The NCAA Tournament provides teams with many challenges. Chief among them, how will a team beat its next opponent and keep its season alive for one more game?
But on Wednesday, Grand Canyon University faced a rare, but also more serious issue. The uniforms did not arrive with the team.
Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reported GCU’s unfortunate dilemma.
This year in March Madness travel blunders: Grand Canyon arrived in Denver this afternoon, only to discover the airline it flew on didn't deliver its bags/uniforms/athletic gear, per a GCU spokesperson.
The team practices in two hours and will be wearing regular GCU T-shirts.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 15, 2023
As unique as the problem is, the solution is even more so.
The Antelopes are coached by Bryce Drew. Drew’s older brother, Scott Drew, is the head coach of the Baylor Bears. As luck would have it, the Bears — like the Antelopes — are in Denver.
So, Grand Canyon will not be holding Wednesday’s practice in their regular T-shirts, but in Baylor’s practice gear. Scott (per Norlander) provided arguably the quote of the tournament, saying “What are big brothers for?”
Hold up! Just in: As luck would have it, Scott Drew is ALSO in Denver—with Bryce. GCU and Baylor both play there Friday (in different pods).
Grand Canyon’s gonna practice in Baylor gear tonight 😂
“We’re gonna hook ’em up. What are big brothers for!” Scott Drew just told me.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 15, 2023
College basketball fans had a lot to say about both GCU’s problem and Baylor helping the Antelopes overcome it.
An EQ manager’s worse nightmare, feel for them at GCU #MarchMadness https://t.co/E3wZaxOV25
— Matthew Althoff, EMC (@AlthoffEQ) March 15, 2023
I actually love this haha. Pays to have the nicest man in America as your older brother. https://t.co/WsRGoCxjuu
— Darby Brown (@darbyjobrown) March 15, 2023
Thanks big bro https://t.co/XfJZf5wwQA
— Jason Horowitz (@HorowitzJason) March 15, 2023
Scott Drew is the best big brother in basketball https://t.co/yYzasrcpiE
— Jared Stansbury (@JaredStansbury) March 15, 2023
Wow being a mid-major basketball team is apparently just like being me https://t.co/tpULjn2JrV
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) March 15, 2023
Norlander added that “The hope is GCU has its unis/warmups/shoes/all of it before the end of the night.”
For the sake of the Antelopes, we can only hope that the uniforms arrive in Denver in time. GCU will open the tournament on Friday as significant underdogs against No. 3 Gonzaga. That game will be tough enough to win without having to also worry about uniforms.
