A Schedule Built for Battle
Grand Canyon University (GCU) has released a 32‑game nonconference schedule that blends home‑and‑home series with some of the nation’s most respected programs. The Lopes will host Santa Clara, New Mexico, Nevada and Hawai'i while traveling to face Florida, Memphis and a host of other 20‑win teams. With 18 home contests, the lineup is designed to test depth and build momentum heading into Mountain West play.
The slate includes five NCAA Tournament‑caliber opponents and up to 11 teams that posted 20 or more victories last season. A home‑and‑home series with Memphis, coached by former NBA star Penny Hardaway, and a showdown with Florida — a probable top‑25 team returning 82% of its scoring — highlight the nonconference agenda. These matchups provide a rare opportunity for the Lopes to measure themselves against elite competition early in the year.
Key returnees such as Makaih Williams, Efe Demirel and Caleb Shaw, bolstered by a transfer class featuring Big West scoring champion Hamad Mousa and top scorer Isaiah Vick, give the coaching staff plenty of firepower. Under new head coach Corey Lowery, who succeeds Johnny Jones, the team hopes to translate experience into wins.
The Mountain West season opens on Jan. 2, with home‑and‑home series against all nine conference foes, including newcomers Hawai'i, UC Davis and UTEP. The conference tournament will be held in Las Vegas on March 10‑13, and the Lopes will close the regular season with a home game against UC Davis on March 6.
Beyond the on‑court action, the schedule reflects a broader ambition: to secure an NCAA Tournament berth and compete for conference dominance. With a blend of seasoned veterans, promising newcomers and a challenging slate, GCU’s Lopes are poised to make a statement in the national landscape.