Duke Brennan's toughness having impact in Grand Canyon men's basketball run
In three grueling road games, Grand Canyon sophomore center Duke Brennan needed stitches for a cut on his elbow and for a cut on his face. He also suffered a bloody nose.
All the 6-foot-10, 250-pounder did was keep coming back for more, relentlessly attacking the basket for hard-nosed rebounds and causing frustration for bigs to get their shots off in the paint, not worried about the punishment he takes.
"That's how the game is," Brennan said. "Throughout the years, through high school, in college, that's what I'm known for. And I'll bring it every game."
His transfer move across the Valley from Arizona State was one of the biggest offseason acquisitions the Antelopes had in a season that has "historic" written all over it.
GCU can improve to 20-2 for the first time in school history with a win Thursday night at home against Seattle U. It's a revenge game for the Lopes, who lost their only WAC game to the Redbirds in Seattle two weeks ago.
The Lopes have not shot better than 31% in their last two games, but they came away with a 2-0 road record during that stretch. That's because of how GCU closed out tight wins in Texas last week against Stephen F. Austin and UT Arlington.
Brennan had a career-high 14 rebounds in the 53-51 win at SFA. He also had to leave the game momentarily while his face was stitched up.
GCU assistant coach Casey Shaw, who works with big men, said he's been following Brennan since high school when the new staff, led by Bryce Drew, came to Grand Canyon four years ago.
"The thing I loved about Duke from the time I first set eyes on him was his motor and his energy," Shaw said. "I always tell players, you can't coach that."
Shaw noted the many bumps and bruises Brennan has taken this season.
"It reminds me of how I played. You lead with your face, and you just don't care. I've had probably 70 stitches on my face and eight broken noses,'' he said. "But you know what, I love that about Duke. He goes out there and sets big screens. The other thing I like about Duke is that his hands are really good. He catches balls. His feet are really good."
Brennan started his high school journey as a football player at Gilbert Perry High School. He's got a football family background. His father Bill was a college football tight end at Cal State Fullerton from 1986-89.
His cousin, Brent Brennan, played football at UCLA and recently was hired to lead the University of Arizona's football program. Duke's second cousin, Colt Brennan, was a Heisman Trophy finalist as Hawaii's quarterback and had NFL stints. His grandfather played football at Santa Clara.
But Duke turned to basketball and he's taken off with it.
His development came early through his close bond with best friend Malcolm Flaggs, who played with Duke at Perry, at Hillcrest Prep, ASU last year and now this year at GCU.
More GCU hoops news: College basketball weekly: Grand Canyon men try to get to 20 wins in Seattle U rematch
With Malcolm's dad, Earl Flaggs, a personal coach, they would go sometimes from midnight to 2 a.m., breaking down film while they were in high school.
"We would watch film over and over again," said Malcolm, a 6-6 sophomore. "I've been around my dad since a young age. And he's been coaching everywhere. I know everything that my dad would tell him."
That knowledge came in handy at the end of the SFA game. After the Lopes took a two-point lead in the final two seconds, during a timeout, Flaggs told Brennan to follow his man's eyes. Brennan did and he intercepted the long pass intended for his man to end the game.
"I appreciate Coach Drew for allowing me to collaborate with him," Flaggs said. "Coach lets me do that, so it's the greatest thing."
Brennan said there still are times Earl Flaggs will break down film with the two GCU players.
Flaggs usually doesn't get into GCU games until the final few minutes if the outcome is decided. But his value extends to other areas.
"It was a great shout out from (Flaggs) the other night, to follow the guy's eyes, and I was able to get it," Brennan said. "What's great about that was he's always been there for me on my journey. He's helped me so much. He's already had prior knowledge. He's had hoops since he was a baby. He can find different aspects to help my game. It's great having him on the team. He helps a lot around here."
Drew said Brennan's aggression and toughness have been big during this 19-2 start, 9-1 in the WAC.
"It's really helped us, his physicality, the space he can get to rebound the basketball," Drew said. "When he gets it, he's had some scoring games for us. He's getting better at it. He hurt his elbow and that's affected it a little bit. Hopefully, when he gets healthier, it will get him going."
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Duke Brennan's toughness paying off in Grand Canyon basketball's run
