This should be a final tune-up game prior to hosting Illinois. I’m curious to see if Frayer has regained eligibility. Although the way that Brown and Blacksher are playing, we might be able to stay afloat without him until it works out.

Down low is the biggest test. Lever struggled to guard CSUSB’s undersized and slow center last week. I get trying to stay out of foul trouble but man... I hope to see more defense!!

(11-05-2019 08:40 AM)Country_Wisdom_359 Wrote:  This should be a final tune-up game prior to hosting Illinois. I’m curious to see if Frayer has regained eligibility. Although the way that Brown and Blacksher are playing, we might be able to stay afloat without him until it works out.

Down low is the biggest test. Lever struggled to guard CSUSB’s undersized and slow center last week. I get trying to stay out of foul trouble but man... I hope to see more defense!!

Personally, I'd rather Lever just stayed out of foul trouble. If he has to give up a few easy baskets than so be it. At the moment (and perhaps all season) GCU is lacking depth at the center position.

That’s a really good point. I played post in high school and it was so hard to balance the aggression to establish position with the need to avoid the whistle for that one extra bump or shove.

Lever has struggled with fouls during his first two years. Maybe we are missing Blumbergs? He wasn’t a phenom but the backup center is young and will take time to develop. If a Frayer can’t come in and help (and honestly I think that’s an unnatural fit and the team will lose his outside presence and explosive drives) it’s going to be a long year.

Well... Frayer and Fisher are both out for the first semester. That’s a tough bit of news. Definitely hurts the lineup.

Also, not for nothing... Davenport was #3 in D2; 27-4 last season. These guys aren’t strangers to winning.

Disastrous start. Down 12-4. 1-11 from the field.

Absolutely ridiculous and embarrassing first half. Down by 8 at the break. Came out sluggishly. Didn’t play with energy. Something has this team off kilter. Scotty Thompson thinks it might be the recent disappointing news about Oscar and Jaylen. They apparently found out shortly before the game.

Whatever it is... it’s no good. I think they came out overlooking the Panthers and these guys are too good to look past.

Gotta love going 1-12 from deep to start the game.....

And now we are down 46-30. I kept thinking that we’d come back strong in the second half. J disregarded the early deficit. Now with 15 minutes left in the game it’s starting to feel like now or never. Obviously plenty of time but that’s entirely dependent on playing real defense and hitting some well selected shots.

What is happening tonight!?!? Watch us lose to a D2 team. Think we were looking last these guys and focusing on Illinois coming later this week?!?

Davenport has hit 50% of their threes. 13-26. Yes... 13 3’s.

Annnnnd that’s how you start the season off on the absolute wrong foot. I don’t think I’ve seen a more embarrassing loss at GCU Arena.

That being said... in all honesty you have to give Davenport credit. They shot the lights out. Stopped every GCU attempt at starting a run.

Just unbelievable. I refuse to think we are this bad... but I’m afraid Illinois is going to run us out of the house in three days. Check that... at this rate, Chicago State will too.

(11-05-2019 11:09 PM)Country_Wisdom_359 Wrote:  Annnnnd that’s how you start the season off on the absolute wrong foot. I don’t think I’ve seen a more embarrassing loss at GCU Arena.

That being said... in all honesty you have to give Davenport credit. They shot the lights out. Stopped every GCU attempt at starting a run.

Just unbelievable. I refuse to think we are this bad... but I’m afraid Illinois is going to run us out of the house in three days. Check that... at this rate, Chicago State will too.

Unfortunately, I do think we are this bad. Davenport is a great team so they deserved to win. However, without Fisher, Frayer and Mickey Dixon (three projected starters) we are a lousy team that will struggle mightily during the OOC schedule.

Also I did not see Jaylen Fisher on the bench last night. Are we sure he is even good to go after this semester ends? He may not be eligible for the whole year. Anyone have any definitive information on his status?

(11-06-2019 10:24 AM)ProfScott Wrote:  Also I did not see Jaylen Fisher on the bench last night. Are we sure he is even good to go after this semester ends? He may not be eligible for the whole year. Anyone have any definitive information on his status?

Not sure. All they said on the broadcast last night (multiple times) was that both were ruled academically ineligible for the first semester. There was no indication as to what their status may be second semester. There was an AZ Central article that seemed to indicate Majerle may be more confident about Oscar joining the team for conference play than Fisher, but not really sure the basis for such an assumption.

Even if Fisher is eligible at mid-season, Majerle should consider redshirting him for the whole season; if Fisher is willing to sit out. This season is chalking up to be a struggle regardless if Fisher were eligible now. GCU is already guard heavy with Mike Dixon coming on board in December. What GCU needs right now is a viable power forward like Gabe McGlothan. If I were Majerle, I would put Fisher on ice for a season and refocus his recruiting efforts for 2020-21. I would just ride with the horses he has now and do the best he can to get them to post season play. GCU will lose Johnson, Frayer, and Jenkins after this season but they return enough of a nucleus to be much stronger next season with a key big man addition or two. Just my opinion.

(11-06-2019 11:44 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Even if Fisher is eligible at mid-season, Majerle should consider redshirting him for the whole season; if Fisher is willing to sit out. This season is chalking up to be a struggle regardless if Fisher were eligible now. GCU is already guard heavy with Mike Dixon coming on board in December. What GCU needs right now is a viable power forward like Gabe McGlothan. If I were Majerle, I would put Fisher on ice for a season and refocus his recruiting efforts for 2020-21. I would just ride with the horses he has now and do the best he can to get them to post season play. GCU will lose Johnson, Frayer, and Jenkins after this season but they return enough of a nucleus to be much stronger next season with a key big man addition or two. Just my opinion.

I'd consider the same for Frayer, tbh. Just watch this whole season burn to the ground and hope you can build something better next season.

(11-06-2019 11:50 AM)gleadley Wrote:  

(11-06-2019 11:44 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Even if Fisher is eligible at mid-season, Majerle should consider redshirting him for the whole season; if Fisher is willing to sit out. This season is chalking up to be a struggle regardless if Fisher were eligible now. GCU is already guard heavy with Mike Dixon coming on board in December. What GCU needs right now is a viable power forward like Gabe McGlothan. If I were Majerle, I would put Fisher on ice for a season and refocus his recruiting efforts for 2020-21. I would just ride with the horses he has now and do the best he can to get them to post season play. GCU will lose Johnson, Frayer, and Jenkins after this season but they return enough of a nucleus to be much stronger next season with a key big man addition or two. Just my opinion.

I'd consider the same for Frayer, tbh. Just watch this whole season burn to the ground and hope you can build something better next season.

You may be right there too. Seems premature to sell off all the stock shares after one horrible loss. Maybe they’ll rebound (figuratively and literally) and come back harder after getting punched in the mouth.

It’ll be a struggle. But most of us thought this wasn’t going to be a special year compared to others. At least those of us who really follow and don’t just believe the hype. And there’s always hype at GCU.

Did you see that portion during the GCU timeout when the camera focused on Majerly screaming like he was a demon? He was glaring right at Lever the whole time. The announcers were like wow they’re really Getting it.

(11-06-2019 02:57 PM)Country_Wisdom_359 Wrote:  

(11-06-2019 11:50 AM)gleadley Wrote:  

(11-06-2019 11:44 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Even if Fisher is eligible at mid-season, Majerle should consider redshirting him for the whole season; if Fisher is willing to sit out. This season is chalking up to be a struggle regardless if Fisher were eligible now. GCU is already guard heavy with Mike Dixon coming on board in December. What GCU needs right now is a viable power forward like Gabe McGlothan. If I were Majerle, I would put Fisher on ice for a season and refocus his recruiting efforts for 2020-21. I would just ride with the horses he has now and do the best he can to get them to post season play. GCU will lose Johnson, Frayer, and Jenkins after this season but they return enough of a nucleus to be much stronger next season with a key big man addition or two. Just my opinion.

I'd consider the same for Frayer, tbh. Just watch this whole season burn to the ground and hope you can build something better next season.

You may be right there too. Seems premature to sell off all the stock shares after one horrible loss. Maybe they’ll rebound (figuratively and literally) and come back harder after getting punched in the mouth.

It’ll be a struggle. But most of us thought this wasn’t going to be a special year compared to others. At least those of us who really follow and don’t just believe the hype. And there’s always hype at GCU.

Did you see that portion during the GCU timeout when the camera focused on Majerly screaming like he was a demon? He was glaring right at Lever the whole time. The announcers were like wow they’re really Getting it.

For everyone's viewing pleasure. My 5yo asked, "Why does his face look like that?" and "What is he saying?" Nothing I can repeat to you, son.

GCU "should" get better once Frayer, Dixon, and possibly Fisher enter the roster. However, I have to feel if GCU is going to hang its hat on Lever playing the post, Majerle needs to find (next year) a power forward who can do all the heavy lifting rebounding and defense wise. Lever is a high skilled center but he is soft defensively and on the boards. That's why Michael Finke picked up much the load when GCU made their late season run. GCU needs to find another Grandy Glaze or Keonta Vernon type forward; a workman in the paint. Even a Killian Larson (who was much less skilled than Lever) would be an improvement over Lever's play right now.

I thought the big guy that transferred from UNLV was eligible?

He is I think... but I would assume he is either a major project players or possibly injured. I would've thought with GCU's defensive and rebounding difficulties, Majerle would've put him in the game just to shake up things in the paint. He would've been like a bull in a china shop and he had 5 hard fouls to give. Majerle thinks too much like a pro coach. If they can't create their own shot and score regularly, he doesn't want them in the line up. Sometimes, a team just needs raw energy guy who is big and strong; and can intimidate.