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and glow about him that he had back when he was in college and when
he played for the Suns.”
Their relationship was such that, before the second-round
Tournament game against Jackson State, Majerle
told Glaze he was going to run a play for him to take a 3-point shot.
Glaze had gone 0-for-10 on 3-pointers during the season — the only
threes he had ever taken in his career — but kept insisting he could
make one.
“I didn’t want to have to go to my grave saying that I never gave
Grandy Glaze a chance to make a three in his senior year,” Majerle said.
So they ran the play, and … airball. “I caught the ball, measured it
up and it just went awaaaaay out of bounds,” Glaze said. “I just looked at
him like, ‘Coach, hey, I’ve got to get in the gym and get some more reps.”
The normally mega-intense Majerle had a priceless reaction — he
cracked up as he walked courtside.
“I was more relieved than anything, knowing that I didn’t have to
deal with him talking about it or shooting another one,” he said days
later, still laughing.
Looking ahead
The Lopes would win that game, touching off yet another GCU Arena
celebration in a season in which they went 18-2 at home. Not only did
the Lopes make some noise nationally, so did the wild-and-crazy Havocs
student cheering section, which SB Nation called “the biggest party in
college basketball.”
The future looks bright, but Majerle knows how difficult it will be to
match what happened this season.
“I think we took a really good step this year — won 27 games, got a
lot of notoriety — but we’re still a long ways from where we want to be,
and we’ve got to build on it,” he said. “Next year’s going to be tougher.
We’ve got a tougher schedule (see chart).”
All of the regular rotation players will be back except Glaze and Ryan
Majerle, the coach’s nephew. And if Majerle ever needs an ambassador
for the program, Glaze is his guy.
“It’s a perfect situation,” he said. “I’d say that to any recruit. If you’re
looking for an opportunity as a fifth-year guy or just in general, Coach
Majerle is going to put you in position as
long as you show that you’re dedicated to
the team and you’re about winning first.
He has a great offense. It’s NBA style.”
Look at what it did for Grandy Glaze. He
got to show he’s the real deal.
FIVE GAMES TO CELEBRATE …
The Lopes’ five biggest victories of the season with final
score, opponent’s final record and what made it significant:
1
79-75 vs. NewMexico State (23-11)
Aggies won 14 of next 15 games after first loss ever to GCU, which
ended with students storming court.
2
52-45 at San Diego State (28-10
)
Aztecs went on 11-game winning streak soon after losing to Lopes,
advanced to semifinals of National Invitation Tournament.
3
78-69 vs. Houston (22-10) at Las Vegas
Big win at San Diego State would have lost a little of its luster
if Lopes hadn’t kept the momentum going with another impressive
victory, this time in first round of Global Sports Classic.
4
85-81 vs. Marshall (17-16) at Las Vegas
And this completed the big tournament victory, which was
followed by eight more consecutive wins to bring streak to a dozen.
5
64-54 vs. Jackson State (20-16)
Frustrated by Jackson State’s slowdown offense, Lopes went
to full-court press — something they hadn’t even practiced — and
came back for their second consecutive win in
Tournament. The previous two years, they had lost in first round.
… AND FIVE TO ANTICIPATE
The Lopes’ five most high-profile nonconference games
next season, and what those teams did this season or in
recent years:
1
at Arizona (25-9)
Could this be the beginning of a regular in-state date? Wildcats
were disappointed with tying for third in Pacific 12 Conference and
losing to Wichita State in opening NCAA Tournament game, but they’re
perennially one of country’s top programs.
2
at Duke (25-11)
One year after winning their fifth national championship, Blue
Devils advanced to Sweet Sixteen in what for themwas a disappointing
season. We have Havocs; Duke has Cameron Crazies.
3
vs. Louisville (23-8)
Cardinals were ineligible for NCAA Tournament because of self-
imposed ban amid NCAA investigation, but they were considered a title
contender when decision was made. This will be the most high profile
team to ever visit GCU Arena.
4
vs. San Diego State (28-10)
You can be sure Aztecs will have revenge on their minds when
they come to Phoenix for second half of two-year, home-and-home
contract.
5
at Illinois (15-19)
Losing record was Illini’s first since 2007-08. They advanced to
NCAA Tournament 25 times between 1981 and 2013, including two trips
to Final Four and loss to North Carolina in 2005 championship game.
Grandy Glaze was in
the middle of the Lopes’
happiest moments
(opposite page), and his
play made coach Dan
Majerle ecstatic (below).
SCOREBOARD
