Fansided

5 games with March Madness implications: Duke, Clemson, Grand Canyon and more

By Brandon Jefferson

COLUMBIA, MO - DECEMBER 19: Michael Porter Jr. #13 of the Missouri Tigers reacts from the bench during the game against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Mizzou Arena on December 19, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - DECEMBER 19: Michael Porter Jr. #13 of the Missouri Tigers reacts from the bench during the game against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Mizzou Arena on December 19, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 05: Fans of the Grand Canyon Antelopes, dressed as charactors from ‘scooby doo’, cheer during the first half of the college basketball game against the St. John’s Red Storm at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 5, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 05: Fans of the Grand Canyon Antelopes, dressed as charactors from ‘scooby doo’, cheer during the first half of the college basketball game against the St. John’s Red Storm at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 5, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

4. Grand Canyon vs. Seattle (Feb. 22)

You’ll be excused if you didn’t know that either of these teams were Division 1 programs, Seattle University just made the jump in 2012 and Grand Canyon University is participating in their debut season as members of Division I basketball. Grand Canyon made a name for itself last year when it hosted the 2017 College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships. The students created one of the most raucous atmosphere’s in recent memory (made crazier when one of their own, DeWayne Russell, nearly made a Cinderella run to the title).

The Antelopes are coached by former NBA player Dan Majerle and currently sit in fourth place in the Western Athletic Conference. New Mexico State is ahead of the pack with a 9-1 record in conference play, but Seattle (7-3) is tied for second with Utah Valley. Grand Canyon, which is a spectacular 13-2 at home, will face both in Phoenix this week. The one game at a time mantra begins with getting a victory over the Redhawks on Thursday.

Majerle’s team relies on a stingy defense that is only allowing 64.1 points per game on the year  and perimeter shooting (six players shooting 30 percent or higher from 3-point range in conference play) as they search for a trip to the NCAA Tournament in their first season of eligibility.

Grand Canyon didn’t just dip their toe into Division 1 competition either, they were looking to make a splash. They faced St. John’s (68-60 loss), Boise State (85-80 overtime loss), Louisville (74-56 loss), and Illinois (62-58) all on the road before kicking off conference play in the WAC. The Fighting Illini were the only team out of that grouping without a real shot at making the NCAA Tournament in March. Holding their own, minus the Lousiville game, against some of the country’s bigger schools is an ace-in-the-hole for the Antelopes at this juncture of the season.

Most likely, the only way for Grand Canyon to make the NCAA Tournament is by winning the WAC conference tournament in early March. As we’ve seen in all collegiate tournaments, anything can happen when it’s win or go home. A strong finish to conference play not only offers the Antelopes an easier path to the championship, but likely the necessary momentum to get things going as the calendar turns to March.

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