Arizona State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley
On what he's learned from the first game against Arizona this year...
"We didn't get off to a great start, we didn't shoot well. We turned the ball over, our defense was excellent in the second half, and that kind of gave us a chance in the game. But overall, we think we know that we have to play more efficiently on offense, especially on the road against a team that can score and has a lot of firepower and can really score around the basket. We're obviously going to defend, do what we do best and do the best job we can possible with Arizona. But certainly, we have to bring our offense to the game on Saturday."
On if there's any added confidence with how ASU previously defended them...
Arizona did some things that we haven't really seen defensively in that game and credit to them for doing some of the things they did. I think we've had more time to see those things on film now. And we did a better job in the second half of our first matchup of adjusting to the style of defense that they were playing. And so hopefully, we've learned from that and we were able to change some things schematically and our guys are more understanding of what they were doing with us defensively. And and that enabled us to play a little better in the second half, but it was our defense, really, that was getting stopped after stop for us and that second half, it gave us a chance."
On if tournament seeding is on his mind at all...
"We're having a good season. Now. If we were in any other league, we wouldn't even be really talking about this. But unfortunately, our league was not rated great and the non-conference and we're sitting at 99. And we're in that position. But we have games that are opportunities in front of us. If you're going to win anything meaningful, it's going to go through Tucson, and LA, whether that's now or the Pac-12 Tournament, and even the NCAA Tournament, those are all NCAA tournament teams. So if we want to prove that we belong in that event, or if we want to prove to ourselves that we could go to Vegas and win that event then we have to win those games."
On playing better on the road than at home...
"Yeah, we've done better on the road than at home, ironically, this year, and neutral sites, we've been good. So the defense so far has been pretty good in those games. And we're able to translate that into success on the road."
On telling any of the new guys on the team about playing in Tucson...
"Yeah, we've done some things, we've discussed it, just the crowd, the implications of that there's. We played a lot of road games this year, but nothing will resemble or simulate what the crowd will be like there. We haven't played anybody that comes close to that. So we've been in some home games, where it's been that huge crowd, the UCLA great feeling, but more pro-us than pro our opponents. So, it'll be interesting to see how we handle it. But certainly, it's nice to have experienced players and have a lot of guys that have played a lot of games that you would think would be able to function well in that environment. We had the whistles out this week, and we were calling a ton of files. Because, you know, that's, you know, we we know that that's going to be something that we have to work through as well, the adversity of, you know, not only the proud our opponent, but the possibility that, you know, we may not get the friendliest whistle. And that's just the reality of going into an environment like Arizona."
On Devan Cambridge...
"Yeah, he's got that experience and he wants it badly. He's super athlete. He's got a really good IQ for the game too. And and so he's been a guy has been a great, great leader and has performed well in big games. He's got his hands full, like all our guys will just guarding Arizona, in the paint and rebounding and doing the things we need to do to have some success."
On controlling Arizona's pace of play...
"Well, we talked about that we you got to avoid momentum plays where they're getting a turnover; a live ball situation they can get out because they're lethal in transition and they their bigs run to court better than anyone that we'll face all season. Then they have guys that are shooting from three very well. So our transition defense has to be the best it's been all season in this game. And that's the type of opponent we're facing. And we did some things we've tweaked some of our transition defensive drills to make it even more difficult to simulate just how quickly they could advance the ball. So hopefully that'll pay some dividends."
On the senior's playing their last three regular season games...
Yeah, I'm excited for him because as a competitor, you can't ask for anything more than the opportunities that we have in front of us the next three regular season games. There's so much to play for, and it's gonna be lively environments on the major networks, spotlight games. And we've had a good season, we've won a number of games to be in the conversation and a lot of these guys when I recruited them, that was something they talked about wanting to be in postseason want to have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. Well, you know, it's like fun but I mean, if if we're able to figure out a way to win some of these games down the stretch."
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard DJ Horne
On if he’s telling teammates what it’s like playing at Arizona…
“Yeah, to the best of my ability. You can’t really describe it unless you’re there, in a game for yourself. Just been trying to give the guys as much knowledge about how it is playing over there, like I said they just have to experience it for themselves.:
On drawing confidence from second half run against Arizona on NYE…
“Yeah, Arizona is a great team, so to be able to get down like that and fight back, have a chance to win, definitely tells us a lot. We need to be on our game from the jump and can’t dig ourselves in a hole like that to climb out. I think that’s been the main emphasis, trying to get off to a good start.”
On playing with the Cambridge brothers…
“it’s fun. You never know what to expect with them, with Dez, his threes, he makes some tough shots and then Devan jumping out of the gym. I feel like they bring so much energy to our team and we need that.”
On adjusting to atmosphere in Tucson…
“We just need to be together as a unit and its us versus everybody else. They have a crazy fanbase, it’s going to be loud. I remember last year, we couldn’t even hear the commands coming from coach Hurley. Barely can hear each other out there. Just staying together through those moments, if they come.”
On how the game is impacted when you can’t hear coach or teammates…
“It changes quite a lot because every possession matters in games like that. Every play call, defensive play call, communication with us and each other out there on the court is all important. We aren’t going to get easy point.
On excitement for having something to play for…
“It gives us a lot to play for. We took some games that we shouldn’t have lost, and the fact that we still have a chance to make it gives us that much more to play for. It gives us motivation.”
On conversations with teammates about March Madness…
“If we’re going to do it, it’s going to come from within the guys. We’ve been doing it since day one. If we’re going to do it, there’s no better time than now with these next three opponents on our schedule.”
On adjusting to Arizona’s tempo…
“We had that as a point of emphasis this week in practice, just the tempo and style of play, we’re going to have to get back on defense.”
On what he's learned from the first game against Arizona this year...
"We didn't get off to a great start, we didn't shoot well. We turned the ball over, our defense was excellent in the second half, and that kind of gave us a chance in the game. But overall, we think we know that we have to play more efficiently on offense, especially on the road against a team that can score and has a lot of firepower and can really score around the basket. We're obviously going to defend, do what we do best and do the best job we can possible with Arizona. But certainly, we have to bring our offense to the game on Saturday."
On if there's any added confidence with how ASU previously defended them...
Arizona did some things that we haven't really seen defensively in that game and credit to them for doing some of the things they did. I think we've had more time to see those things on film now. And we did a better job in the second half of our first matchup of adjusting to the style of defense that they were playing. And so hopefully, we've learned from that and we were able to change some things schematically and our guys are more understanding of what they were doing with us defensively. And and that enabled us to play a little better in the second half, but it was our defense, really, that was getting stopped after stop for us and that second half, it gave us a chance."
On if tournament seeding is on his mind at all...
"We're having a good season. Now. If we were in any other league, we wouldn't even be really talking about this. But unfortunately, our league was not rated great and the non-conference and we're sitting at 99. And we're in that position. But we have games that are opportunities in front of us. If you're going to win anything meaningful, it's going to go through Tucson, and LA, whether that's now or the Pac-12 Tournament, and even the NCAA Tournament, those are all NCAA tournament teams. So if we want to prove that we belong in that event, or if we want to prove to ourselves that we could go to Vegas and win that event then we have to win those games."
On playing better on the road than at home...
"Yeah, we've done better on the road than at home, ironically, this year, and neutral sites, we've been good. So the defense so far has been pretty good in those games. And we're able to translate that into success on the road."
On telling any of the new guys on the team about playing in Tucson...
"Yeah, we've done some things, we've discussed it, just the crowd, the implications of that there's. We played a lot of road games this year, but nothing will resemble or simulate what the crowd will be like there. We haven't played anybody that comes close to that. So we've been in some home games, where it's been that huge crowd, the UCLA great feeling, but more pro-us than pro our opponents. So, it'll be interesting to see how we handle it. But certainly, it's nice to have experienced players and have a lot of guys that have played a lot of games that you would think would be able to function well in that environment. We had the whistles out this week, and we were calling a ton of files. Because, you know, that's, you know, we we know that that's going to be something that we have to work through as well, the adversity of, you know, not only the proud our opponent, but the possibility that, you know, we may not get the friendliest whistle. And that's just the reality of going into an environment like Arizona."
On Devan Cambridge...
"Yeah, he's got that experience and he wants it badly. He's super athlete. He's got a really good IQ for the game too. And and so he's been a guy has been a great, great leader and has performed well in big games. He's got his hands full, like all our guys will just guarding Arizona, in the paint and rebounding and doing the things we need to do to have some success."
On controlling Arizona's pace of play...
"Well, we talked about that we you got to avoid momentum plays where they're getting a turnover; a live ball situation they can get out because they're lethal in transition and they their bigs run to court better than anyone that we'll face all season. Then they have guys that are shooting from three very well. So our transition defense has to be the best it's been all season in this game. And that's the type of opponent we're facing. And we did some things we've tweaked some of our transition defensive drills to make it even more difficult to simulate just how quickly they could advance the ball. So hopefully that'll pay some dividends."
On the senior's playing their last three regular season games...
Yeah, I'm excited for him because as a competitor, you can't ask for anything more than the opportunities that we have in front of us the next three regular season games. There's so much to play for, and it's gonna be lively environments on the major networks, spotlight games. And we've had a good season, we've won a number of games to be in the conversation and a lot of these guys when I recruited them, that was something they talked about wanting to be in postseason want to have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. Well, you know, it's like fun but I mean, if if we're able to figure out a way to win some of these games down the stretch."
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard DJ Horne
On if he’s telling teammates what it’s like playing at Arizona…
“Yeah, to the best of my ability. You can’t really describe it unless you’re there, in a game for yourself. Just been trying to give the guys as much knowledge about how it is playing over there, like I said they just have to experience it for themselves.:
On drawing confidence from second half run against Arizona on NYE…
“Yeah, Arizona is a great team, so to be able to get down like that and fight back, have a chance to win, definitely tells us a lot. We need to be on our game from the jump and can’t dig ourselves in a hole like that to climb out. I think that’s been the main emphasis, trying to get off to a good start.”
On playing with the Cambridge brothers…
“it’s fun. You never know what to expect with them, with Dez, his threes, he makes some tough shots and then Devan jumping out of the gym. I feel like they bring so much energy to our team and we need that.”
On adjusting to atmosphere in Tucson…
“We just need to be together as a unit and its us versus everybody else. They have a crazy fanbase, it’s going to be loud. I remember last year, we couldn’t even hear the commands coming from coach Hurley. Barely can hear each other out there. Just staying together through those moments, if they come.”
On how the game is impacted when you can’t hear coach or teammates…
“It changes quite a lot because every possession matters in games like that. Every play call, defensive play call, communication with us and each other out there on the court is all important. We aren’t going to get easy point.
On excitement for having something to play for…
“It gives us a lot to play for. We took some games that we shouldn’t have lost, and the fact that we still have a chance to make it gives us that much more to play for. It gives us motivation.”
On conversations with teammates about March Madness…
“If we’re going to do it, it’s going to come from within the guys. We’ve been doing it since day one. If we’re going to do it, there’s no better time than now with these next three opponents on our schedule.”
On adjusting to Arizona’s tempo…
“We had that as a point of emphasis this week in practice, just the tempo and style of play, we’re going to have to get back on defense.”