Grand Canyon University’s men’s basketball team faced its biggest challenge off the court when they discovered that their flight to the Bahamas for a four-game swing couldn’t accommodate the team’s equipment trailer. The team faced the prospect of leaving behind essential practice equipment and basketballs needed for their games.
However, the team was not willing to be defeated, and they began to search for a solution. They soon came up with the idea of dismantling the practice equipment and packing it into six large duffel bags which could fit in the plane’s cargo hold.
The team had to disassemble their goal posts, their hoop frames, and tearing up their padded tiles; and they headed to the airport having squeezed everything into the assigned bags. The team then had to reassemble all the equipment upon arrival in the Bahamas.
According to Head Coach Bryce Drew, it took the team almost six hours to put everything back together, but the team was happy to have arrived with everything they needed. Drew praised his team’s resilience and willingness to handle this challenge, noting that the team had even practiced without a basketball as they had to leave some behind to make space for other equipment.
Notably, this is the first time the team is travelling abroad for games after the pandemic interruptions. The team was looking forward to testing their skills against international competition.
In conclusion, GCU’s men’s basketball team overcame a significant obstacle by being creative and resourceful. They showed resilience and proved that it takes more than a cancelled flight or trailer to stop them from succeeding. The team’s resourcefulness proves that nothing can stop a determined team from achieving their goals.
