Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley addressed the media prior to the game against No. 5 Arizona...
Opening Statement:
“There’s some really strong similarities with how potent they (Arizona) are on the offensive end. Just all those numbers are really strong nationally and the points they can generate quickly and just the way they run the floor. Their transition offense is elite and their size around the basket is. So there’s a lot of things you have to be concerned about when you play a team like Arizona.”
On the ten-day break and the ability to have the team focus on the matchup against Arizona:
“You hate to sit on a loss like that for so long but you know as a competitor you want to get back out there and have another crack at it. Truthfully, it’s helped us more since we’ve been able to work through some of our issues, so when you lose that way your confidence gets shaken a little bit. I feel like the way we practiced, certainly today has given me good indication that we’ve been able to put that game behind us.”
On issues with players coming back on time with the holidays and airlines:
“We did, we have three guys that weren’t able to get back. Initially everyone was back the day after Christmas and we began practicing again and those three guys didn’t get back until yesterday so they missed two days. There was nothing, and we did everything in our power with the school to get them back sooner. It was crazy with the airports and the airlines.”
On finishing the non-conference schedule and what can be better and what is he happy with:
“I think we’ve established our identity and kind of lost our way with that in the last two games of the non-conference schedule. We need to get back to playing defense the way we’re capable of and that’s enabled us to run better offense and a lot hinges on how we’re guarding and our commitment to that. We’ve had some good practices where we’re defending with the appropriate energy and attentions and so it’s been exciting to see that. But as far as that goes we’re 11-2, 2-0 in the Pac-12 and got a road win in the Pac-12 under our belts and some really good wins against Michigan and Creighton. So you’ve got to feel good about what we’ve done and where we are today but we have to keep moving from here.”
On having the two conference games early:
“I wouldn’t say I’m committed either way to saying ‘this is the best way.’ I do think it helps all the teams in the Pac-12 to have those weeks where you have one game to get fresh. You don’t want to be playing multiple games every week and if you don’t get those games done, then now we move to a twenty-game schedule. Then you might get some teams that are wearing down and are NCAA tournament level teams and you want those teams to be sharp and fresh late in the season.”
On how Arizona forward Tautvilas Tubelis biggest growth and problems he’s creating for other teams:
“These guys really run and they post up really quickly. They played together now (the core has) for a couple years, so you can see the feel for where they are on the floor and the ability to find each other and the basketball IQ they have. They can hurt you in so many different ways. Strategically in how you prepare is trying to take some things away but you know you’ll give some things up in the process. I’m just excited for the game fellas, excited for the crowd, excited for the environment, it's what you live for. I just personally scooped up 50 tickets myself and I don’t know if I have that many friends to give them too but I’ll find 50 people and put a gold T-shirt or jersey so it’s going to be an exciting environment.”
On Lobbying the conference to not put this type of game during a holiday break:
“Yeah, you hate to see it but it happens both ways for us I feel like. I don’t think Arizona had their students around when we played in years past but you’d love to get the rivalry games when you have students on campus. That’s the biggest negative about the game but I just love the timing of it. It’s at noon, it’s on FOX, it’s on New Year’s Eve and it should be a big-time game.”
On what he tells the freshmen and transfers on this type of rivalry game:
“We haven’t gone overboard, we’ve treated it like normal prep and I think for us, Frankie Collins has played in the Big Ten, in tough, hostile environments. The Cambridge brothers in the SEC and played in a lot of big games. Warren Washington the same. So I think the experience of those older guys will hopefully help. Hopefully they won’t feel like they have to do more because of the crowd or the energy in the building.”
Opening Statement:
“There’s some really strong similarities with how potent they (Arizona) are on the offensive end. Just all those numbers are really strong nationally and the points they can generate quickly and just the way they run the floor. Their transition offense is elite and their size around the basket is. So there’s a lot of things you have to be concerned about when you play a team like Arizona.”
On the ten-day break and the ability to have the team focus on the matchup against Arizona:
“You hate to sit on a loss like that for so long but you know as a competitor you want to get back out there and have another crack at it. Truthfully, it’s helped us more since we’ve been able to work through some of our issues, so when you lose that way your confidence gets shaken a little bit. I feel like the way we practiced, certainly today has given me good indication that we’ve been able to put that game behind us.”
On issues with players coming back on time with the holidays and airlines:
“We did, we have three guys that weren’t able to get back. Initially everyone was back the day after Christmas and we began practicing again and those three guys didn’t get back until yesterday so they missed two days. There was nothing, and we did everything in our power with the school to get them back sooner. It was crazy with the airports and the airlines.”
On finishing the non-conference schedule and what can be better and what is he happy with:
“I think we’ve established our identity and kind of lost our way with that in the last two games of the non-conference schedule. We need to get back to playing defense the way we’re capable of and that’s enabled us to run better offense and a lot hinges on how we’re guarding and our commitment to that. We’ve had some good practices where we’re defending with the appropriate energy and attentions and so it’s been exciting to see that. But as far as that goes we’re 11-2, 2-0 in the Pac-12 and got a road win in the Pac-12 under our belts and some really good wins against Michigan and Creighton. So you’ve got to feel good about what we’ve done and where we are today but we have to keep moving from here.”
On having the two conference games early:
“I wouldn’t say I’m committed either way to saying ‘this is the best way.’ I do think it helps all the teams in the Pac-12 to have those weeks where you have one game to get fresh. You don’t want to be playing multiple games every week and if you don’t get those games done, then now we move to a twenty-game schedule. Then you might get some teams that are wearing down and are NCAA tournament level teams and you want those teams to be sharp and fresh late in the season.”
On how Arizona forward Tautvilas Tubelis biggest growth and problems he’s creating for other teams:
“These guys really run and they post up really quickly. They played together now (the core has) for a couple years, so you can see the feel for where they are on the floor and the ability to find each other and the basketball IQ they have. They can hurt you in so many different ways. Strategically in how you prepare is trying to take some things away but you know you’ll give some things up in the process. I’m just excited for the game fellas, excited for the crowd, excited for the environment, it's what you live for. I just personally scooped up 50 tickets myself and I don’t know if I have that many friends to give them too but I’ll find 50 people and put a gold T-shirt or jersey so it’s going to be an exciting environment.”
On Lobbying the conference to not put this type of game during a holiday break:
“Yeah, you hate to see it but it happens both ways for us I feel like. I don’t think Arizona had their students around when we played in years past but you’d love to get the rivalry games when you have students on campus. That’s the biggest negative about the game but I just love the timing of it. It’s at noon, it’s on FOX, it’s on New Year’s Eve and it should be a big-time game.”
On what he tells the freshmen and transfers on this type of rivalry game:
“We haven’t gone overboard, we’ve treated it like normal prep and I think for us, Frankie Collins has played in the Big Ten, in tough, hostile environments. The Cambridge brothers in the SEC and played in a lot of big games. Warren Washington the same. So I think the experience of those older guys will hopefully help. Hopefully they won’t feel like they have to do more because of the crowd or the energy in the building.”