The Arizona State Sun Devils (11-13; 4-7) start a run with five of final seven games at home that includes a visit from the California Golden Bears on Wednesday, Feb. 8 for a 9 p.m. ESPNU tip with Roy Philpott and Brad Daugherty on the call. Stanford then visits on Saturday, Feb. 11, for a 6 p.m. Pac-12 Network tip with Roxy Bernstein and Don MacLean on the call. Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd have the call on the Sun Devil Sports Radio Network, presented by MidFirst (620 AM). ASU fell to the Bears 81-65 in a closer-than-score indicates game on Jan. 1 (it was tied at 61) after defeating Stanford 98-93 on Dec. 30. Last weekend ASU commited just 14 turnovers in Oregon, as it is 12th in the nation with just 10.6 turnovers per game.
QUICK HITTERS: The 81.2 points per game posted by ASU is its best since the 1997-98 squad averaged 84.5, as ASU ranks second in the Pac-12 in scoring and third in free throw shooting (.745). ASU is averaging just 10.6 turnovers (first in the league) and ten three-pointers made, second in the Pac-12.
MINUTE(S)MEN: Markelle Fultz leads the Pac-12 in minutes per game in confererence play at 37.9, but not far behind him are three Sun Devils: Tra Holder (37.8/second), Shannon Evans II (36.6/fourth) and Torian Graham (35.6/tied fo seventh).
THREE IN TOP 10: ASU has three of the top scorers in the Pac-12 entering play this weekend. Torian Graham (18.5 ppg.) is second followed by Tra Holder (17.8/third) and Shannon Evans II (16.2/ninth).
DUCK GAME WAS DARN CLOSE: ASU had just six turnovers in a 71-70 loss at now No. 5 Oregon last Thursday (Feb. 2) in a game that had nine ties and 15 lead changes...Shannon Evans matched his ASU high with 28 points and Tra Holder added 17...ASU led 60-59 with 3:37 left but Dillon Brooks scored the final 12 points for the win...game was tied at 66 with 1:45...ASU was the first team to not have double-digit turnovers vs. the Ducks this season, as its six was fewest in ASU's previous 114 games (five vs. College of Charleston in Anaheim on Nov. 29, 2013).
SEASON RESET: ASU zig-zagged across North America three times (Orlando, Bahamas and New York City) and got solid road wins at San Diego State (Dec. 10) and Stanford (Dec. 30)...Sun Devils returned two starters (Tra Holder and Obi Oleka) and four total lettermen from last year that posted eight wins against top-100 RPI teams in Bobby Hurley's first season...four players average at least 12 ppg...five players average at least 28 minutes...Obi Oleka is one of four Pac-12 players averaging a double-double (12.3 ppg./10.3 rpg.)...Obi leads the league in double-figure rebounding games with 15.
@CAL 81, ASU 65 (1/1/17): The game was a lot closer than the score would indicate, as there were 15 lead changes and 11 ties (seven minutes) back on January 1 in the Cal win...the game was tied at 61 with 5:45 remaining...Obi Oleka had 18 points and six rebounds...ASU shot .484 from the field in the first half (15-of-31)...Cal finished the game by making its final eight shots and went on a 14-2 run in the final minutes to seal the win.
VS. CAL: ASU swept Cal for the tenth time in 2014-15 while last year the Bears returned the favor...the year prior (2013-14) marked the first time since 1999-2000 ASU swept the Bears...ASU's 35-point 79-44 win Jan. 22, 2015, at Cal is its biggest Pac-12 win since since it beat Washington State by 41 (96-55) on Jan. 11, 2003, and the second-largest Pac-12 road win in school history, as it dealt the Golden Bears their second-largest home loss...ASU has won five of the past eight vs. the Golden Bears (but Cal has won the past three).
ASU PAST EIGHT VS. CALIFORNIA (5-3)
@California 81, ASU 65/Jan. 1, 2017
California 68, ASU 65/March 5, 2016
@California 75, ASU 70/Jan. 21, 2016
ASU 74, California 70/March 7, 2015
ASU 79, @California 44/Jan. 22, 2015
ASU 78, California 60/March 1, 2014
ASU 89, @California 78(OT)/January 29, 2014
ASU 66, California 62/February 7, 2013
FREE THROWS: Shannon Evans II currently leads the Pac-12 in free throw percentage (83-of-97/.856). Two Sun Devils have led the Pac-12 in free throw percentage, as Chris Beasley shot .875 (112-of-128) in 1983-84 and Alex Austin made 69-of-80 (.863) in 1988-89.
2,247 POINTS IN BACKCOURT: Junior Tra Holder moved past the 1,000-point mark at UCLA on Jan. 19 with 22 points as he is the 36th member of the Sun Devil 1,000-point club. ASU now has a backcourt with two 1,000-point scorers, as Shannon Evans has 1,142 career points, 754 of them coming in 62 games at Buffalo.
SUN DEVIL CAREER POINTS
1. Eddie House, 1996-2000/2,044
24. Rihards Kuksiks, 2007-10/1,175
25. Fat Lever, 1978-82/1,137
26. Tommy Smith, 1999-2003/1,123
27. Mike Batiste, 1996-98/1,120
28. Dwayne Fontana, 1990-94/1,113
29. Tra Holder, 2015-present/1,105
ASU 81, @OSU 68 (2/4/17): ASU has now won seven of the past 10 and 13 of the past 16 over Oregon State after its 81-68 in Corvallis on Feb. 4...ASU went on a 14-0 run to lead 20-12 early and never looked back, leading 44-25 at the half...Torian Graham and Shannon Evans II each had 21 points, as ASU hit 10 three-pointers in the first half and held OSU to just 23-of-58 (.397) from the field and had 11 steals.
ASU MOST STEALS IN PAC-10/12 ROAD GAME/1999-PRESENT
12 at USC (Jan. 20, 2000)
11 at Oregon State (Feb. 4, 2017)
11 at UCLA (Feb. 27, 2013)
11 at USC (Feb. 12, 2005)
11 at Oregon (March 2, 2000)
11 at California (Jan. 6, 2000)
ASU BIGGEST HALFTIME LEADS IN PAC-10/12 ROAD GAMES (19+ POINTS)/1989-90 TO PRESENT
28--ASU 48, Washington State 20 (Jan. 11, 2003)
21--ASU 34, @California 13 (Jan. 22, 2015)
20--ASU 47, @Oregon State 27 (Jan. 27, 1996)
19--ASU 44, @Oregon State 25 (Feb. 4, 2017)
19--ASU 46, @Oregon 27 (Jan. 14, 2010)
FINAL FOUR REMINDER: ASU and Glendale/Phoenix host the 2017 Final Four, the first Final Four held west of Texas since Seattle in 1995. It will be held at University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. The 2017 Final Four also marks the 25th anniversary of Bobby Hurley earning 1992 MOP.
FREE THROW THREE-DOT DATA: The Sun Devils are making free throws at a rate that is third-best in school history (374-of-502/.745). ASU shot .756 in 1977-78 and .754 in 1954-55 for its best seasons...ASU went 12-of-12 in the second half of a tight road win at San Diego State on Dec. 10 and was 16-of-18 for the game...junior Tra Holder is 340-of-462 (.736) from the charity stripe in his 88 games...Shannon Evans II made his first 20 free throws to start the season. He 267-of-328 (.814) from the free throw line in his career.
ASU 98, @STANFORD 93 (12/30/16): Lots of three-dot data from the Pac-12 opening win over on Dec. 30...ASU made 33-of-43 free throws (second-most made in a Pac-12 game in ASU history)...52 first-half points were ASU's most in Pac-12 game since Feb. 2, 2010 (54 vs. Stanford)...98 points most by ASU in a Pac-12 road game since 99-90 2OT win at Cal on Jan. 17, 2008, and the most in regulation Pac-12 road game since Jan. 17, 2004 (100-85 at USC)...Torian Graham's 30 points was most by a Sun Devil in Pac-12 opener since Jeff Pendergraph had 31 at Stanford on Jan. 2, 2009...Torian's 30 points off bench most by a Sun Devil since Steve Moore had 31 at UCLA on Feb. 10, 2005...ASU's last win in Palo Alto was Feb. 25, 2010.
ASU'S HIGHEST SCORING PAC-10/12 ROAD GAMES
ASU 111, @California 108, 2OT (Jan. 8, 2000)
ASU 103, @Arizona 98, 2OT (Mar. 11, 1995)
ASU 100, @USC 85 (Jan. 17, 2004)
ASU 99, @California 90, 2OT (Jan. 17, 2008)
@Arizona 127, ASU 99 (Jan. 15, 1998)
ASU 99, @Oregon 84 (Jan. 30, 1993)
ASU 98, @Stanford 93 (Dec. 30, 2016)
TORIAN-ING IT UP: Torian Graham posted a career-high in each tilt of a three-game December span with 24 vs. Creighton, 26 vs. Central Arkansas and then 30 off the bench at Stanford. In his past 13 games he is averaging 20.3 points. He shot .518 (71-of-137) from the field in the 11 games he came off the bench, averaging 31.8 minutes and 18.1 points.
MOST SUN DEVIL POINTS OFF BENCH (1989-90 TO PRESENT)
31-Steve Moore, 2/10/05 at UCLA
30-Torian Graham, 12/30/16 at Stanford
29-Shawn Redhage, 2/8/03 at Washington
27-Lester Neal, 12/28/92 vs. Duquesne
26-Torian Graham, 1/19/17 at #3 UCLA
OBI PUTTING UP NUMBERS: Senior 6-8 forward Obi Oleka has to do much of the big man work this year, as he has led or tied for team lead in rebounding in all but two games. He has 12 double-doubles and in the past 13 games he is averaging 14.2 points and 11.5 rebounds. He had a career-best 17 rebounds vs. Central Arkansas on Dec. 22.
SUN DEVIL SEASON DOUBLE-DOUBLES (PAC-10/12 ERA OF 1978-79 TO PRESENT)
Ike Diogu, Jr., 2004-05, 15
Carrick Felix, Sr., 2012-13, 13
Kurt Nimphius, Sr., 1979-80, 13
Obi Oleka, Sr., 2016-17, 12
Alton Lister, Sr., 1980-81, 12
Jordan Bachynski, Sr., 2013-14, 12
PAC-12 OVERALL DOUBLE-DOUBLES
14-Kyle Kuzma, UTAH
12-Obi Oleka, ASU
12-Josh Hawkinson, WSU
OBI ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON: It was the Jan. 14 WSU game where forward Obinna Oleka (Oh-BEE-nah Oh-LEH-ka) began to emerge last season. Obi was in double figures in 13 of the final 16 games and averaged 11.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and was 41-of-49 (.837) from the free throw line in that time. He also had three of his four double-doubles in that span. Oleka had no points and one rebound in the first two games, but because he only played five games for State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota the previous two seasons and didn't play in 2014-15, a slow start was expected. Consider this: Before he took the court in the opener Nov. 13, his previous official game was Dec. 7, 2013...a 705-day break between games.
TOP CAREER SCORING GAMES FOR OBINNA OLEKA
22 at #16 Arizona (1/12/17)
20 vs. Citadel (11/23/16)
19 vs. #9 Creighton (12/20/16)
19 vs. Kennesaw State (11/18/15)
18 at California (1/1/17)
18 vs. Central Arkansas (12/22/16)
OBI OLEKA'S 12 DOUBLE-DOUBLES THIS SEASON
15/11 vs. Washington State (1/29/17)
17/14 at USC (1/22/17)
10/12 at #3 UCLA (1/19/17)
15/10 vs. Colorado (1/5/17)
18/17 vs. Central Arkansas (12/22/16)
19/16 vs. #9 Creighton (12/20/16)
15/11 vs. New Mexico State (12/17/16)
15/12 at San Diego State (12/10/16)
14/11 vs. #1 Kentucky (11/28/16)
20/15 vs. Citadel (11/23/16)
11/10 vs. Nothern Iowa (11/17/16)
17/13 vs. Cal Poly (11/13/16)
MOST REBOUNDS IN TWO-YEAR SUN DEVIL CAREER
1. Paul Stovall, 1920-72/647
5. Isaac Austin, 1989-91/454
6. Obi Oleka, 2015-17/441
FALL SIGNINGS: From one coast to the other one, Bobby Hurley's staff signed a pair of top-100 players this past fall, as 6-6 swingman Kimani Lawrence (New Hampton School in New Hampton, N.H.) and 6-2 guard Remy Martin of Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon will join the Sun Devil program in 2017-18. A four-star signee according to Scout, Martin averaged 14.5 points as a junior. Lawrence, a four-star small forward from The New Hampton School in New Hampton, N.H., is the nation's 54th overall prospect according to ESPN.
SCOUT.COM SUN DEVIL TOP-100 RECRUITS ON ROSTER NEXT FALL
54. Kimani Lawrence, 2017 (freshman next year)
81. Romello White, 2016 (sitting this year/academic redshirt)
98. Remy Martin, 2017 (freshman next year)
100. Tra Holder, 2014 (2015 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team)
ASU 86, WASHINGTON 75 (1/25/17): UW led by seven in the first half and then ASU led by 15 in the second and ASU made 16-of-19 free throws in the second half and was 11-of-25 from three-point range to get the 11-point win. ASU held UW to .403 from the field, its best defensive outing in its Pac-12 seasons, as Shannon Evans II had 25 points while Tra had 23.
SUN DEVIL 50+ POINT HALVES THIS YEAR
72, second half vs. Citadel (Nov. 23, 2016)
57, second half vs. Cal Poly (Nov. 13, 2016)
55, first half vs. Citadel (Nov. 23, 2016)
52, second half vs. Washington (Jan. 25, 2017)
52, first half at Stanford (Dec. 31, 2016)
51, first half vs. Central Arkansas (Dec. 22, 2016)
51, first half vs. UNLV (Dec. 3, 2016)
50, second half at #16 Arizona (Jan. 12, 2017)
HE CAN PLAY: Transfer Shannon Evans II arrived at ASU after having spent two seasons under Coach Hurley at Buffalo. As a sophomore in 2014-15 he averaged 15.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists and led the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament as he earned second-team All-MAC honors. As a freshman, he averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 assists per game and was named to the All-MAC Freshman Team. He sat the 2015-16 season but has two years to play starting in 2016-17.
SHANNON EVANS II 20-POINT SCORING GAMES (17/8 AT ASU)
33 vs. Cornell (1/3/15)
28 at #13 Oregon (2/2/17)
28 vs. UNLV (12/3/16)
25 vs. Washington (1/25/17)
25 at Ball State (2/4/15)
24 at UT-Arlington (11/18/14)
23 vs. Central Arkansas (12/22/16)
23 at Western Michigan (1/10/15)
23 at Grand Canyon (11/25/14)
21 at Oregon State (2/4/17)
21 vs. Utah (1/7/17)
21 vs. Tulane (11/18/16)
21 at Kent State (2/28/15)
21 at St. Bonaventure (12/3/14)
20 vs. Niagara (12/19/14)
20 vs. Manhattan (12/21/13)
20 vs. Cal Poly (11/13/16)
QUICK QUESTIONS WITH SHANNON EVANS
Most upset you have ever been on the court: Losing the NCAA tournament
Happiest you have ever been on the court: Winning the MAC championship
You can go watch a past sporting event live...which one? 1991 Duke vs UNLV
Past Sun Devil (any sport) you wish you could have watched compete: Pat Tillman
JUSTICE SERVED: Kodi Justice has made 116 three pointers in 74 career games. He suffered a fractured navicular bone in his left foot on Jan. 25, 2015 (freshman year) and missed the remainder of that season, but bounced back with a solid sophomore season. His injury happened the game following a season-high 16 points at California, so he was just starting to get in the groove, and then adapted to a new coaching staff in the summer of 2015 while getting healthy. He posted 10 double-digit scoring games last year and ied for second on team in assists (76) and steals (30).
FOUR QUESTIONS WITH KODI JUSTICE
You can pick the brain of any coach, who is it? John Wooden
You can go watch a past sporting event live...which one? Rumble in the Jungle
Past Sun Devil (any sport) you wish you could have watched compete: Pat Tillman
Biggest challenge in my life: Being dyslexic
ASU 97, UNLV 73 (12/3/16): ASU started fast and never looked back in a 97-73 win over UNLV, as ASU made 13-of-22 (.591) three-pointers in the first half en route to matching a school record with 18. Shannon Evans II led ASU with 28 points while Torian Graham had 22 and Tra Holder 20. ASU led 51-32 at the half and had just eight turnovers.
SUN DEVIL MOST THREE POINT FIELD GOALS
18 vs. Central Arkansas, Dec. 22, 2016
18 vs. UNLV, Dec. 3, 2016
18 vs. San Francisco, Nov. 20, 2009
17 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 5, 2011 and vs. Idaho State, Dec. 23, 2008
16 vs. Miami (Ohio), Nov. 12, 2013
15 vs. Citadel, Nov. 23, 2016
CALL THEM COMEBACKS: In the past 11 seasons, ASU has made four halftime comebacks on the road of at least seven points, three of them under Bobby Hurley. Last year ASU came back from 12 down to win at UNLV and eight down at Creighton. It came back from seven down to win at San Diego State on Dec. 10.
HALFTIME COMEBACKS ON ROAD 2006-07 PRESENT (7+ POINTS OR MORE)
(12) @UNLV 37, ASU 25 (Dec. 16, 2015)/ASU 66, @UNLV 56
(8) @Creighton 41, ASU 33 (Dec.2, 2015)/ASU 79, @Creighton 77
(7) @San Diego State 32, ASU 25 (Dec. 10, 2016)/ASU 74, @San Diego State 63
(7) @Stanford 35, ASU 28 (Feb. 25, 2010)/ASU 68, @Stanford 60
SUN DEVIL MOST THREE-POINTERS IN A SEASON
1. 113, Stevin Smith/1992-93
6. 82, Jeremain Marshall/2013-14
7. 81, Rihards Kuksiks/2009-10
7. 81, Kevin Kruger/2005-06
9. 80, Ron Riley/1994-95
10. 78, Ty Abbott/2009-10
74, Torian Graham/2016-17
ASU VS. CAL IN PAC-10/12 PLAY
v Overall series: ASU leads 39-36
v ASU leads 24-13 in Tempe
v Cal leads 23-15 in Berkeley/Oakland
@Cal 81, ASU 65/Jan. 1, 2017
Cal 68, ASU 65/Mar. 5, 2016
@Cal 75, ASU 70/Jan. 21, 2016
ASU 74, Cal 70/Mar. 7, 2015
ASU 79, @Cal 44/Jan. 22, 2015
ASU 78, Cal 60/Mar. 1, 2014
ASU 89, @Cal 78 OT/Jan. 29, 2014
ASU 66, Cal 62/Feb. 7, 2013
@Cal 68, ASU 47/Feb. 4, 2012
@Cal 66, ASU 62/Feb 3, 2011
Cal 65, ASU 61/Jan. 8 2011
@Cal 62, ASU 46/Feb. 27, 2010
Cal 78, ASU 70/Jan. 28, 2010
ASU 83, Cal 66/Mar. 7, 2009
@Cal 81, ASU 71/Jan. 4, 2009
Cal 76, ASU 73/Feb. 16, 2008
ASU 99, @Cal 90 2OT/Jan. 17, 2008
ASU 42, @Cal 41/Mar. 3, 2007
Cal 66, ASU 62 OT/Dec. 30, 2006
ASU 65, @Cal 64 2OT/Feb. 18, 2006
Cal 88, ASU 58/Jan. 19, 2006
Cal 84, ASU 82/Feb. 5, 2005
ASU 79, @Cal 70/Jan. 8, 2005
@Cal 85, ASU 83/Feb. 7, 2004
Cal 74, ASU 62/Jan. 10, 2004
@Cal 80, ASU 72/Mar. 2, 2003
ASU 75, Cal 70/Jan. 30, 2003
Cal 91, ASU 80/Feb. 28, 2002
@Cal 67, ASU 59/Feb. 2, 2002
@Cal 86, ASU 67/Mar. 8, 2001
Cal 82, ASU 67/Jan. 6, 2001
ASU 85, Cal 76/Mar. 9, 2000
ASU 111, @Cal 108 2OT/Jan. 8, 2000
@Cal 78, ASU 73/Feb. 27, 1999
ASU 69, Cal 66/Jan. 28, 1999
ASU 99, Cal 80/Feb. 28, 1998
@Cal 82, ASU 77/Jan. 29, 1998
@Cal 84, ASU 66/Mar. 6, 1997
ASU 64, Cal 60/Jan. 4, 1997
ASU 56, Cal 52/Mar. 7, 1996
@Cal 97, ASU 82/Jan. 6, 1996
ASU 100, Cal 81/Feb. 9, 1995
ASU 73, @Cal 68/Jan. 14, 1995
@Cal 95, ASU 78/Feb. 10, 1994
ASU 63, Cal 60/Jan. 15, 1994
@Cal 91, ASU 67/Mar. 6, 1993
ASU 90, Cal 83/Feb. 4, 1993
ASU 74, Cal 71/Mar. 7, 1992
@Cal 68, ASU 61/Feb. 7, 1992
ASU 87, Cal 78/Feb. 24, 1991
@Cal 76, ASU 65/Jan. 24, 1991
@Cal 69, ASU 60/Feb. 23, 1990
Cal 68, ASU 66 2OT/Jan. 25, 1990
Cal 73, ASU 63/Feb. 4, 1989
@Cal 84, ASU 60/Jan. 5, 1989
ASU 88, @Cal 75/Feb. 4, 1988
ASU 82, Cal 60/Jan. 9, 1988
@Cal 71, ASU 65/Feb. 26, 1987
ASU 61, Cal 53/Jan. 24, 1987
@Cal 83, ASU 61/Feb. 8, 1986
ASU 69, Cal 67 OT/ Jan. 7, 1986
ASU 61, Cal 60/ Feb. 7, 1985
ASU 77, @Cal 70/Jan. 12, 1985
ASU 59, @Cal 54/Mar. 1, 1984
ASU 75, Cal 60/Feb. 4, 1984
ASU 79, Cal 69/ Mar. 3, 1983
ASU 72, @Cal 65/Feb. 3, 1983
@Cal 70, ASU 65/Feb. 27, 1982
ASU 70, Cal 57/Jan. 29, 1982
ASU 81, Cal 68/Feb. 28, 1981
ASU 84, @Cal 81 2OT/Feb. 2, 1981
ASU 69, Cal 58/Jan. 31, 1980
ASU 74, @Cal 63/Jan. 5, 1980
ASU 91, @Cal 55/Feb. 3, 1979
Cal 70, ASU 59/Jan. 4, 1979