CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2024. Up next: The WAC Tournament.
The WAC Tournament preview article had UT-Arlington defeating Grand Canyon in the title game, and while the two teams made the final, the ‘Lopes defeated the Mavericks for the third time this season, this time by a 89-74 margin.
CBB Review WAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon
If one hasn’t heard the story of Grant-Foster, it’s a good one. He started his career out at Indian Hills CC, excelled, and was ranked the no. 2 JUCO transfer heading into the 2020 season. He committed to Bill Self’s Jayhawks, but played a bench role in the pandemic-altered season. Once he was in line for a bigger role with DePaul the next season, he collapsed on the floor of the locker room during halftime, needing to be defibrillated. From there, he worked his way back to the court after spending over a week in the hospital. Now with Grand Canyon, he’s blossomed into the go-to scorer for the best team in the WAC. That was no different in the WAC tournament, with Grant-Foster putting up games of 28 and 22 in the two games the ‘Lopes had to play. He’s the leader of this team, and it’s just, objectively, such a great story to watch unfold.
CBB Review All-WAC Tournament First Team
- G: Phillip Russell, UT-Arlington – 3 games played (23.3 PPG, 6.0 APG, 1.0 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 52.0 3P%, 56.4 FG%)
- G: Alex Schumacher, Seattle – 2 games played (14.5 PPG, 8.0 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 50.0 3P%)
- G: Ray Harrison, Grand Canyon – 2 games played (18.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.5 APG)
- G: Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon – 2 games played (25.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.5 SPG, 2.0 BPG)
- F: Shemar Wilson, UT-Arlington – 3 games played (15.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.0 BPG, 60.0 FG%)
Grand Canyon’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Round of 64
Grand Canyon is clearly a very good mid-major, and both their records and their predictive metrics show that. They’re 53rd in the latest KenPom ratings and have 29 wins to their name so far this year. The only losses they’ve suffered outside of a two-game skid in late February have been to South Carolina and Seattle. Tyon Grant-Foster is a professional basketball player, and he’s got a great supporting cast. Gabe McGlothan and Ray Harrison can cause troubles for opponents on offense and defense. Bryce Drew is a great coach. This team has everything going for them besides their draw. St. Mary’s, from a matchup standpoint, could very well be Grand Canyon’s kryptonite. The Gaels are the crop of the WCC, which is like the major league version of the WAC. I just don’t see the ‘Lopes taking down the Gaels.