When the Grand Canyon plays Ut Arlington on Saturday, the second year leader Makaih Williams does not expect to hear a lot of cheers. It could even be welcomed by hoots.
But it’s okay. He is now part of the other team, the team that beat UT Arlington in Las Vegas last year when Williams was the first year of WAC year at UTA. The Lopes prevented them from reaching the NCAA tournament by beating them during the conference tournament championship match.
“I don’t expect (at a warm reception),” said Williams. “But I am happy for these guys and their success.”
He said that there was no bad blood with UTA and that he remains friends with some of his former teammates who are still there, like Kade Douglas and Brandyn Talbot. “These are my guys,” said Williams.
“I’m just ready to go there and compete,” he said.
Ut Arlington (11-13, 4-6) had 12-12 last year at that time, before running in the WAC and going to the conference final, before losing against GCU 89- 74 in Orleans Arena, finishing, finishing 20-14. Temperatures flared at the end of the game.
At the time, the last team that Williams could have been joined was GCU.
But he put his name in the transfer portal and the Grand Canyon continued him, knowing what threat he was against them last year with his defense, his tenacity and his ability to shoot 3s.
Williams ended up joining the team that refused his dream of NCAA tournament.
“I love it here. I just talked to everyone yesterday about the way I am happy and grateful that I am here,” said Williams about his decision.
“I am happy that we were going to a new conference (the Mountain West) next year. I’m just happy with the whole situation. I am lucky to be in this position.”
Williams concentrates the match on Thursday evening in Tarleton State (10-15, 5-5) and get rid of the bad feeling of 85-71 on Saturday at California Baptist who ended a sequence of six consecutive victories by LES LOPES (17-6, 7-2).
They cannot afford to lose more WAC matches if they want to finish the regular season as champions of the conference, with Utah Valley at 9-1 at conference.
Williams played well as a departure guard during the victories sequence, before he was held at seven points on 2 shots on 8 and stolen, playing 22 minutes against Cal Baptist.
“I just want to win as a team,” he said. “The first thing we have to do is worry about Tarleton. I will first worry about them, then I will arrive at UTA afterwards.”
Coach Bryce Drew expects Williams to bounce during the trip to Texas.
“I’m sure it will be difficult for him (going back to Uta),” said Drew. “He spent a happy new year there, had a lot of good relationships. Each time you do this, you must be mentally more difficult. It will be good for him to go back and have the opportunity to play.”
With the first -year leader phipps of hand surgery, Williams will receive more aid to the position of the point. Ray Harrison is also in the mixture. Williams started in the goalkeeper Tyon Grant-Foster, who prospered the bench last month.
But Lopes know that they need to recover this advantage they lost to Riverside, California on Saturday. They turned the ball more than 22 times at CBU and only carried out 12 francs out of 23.
“Our rebound must be better,” said Drew. “Our defense, especially in the first half, was not very good.
“We had six very good games that we have executed. We have to come back.”
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Makaih Williams of GCU does not expect a warm reception in Ut Arlington
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