Jared CohenGrand Canyon Basketball under Dan Majerle has not steered away from elite competition since moving up to the Division I level. They have traveled to Kentucky and this year to Louisville and according to the coach, there are contracts signed with more big matchups to come.
“When you play games like that, that’s really the growth period,” Majerle told Brad Cesmat. “You look at next year, we will have Louisville and San Diego State at home at our arena. We’re playing at Duke, at U of A, at Cincinnati and at other places so we are going to continue to play great competition and that is only going to help us during this four year period and we can go to the NCAA Tournament.”
When the Antelopes and Wildcats meet, it will be the first time. Ever since GCU took on Arizona State in their first game ever in that new GCU Arena, they have not faced a Pac-12 school.
“The contract is signed and we will be playing at U of A next year,” Majerle confirmed.
Arizona Athletic Director Greg Byrne later in the day confirmed as well
Wanted to confirm, since the Pac-12 moratorium was lifted, @APlayersProgram will host @GCU_Hoops next season on 12/14/16 here at McKale.
— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) January 6, 2016
2016-17 expects now to be quite the season for GCU with their non-conference schedule. In the meantime, the ‘Lopes and Wildcats begin their 2015-16 conference seasons on Thursday with GCU hosting Texas Rio Grande Valley and Arizona playing at UCLA.
