![]() Valparaiso won four regular-season and two Horizon League tournament titles and played in two NCAA tournaments in Drew’s five seasons. That desire to help young men trumped his desire to make a lot more money.” “He was definitely in the prime of his career. “I think he felt a calling to get into coaching,” said Drew, who hit one of the most memorable shots in tournament history 25 years ago, a 3-pointer at the buzzer on a well-designed inbound play by his dad as Valparaiso beat Mississippi 70-69. ![]() I told my agent and he said, ‘Are you crazy?’ I said, ‘I guess, but this is my heart.’ ”ĭrew is thankful Powell chose with his heart over his wallet. “Coaching college kids is the perfect place to mentor and work with kids. “It’s kind of a surreal thing,” Powell said. That was two years before Powell joined Drew’s staff. My wife (Tara) told me, ‘You’d be a great coach.’ I said, ‘No way, I make too much money, but at a place like Valpo I’d consider it.’ ” I was always close to the family through Dana and Casey and I always had great respect for Homer. “So I started talking to Bryce, it was Skype in those days, and the relationship grew. ![]() ![]() “Dana and Casey were the ones that kind of connected us. “I was making great money, I could have had a chance to get back into the NBA, but my heart was into mentorship and working with young athletes,” Powell said. That started the ball rolling on Powell, at age 28, leaving behind a lucrative pro career to join Bryce when he succeeded Homer as Valparaiso’s head coach in 2011-12. The connection grew tighter when Powell, after a short NBA stint, played professionally overseas and became friends with Casey Shaw, a 6-foot-10 forward who was in the same league in Italy. He played against Valparaiso, coached by Homer Drew, father of Bryce and Scott. Powell knew about the Drew family from his days as a standout forward at Illinois. “And the next day,” Powell said, “I’m watching film to get ready to play them.” Powell tweeted a picture of GCU celebrating its WAC championship Saturday night with the following words: “Put some respect on his name!! Bryce Drew!!!” I’m sure for the game they’ll be cheering for their dads and after the game they’ll be playing and laughing together.” “Liam stayed the night in our hotel room. “They just came to our game in Las Vegas,” Drew said. I told him no matter what, we’re going to be friends.” “It’s basically the same (as facing Baylor) because Roger is like a brother. “It’s bittersweet, having to play them,” Drew said. “Oh boy,” he said, “but then, hey, it’s exciting. 14 Grand Canyon appeared in the same bracket on the television screen, Powell’s reaction was muted. They stayed at the hotel and our kids had a sleepover when we were in Vegas.Īs Selection Sunday approached, Powell and Drew began to wonder: What if Gonzaga and Grand Canyon matched up in the NCAA Tournament? Drew, whose brother Scott is the head coach at Baylor and beat the Zags in the 2021 national championship game, had another first-round possibility to consider: What if Grand Canyon faces Baylor? “We were together at the WCC tournament,” said Powell, an assistant on Drew’s staff at Valparaiso and Vanderbilt before joining Gonzaga’s program four years ago. Last week in Las Vegas, Powell and Drew had two good reasons to celebrate as Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference tournament and Grand Canyon claimed the Western Athletic Conference tournament four days apart at the same venue, Orleans Arena. Powell’s 9-year-old son, Liam, and Drew’s son, Bryson, are best friends. Their families vacation together at Disneyland. They call each other and send text messages. and Grand Canyon head coach Bryce Drew do what close friends do.
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