Grand Canyon men's, women's basketball picked by coaches to win the WAC
Grand Canyon's men's and women's basketball teams both were voted by the coaches to win the Western Athletic Conference this season.
Guard Ray Harrison, who tested the NBA draft waters in the offseason, has been named the WAC Preseason Player of the Year. He is joined on the Preseason All-WAC team by teammate and former Chandler Basha High School forward Gabe McGlothan.
Both were instrumental in GCU winning the WAC Tournament title and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years under coach Bryce Drew.
"It's a great testament to our progress and right now on paper it looks nice, but you've got to do work between the lines and that's what we're doing right now," Drew said. "We've got a target on our back, and I think right now for us to think that it's going to be easy is a false statement. Everybody has big goals in this conference. I guess our theme throughout the year is going to be 'Prove it.' "
There are 11 schools playing in the WAC this year, after New Mexico State and Sam Houston both departed for another conference.
GCU guard/forward Tierra Brown and guard Trinity San Antonio were named to the women's Preseason All-WAC team. Breaunna Gillen of Utah Tech was voted the Preseason Player of the Year. All three players made the postseason All-WAC team last year.
GCU women's coach Molly Miller has brought in eight newcomers, including San Antonio, who led California Baptist last season with 14.1 points a game.
"I'm extremely excited about this team and the potential to compete for a WAC title," Miller said. "We have all the pieces. Now we are just trying to fit them together by incorporating some very talented transfers with a strong group of returners.
"Trinity and Tierra got a well-deserved nod as preseason All-WAC selections. I'm excited to have two on the court together. I think the brand will be highlighted even more by our depth and skill."
Drew's team brought in nine of a possible 10 first-place votes. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team in the preseason poll. This is the most first-place votes since joining the WAC 10 years ago.
GCU finished strong last season, ending up with a 24-12 record. It came through as a No. 5 seed to win the WAC tournament in Las Vegas. Harrison averaged 21.1 points and 3.6 assists in 17 conference games. He was named the WAC tournament Most Outstanding Player, after averaging 20 points and 5.5 assists in four games.
"Inside, it's pushing each, getting the most out of each other," Harrison said on the WAC Preview Show on ESPN Plus.
McGlothan, a redshirt senior, averaged 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in conference play last season. This is McGlothan's fourth year in the program. He spent a year as a redshirt recovering from an injury.
"It's been home," McGlothan said. "You can grow freely. It’s been huge in my faith. It’s a safe environment. The vibe is already there. You have to take hold of that and run with that.”
GCU had 99 points in the coaches poll, followed by Stephen F. Austin (87) and Seattle U (86).
GCU women received six first-place votes, followed by Southern Utah with five.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GCU men's, women's basketball teams picked by coaches to win the WAC
