M Basketball

10-26-09

Men's Basketball Picked to Finish Second in PacWest

The Grand Canyon University men's basketball team does not have a single returning coach or player from last season. It is completely new. Yet Pacific West Conference coaches clearly believe in the talent of its new head coach, Russ Pennell (pictured, right), his staff and players because they picked the Antelopes to finish second in the Conference in the 2009-10 season.

The predicted order of finish and Preseason All-PacWest teams were announced during PacWest Men's Basketball Media Day today.

BYU-Hawaii, a West Regional finalist last season and the top team in the 2009 Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 ranking, received all nine-first place votes. The Seasiders (27-2) return All-American Lucas Alves (19.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg) in the post and senior point guard Virgil (J.R.) Buensuceso (11.4 ppg), a Cousy Award finalist last season. Both Alves and Buensuceso were named to the Preseason All-PacWest team. Alves was named Preseason PacWest Player of the Year.

Right behind BYU-Hawaii and ahead of Dixie State, Chaminade and Hawaii-Hilo, which finished second, fourth and third in the Conference last season, respectively, is GCU. The 'Lopes did not place anyone on the Preseason All-PacWest team, but Conference coaches know that Pennell brought in the seven D-1 transfers, three freshmen who turned down Division I scholarship offers to attend GCU and four other talented freshmen. They also are very aware that Pennell led the University of Arizona to 21-14 record and an NCAA Tournament Sweet-16 berth as the Wildcats' interim head coach last season, and he has everything he needs at GCU -- including three full-time assistant coaches and a graduate assistant -- at his disposal to become a force at the Division II level.

In addition, Pennell, who was named GCU's 12th men's basketball coach on April 9, has a track record of success as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State (1990-92), Ole Miss (1992-98), Arizona State (1998-2004), including five NCAA Tournament appearances and two trips to the Sweet 16.

The 'Lopes begin the 2009-10 season this weekend at Disney's Division II Tip-Off West Coast Classic in Anaheim, Calif. They open the tournament against Western Washington at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, play San Francisco State on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and meet Kentucky Wesleyan on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

GCU hosts Southwestern Bible College in an exhibition game on Nov. 7, and plays its first regular-season home game against California Baptist on Nov. 24.