At the 1995 Source awards, the rap group, Outkast, won the award for best new artist. The crowd booed them as they were rooting for New York natives Smif-N-Wessen to win.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This award show happened at the height of the east coast, west coast hip-hop beef and Outkast is a rap group from Atlanta, Georgia. One of the members of the group, Andre 3000, accepted the award, stepped to the microphone and said, “The south got something to say.”
Andre 3000 may not have known how powerful of a moment that would become as Outkast became one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all-time. Atlanta and New Orleans, Louisiana would become two of the main hubs for hip-hop talent as the years went on. Thus, proving that the south did indeed have something to say.
Right now in women’s college basketball all of the attention goes to the top ranked teams like Iowa, Louisiana State, and South Carolina. Off to the side, just being consistently good are the Grand Canyon University Antelopes who may have something to say.
How good are the Lopes?
GCU is 14-3 overall and 6-0 in the Western Athletic conference. They are currently on a six game win streak and have also won 12 of their last 13 games.
During this six-game win streak, they have won their games by an average of 27.8 points. This includes an all out beat down of Arizona Christian. They won that game, 115-41.
The Lopes also defeated Utah Tech by 25 points and Tarleton State by 32 during this streak.
How does GCU compare to the rest of the country?
The Lopes average 69 points per game which ranks in the upper half of the country and fifth in the WAC. They are shooting 45.6 percent from the floor, which is first in their conference and top 40 in the nation.
GCU is also efficient from three point range, shooting 36.3 percent. That ranks 30th in the nation and first in the WAC.
Grand Canyon also takes advantage of their opportunities at the free throw line. They are shooting 70.9 percent from the line, which is fifth in their conference.
This team also plays well on the defensive end of the floor. They are only allowing 54.4 points scored per game, which is first the WAC and 18th in the country.
Teams are only shooting 36.3 percent from the floor against GCU, which is best in the WAC and top 40 in the nation.
They are also great at defending the three point line. Teams are only shooting 29.6 percent from three against the Lopes. This is third best in their conference.
Balanced like a tight rope
Grand Canyon is a very well balanced team that can count on a plethora of players to contribute on the offensive end of the floor.
Their leading scorer is junior guard Trinity San Antonio, who is averaging 11.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and four assists per game. She has also been very efficient this season, shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 77 percent from the free throw line.
The second leading scorer is junior guard Naudia Evans, who is averaging 10.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. She provides great spacing for her teammates by shooting 43.2 percent from three point range.
Senior guard Tiarra Brown is averaging 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. She is also an efficient scorer, shooting 47 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the free throw line.
Up Next
In their next game, Grand Canyon University will be on the road against the (6-9, 1-5 in the WAC) Utah Valley Wolverines on January 18th at 6pm MST on ESPN plus.
College basketball fans should definitely tune in to watch this veteran led squad who play a well balanced style of offense and can lock down on the defensive end. They may make a deep run in the NCAA tournament and show the country that Grand Canyon University does indeed have something to say.
Men’s college basketball: Grand Canyon University may be the best team in the state of Arizona
