Majerle is realistic about his team’s mission. Playing an opponent so
monstrous is like taking the final exam at the start of class, with no time
to study. For GCU to even be here at all was unimaginable less than two
years earlier, when the Division II Lopes traveled to gyms smaller than
those of decent-size middle schools. They have traded games against the
likes of Academy of Art and Holy Names for a season opener at the home
of one of the holiest names in the sport, and the reception from the
massive Rupp crowd will be every bit as chilly as the unseasonably cold
weather that has greeted them.
“I have no preconceived notions that we’re going to come out
here and beat these guys, to be honest with you —the No. 1-ranked
team, we’re not ready for that yet,” Majerle says. “I want our guys to
compete. I want us to play hard for 40 minutes. I want us to show no
fear. And then whatever happens, happens and we move on.
“This game is more about the future. Not being able to play in the
NCAA tournament for three more years, when we are able to schedule
teams like this, Indiana, Harvard and New Mexico, it does a lot for
recruiting. It shows kids we’re going to play the best competition out
there, and this is where we eventually want to be — we want to be a Top
25 program. To do that we have to act like one, we’ve got to walk like
one, we’ve got to feel like one, we’ve got to know how they do it. So this
is just part of that whole process of what we want to become.”
The process has brought 11 fresh faces to the GCU roster to go
with holdover starters Daniel Alexander and Jerome Garrison. This is
virtually a new team for this new dream, and it’s going to take time to
get to know each other on the court.
But off the court is another matter, and a summer spent on campus
doing conditioning also included a series of impromptu bonding
activities, from dinners to movies to just hanging out.
With Kentucky’s championship banners
in the background, Jerome Garrison
practices his shooting.
GCU players (from left) Kerwin Smith, Joshua Braun,
RyanMajerle and Daniel Alexander discuss their favorite
Bible verses on the bus ride from the hotel to Rupp Arena.
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