Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Utah on November 25, 2025 , Win , 68, to, 58
M Basketball
vs Utah
W 68-58
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
National coaching awards tab Drew as finalist
3/20/2024 9:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
GCU's 4th-year leader makes top-20 lists for Jim Phelan, Hugh Durham awards
Grand Canyon's NCAA tournament first-round game against Saint Mary's on Friday is not only an intriguing battle between two of the nation's best teams. It will feature two of the nation's best coaches.
GCU head coach Bryce Drew and Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett each were named to 20-coach finalist lists for national coach of the year awards — Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year for the nation's top Division I head coach and Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year for the nation's top D-I mid-major head coach. Both awards' winners will be announced in Glendale, Arizona, in connection to the Final Four.
In his fourth season at GCU, Drew has led the Lopes to their most wins since the 1978 NAIA national championship team. At 29-4, GCU is tied with Purdue for the nation's fifth-best winning percentage.
"As a coach, once the game starts, you're thankful that you got your guys and you're hopeful that you have them ready the best as possible because it's up to them to get it done," Drew said of coaching an NCAA tournament team for the sixth time in his 12-year coaching career. "The excitement never leaves. Every year is just as exciting as any other time you've been able to go."
The Lopes became the first WAC team to win an outright regular-season championship and WAC Tournament championship since New Mexico State did it in 2019. From Nov. 25 to Jan. 18, GCU won 14 consecutive games, including an upset of 2023 national runner-up and then-No. 25 San Diego State.
GCU is having its best season in NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, currently at No. 50 after being as high as No. 31 this season.
Drew took over a program that had gone 13-17 in the season before he arrived and has guided the Lopes to three NCAA tournament appearances in four seasons. His GCu teams are 93-31 (.762), putting his career record at 267-139 (.658) with his previous stops at Valparaiso and Vanderbilt.
Last month, Drew also was selected as one of 15 head coaches on the Naismith Coach of the Year watch list.
GCU head coach Bryce Drew and Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett each were named to 20-coach finalist lists for national coach of the year awards — Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year for the nation's top Division I head coach and Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year for the nation's top D-I mid-major head coach. Both awards' winners will be announced in Glendale, Arizona, in connection to the Final Four.In his fourth season at GCU, Drew has led the Lopes to their most wins since the 1978 NAIA national championship team. At 29-4, GCU is tied with Purdue for the nation's fifth-best winning percentage.
"As a coach, once the game starts, you're thankful that you got your guys and you're hopeful that you have them ready the best as possible because it's up to them to get it done," Drew said of coaching an NCAA tournament team for the sixth time in his 12-year coaching career. "The excitement never leaves. Every year is just as exciting as any other time you've been able to go."
The Lopes became the first WAC team to win an outright regular-season championship and WAC Tournament championship since New Mexico State did it in 2019. From Nov. 25 to Jan. 18, GCU won 14 consecutive games, including an upset of 2023 national runner-up and then-No. 25 San Diego State.
GCU is having its best season in NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, currently at No. 50 after being as high as No. 31 this season.
Drew took over a program that had gone 13-17 in the season before he arrived and has guided the Lopes to three NCAA tournament appearances in four seasons. His GCu teams are 93-31 (.762), putting his career record at 267-139 (.658) with his previous stops at Valparaiso and Vanderbilt.
Last month, Drew also was selected as one of 15 head coaches on the Naismith Coach of the Year watch list.
Jim Phelan Award finalists
- Amir Abdur-Rahim, South Florida
- Rick Barnes, Tennessee
- Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's
- Mark Byington, James Madison
- Chris Collins, Northwestern
- Hubert Davis, North Carolina
- Bryce Drew, Grand Canyon
- Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska
- Dan Hurley, Connecticut
- Dustin Kerns, Appalachian State
- Chris Mooney, Richmond
- T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
- Matt Painter, Purdue
- Lamont Paris, South Carolina
- Bruce Pearl, Auburn
- Kelvin Sampson, Houston
- Josh Schertz, Indiana State
- Kyle Smith, Washington State
- Danny Sprinkle, Utah State
- Will Wade, McNeese
Hugh Durham Award finalists
- John Becker, Vermont
- Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's
- Mark Byington, James Madison
- Chris Casey, Fairfield
- Darian DeVries, Drake
- Bryce Drew, GCU
- Mitch Henderson, Princeton
- Alan Huss, High Point
- Donnie Jones, Stetson
- Greg Kampe, Oakland
- Dustin Kerns, Appalachian State
- Phil Martelli Jr., Bryant
- Bucky McMillan, Samford
- Chris Mudge, Sam Houston
- Eric Olen, UC San Diego
- Josh Schertz, Indiana State
- Patrick Sellers, Central Connecticut State
- Russell Turner, UC Irvine
- Will Wade, McNeese
- Sundance Wicks, Green Bay
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina - Postgame Radio with Bryce Drew
Sunday, December 14
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina - Highlights
Sunday, December 14
Celly in the hallway! Lopes win!
Sunday, December 14
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina - Postgame with Bryce Drew
Sunday, December 14