to find to do that as well.
Defending WAC champion is a title to last the year, but it will not win the next one unless the Lopes progress along with the expanded conference. With other teams sporting heavy returns, GCU has known since the summer that it will have to find much of its improvement from within.
The Lopes bolstered the roster with four Power 5 transfers, but GCU second-year head coach Bryce Drew was joined by point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. and power forward Gabe McGlothan for a WAC media day because the returning duo is a key to continuing the program's ascension.
"They're very competitive," Drew said on the WAC Basketball Preview. "When the ball goes up, they both want to win. I've been really proud. They've both gotten better. From last year at this point to where they are now isn't even close as players. That's a great compliment to their work ethic and their ability to want to get better and want our team to be better."
The retooled Lopes will take the GCU Arena court for the first time in an Oct. 30 exhibition before the Nov. 9 opener against Grambling. It already has been seven months since GCU made its first NCAA Division I tournament appearance, but the page flipped quickly.
Once the season was over, Drew met with his lone returning starter, Blacksher, about where to go after his second season ended with All-WAC second-team and WAC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
"Mindset change," Blacksher said. "I talked to Coach after the season and just got into a different mindset. I started working every day and taking care of my body, just the important things to get where I want to go."
McGlothan has spent each of his two years at GCU in a grind, whether is was rehabilitating after knee surgery two years ago or being the key energizer off the bench last season. He does not need to be stoked into hard work, but he found it all around him this summer.
"A lot of it was just seeing guys in the gym," McGlothan said of his belief in this season's team. "Everybody's working and just being able to want to build GCU's name to keep growing. The work that we did last year, nobody's content with it. Let's do that again and then try to build on that and keep building on what GCU is all about. The confidence – and I should put it as determination – is pretty sky high."
WAC hoops found offseason hoopla by bringing in Abilene Christian, which advance to the NCAA tournament second round, and Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston teams that have averaged 20 and 19 wins, respectively, over the past three seasons. GCU is tabbed to finish second by coaches (behind New Mexico State) and third by media (behind NMSU and SFA).
"We know we have to get better," Drew said. "The league is substantially better, we believe, top to bottom than it was last year. We'll have to play at a much higher level to compete against some of the teams and new players that we have coming in this year.
"That's a lot of holes to fill. Gabe and Jovan have been really good with their leadership early in the season with our practices and setting a really good standard of what we want in our program."
Drew considered McGlothan a sixth starter rather than a sixth man last season. He turned games with his bounce and his energy, performing efficiently with averages of 6.1 points and 5.3 rebounds and 58% shooting in 16.8 minutes per game. That is bound to increase this season as GCU deciphers the rotation of a new frontline.
"The main focus is still on the energy and help lead this team to keep the energy going and do the hustle plays and little things that can help this team win," McGlothan said.
"It's been good, taking guys under the wing and letting them know they're cared for and loved and that we're all family. That's been the big thing – welcoming everybody in and letting them know it's our team. We're building something special here so let's chase it and keep working toward the main goal at the end of the year."
McGlothan worked on enhancing his 3-point shot. Blacksher improved his perimeter shooting and said he sees the game slower, particularly in pick-and-roll, while maintaining a fast pace. This GCU team will be able to play with more speed while leaning more on its backcourt, where Blacksher teams with Arizona State transfer and fellow Valley product Holland Woods II.
They are among seven scholarship players who punched the program's first Big Dance ticket and learned how to take on the responsibility of leading a team to the same goal.
"I wouldn't say it's pressure," Blacksher said. "I'd say it's more of our expectations, standards. Our coaches do a really good job of coaching us and giving us the confidence to want to do those things."
Defending WAC champion is a title to last the year, but it will not win the next one unless the Lopes progress along with the expanded conference. With other teams sporting heavy returns, GCU has known since the summer that it will have to find much of its improvement from within.
The Lopes bolstered the roster with four Power 5 transfers, but GCU second-year head coach Bryce Drew was joined by point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. and power forward Gabe McGlothan for a WAC media day because the returning duo is a key to continuing the program's ascension.
"They're very competitive," Drew said on the WAC Basketball Preview. "When the ball goes up, they both want to win. I've been really proud. They've both gotten better. From last year at this point to where they are now isn't even close as players. That's a great compliment to their work ethic and their ability to want to get better and want our team to be better."
The retooled Lopes will take the GCU Arena court for the first time in an Oct. 30 exhibition before the Nov. 9 opener against Grambling. It already has been seven months since GCU made its first NCAA Division I tournament appearance, but the page flipped quickly.Once the season was over, Drew met with his lone returning starter, Blacksher, about where to go after his second season ended with All-WAC second-team and WAC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
"Mindset change," Blacksher said. "I talked to Coach after the season and just got into a different mindset. I started working every day and taking care of my body, just the important things to get where I want to go."
McGlothan has spent each of his two years at GCU in a grind, whether is was rehabilitating after knee surgery two years ago or being the key energizer off the bench last season. He does not need to be stoked into hard work, but he found it all around him this summer.
"A lot of it was just seeing guys in the gym," McGlothan said of his belief in this season's team. "Everybody's working and just being able to want to build GCU's name to keep growing. The work that we did last year, nobody's content with it. Let's do that again and then try to build on that and keep building on what GCU is all about. The confidence – and I should put it as determination – is pretty sky high."WAC hoops found offseason hoopla by bringing in Abilene Christian, which advance to the NCAA tournament second round, and Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston teams that have averaged 20 and 19 wins, respectively, over the past three seasons. GCU is tabbed to finish second by coaches (behind New Mexico State) and third by media (behind NMSU and SFA).
"We know we have to get better," Drew said. "The league is substantially better, we believe, top to bottom than it was last year. We'll have to play at a much higher level to compete against some of the teams and new players that we have coming in this year.
"That's a lot of holes to fill. Gabe and Jovan have been really good with their leadership early in the season with our practices and setting a really good standard of what we want in our program."
Drew considered McGlothan a sixth starter rather than a sixth man last season. He turned games with his bounce and his energy, performing efficiently with averages of 6.1 points and 5.3 rebounds and 58% shooting in 16.8 minutes per game. That is bound to increase this season as GCU deciphers the rotation of a new frontline.
"The main focus is still on the energy and help lead this team to keep the energy going and do the hustle plays and little things that can help this team win," McGlothan said.
"It's been good, taking guys under the wing and letting them know they're cared for and loved and that we're all family. That's been the big thing – welcoming everybody in and letting them know it's our team. We're building something special here so let's chase it and keep working toward the main goal at the end of the year."
McGlothan worked on enhancing his 3-point shot. Blacksher improved his perimeter shooting and said he sees the game slower, particularly in pick-and-roll, while maintaining a fast pace. This GCU team will be able to play with more speed while leaning more on its backcourt, where Blacksher teams with Arizona State transfer and fellow Valley product Holland Woods II.
They are among seven scholarship players who punched the program's first Big Dance ticket and learned how to take on the responsibility of leading a team to the same goal.
"I wouldn't say it's pressure," Blacksher said. "I'd say it's more of our expectations, standards. Our coaches do a really good job of coaching us and giving us the confidence to want to do those things."
Players Mentioned
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