Where is Grand Canyon located? It's not where you think Alabama's second round March Madness opponent is
Editor’s note: This story has been updated from a previous version to correctly state why GCU was initially ineligible for NCAA Division I postseason competition.
One would be forgiven if there is confusion about where Grand Canyon University — Alabama basketball's second-round NCAA Tournament opponent — is located.
While the name of the university would suggest it is located near the national park, that would be a misnomer, as the main campus is nearly 220 miles to the south in Phoenix. The 12-seeded Antelopes (30-4, 17-3 WAC) will take on 4 seed Alabama (22-11, 13-5) in the second round of March Madness at 6:10 p.m. CT on Sunday at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington.
More: Watch Alabama vs. Grand Canyon game with Sling TV
The matchup could be a high-scoring affair, as the Crimson Tide led the nation averaging 91.3 points per game and scoring at least 100 points in a game 10 times, breaking an SEC record previously held by Kentucky (1995-96). The Antelopes averaged 79.6 points per game, which ranks 43rd in the nation.
GCU is making its third-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and after winning its first game in the tournament in program history is poised to continue making noise.
Here's everything you need to know about Grand Canyon, where it is located, what conference it competes in, its NCAA Tournament history and more:
Where is Grand Canyon University?
Location: Phoenix
Student population: more than 100,000 on campus and online
GCU was founded as a non-profit institution in 1949 in Prescott, Arizona, which is two hours south of the Grand Canyon. The location was moved after just two years further south to Phoenix. In 1984, the college's trustees voted to transition the school to a university to celebrate its 40th anniversary of opening in 1989.
Grand Canyon has a reported student population of 100,000 combined graduate and undergraduate students both online and on campus, according to its admissions website. The on-campus student population was approximately 25,800 in 2023.
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What conference is Grand Canyon in?
GCU competes in the Western Athletic Conference. The Antelopes are new to Division I, as they accepted an invite to join the conference in 2013 but were not officially approved by the NCAA as a DI school until Aug. 23, 2017. The Antelopes were not eligible for the NCAA postseason for the first four years of being a Division I member due to the NCAA's policy for schools transitioning from Division II to Division I.
Grand Canyon has 21 athletic programs - 10 men's and 11 women's - with the majority of them playing in the WAC.
Who is Grand Canyon's coach?
The Antelopes replaced one former NBA player with another when they hired Bryce Drew to succeed Dan Majerle. Majerle had just one losing season in seven years with GCU. Drew has posted a 94-31 record in his four seasons leading the Antelopes.
He started his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater Valparaiso before being promoted to the coaching role. Drew then went onto become the coach at Vanderbilt but was fired following the 2019 season after going 40-59 in three seasons with the Commodores, despite signing 5-star recruits Darius Garland and Simisola Shittu, along with 4-star recruit Aaron Nesmith during his tenure.
As a player, following a strong career with Valparaiso. He is well known for his game-winning 3-point shot which helped the 13 seeded Crusaders upset No. 4 Ole Miss. He helped the team beat No. 12 Florida State in the next round as well. Drew was drafted with the 16th overall pick in the 1998 draft and played for the Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Hornets. He also spent two seasons overseas.
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Who is Thunder the Antelope?
Students voted on the Antelope being the official school mascot ahead of its first basketball season in 1949, according to the school website, when the school opened in Prescott. The Antelope beat out the Beasts of Burden, "venerating the donkeys that transported visitors on the steep, rocky trails of the Grand Canyon."
Originally a furry, purple blob known as the 'Purple People Eater,' was the mascot for GCU. The Antelope was known briefly as “Andy the Antelope” and “Johnny Lope" before now being named Thunder. The mascot now wears No. 49 (for the founding year) and is introduced as "America's Favorite Mascot" at GCU games.
Grand Canyon basketball season rundown
2023-24 record: 30-4 (17-3 Western Athletic Conference)
The Antelopes won the WAC conference regular season title, earning a 1 seed in the conference tournament. They then beat No. 4 Seattle and No. 3 UT Arlington to win the conference championship, the third in program history, all of which have come since 2021. GCU opened the tournament with a 75-66 victory over Saint Mary's to win its first NCAA Tournament game in program history.
Tyon Grant-Foster leads the team averaging 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.6 assists per game on 45% shooting from the field. Ray Harrison added 13.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. The Antelopes averaged 79.6 points per game, which ranks 43rd in the nation.
Grand Canyon NCAA Tournament history
2021: Lost in the first round
2023: Lost in the first round
2024: TBD
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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Where is Grand Canyon? Location, March Madness history, more to know
