The Arizona State Sun Devil men's hoops team returns three starters (four letterman) from last year's squad and welcomes six newcomers in 2017-18. ASU under third-year head coach Bobby Hurley will be led by seniors Tra Holder, Shannon Evans II and Kodi Justice and sophomore forward Ramon Vila. The squad finishes its two home free exhibitions on Friday, Nov. 3m vs. Arizona Christian at 6 p.m.
LAST EXHIBITION: ASU won 85-77 at the University of San Diego on Wednesday, Nov. 1, behind freshman Remy Martin's 25 points off the bench and Tra Holder's 21. ASU was 27-of-36 (.750) from the free throw line, led by Martin's 8-of-10, and played without Shannon Evans II (stomach virus). Romello White added 14 points and 10 boards in 26 minutes. ASU was down 14-6 at the first media timeout but outscored USD 16-7 in next four minutes and led the rest of the first half. ASU had five six-point leads, including 70-64 at 9:04, but USD took a 72-71 lead with 6:12 left and 75-74 at the 3:41 media timeout. ASU scored the next nine points on a three-pointer by Remy Martin, two free throws by Kodi Justice, a layup and free throw by Tra Holder free throw by Kodi Justice.
TOP SCORERS: ASU has two of the top five scorers in the Pac-12 returning, as Tra Holder (16.2 ppg) and Shannon Evans II (15.0) averaged more than 31 points. Only Reid Travis (Stanford), Allonzo Trier (Arizona) and Stephan Thompson (Oregon State) averaged more than Tra and Shannon last year in overall games.
PAC-12 TOP RETURNING SCORERS IN 2017-18
17.4-Reid Travis, Stanford
17.2-Allonzo Trier, Arizona
16.3-Stephen Thompson, Oregon State
16.2-Tra Holder, Arizona State
15.0-Shannon Evans II, Arizona State
PREDICTIONS: ASU was picked sixth in the Pac-12 preseason media poll announced on Oct. 12, its top preseason rankings since being picked fourth in the Pac-10 prior to the 2010-11 season. ASU has been picked 11th (2016-17 and 2012-13), eighth (2015-16), ninth (2014-15 and 2011-12), seventh (2013-14) in seven previous Pac-12 polls. Arizona was picked to finish first, followed by USC, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford, ASU, Utah, Oregon State, Colorado, Washington, California and Washington State.
NOT MANY CAN SAY THIS: ASU's backcourt will have two 1,000-point career scorers. Tra Holder has 1,215 points in 97 Sun Devil games (12.5 ppg.), while Shannon Evans II has 1,248 career points (13.1 ppg.), with 754 of them coming at Buffalo from 2013-15. Combined the duo has made 764 total field goals, 277 three-pointers, 658 free throws and has dropped 2,463 collegiate points in 192 career games.
MOST COMBINED CAREER POINTS BY TWO TEAMMATES ENTERING 2017-18
2,707/St. Bonaventure: Jaylen Adams (1,377) and Matt Mobley (1,330)
2,701/Rhode Island: E.C. Matthews (1,519) and Jared Terrell (1,182)
2,639/Xavier: Trevon Bluiett (1,585) and J.P. Macura (1,054)
2,463/Arizona State: Shannon Evans II (1,248) and Tra Holder (1,215)
STRENGTH NOTES: ASU's 78.6 points per game last year was its best since the 1997-98 squad averaged 84.5...ASU ranked third in the Pac-12 in free throw shooting (.749)...ASU averaged just 10.4 turnovers (first in the league and T-11th in the nation) and 9.9 three-pointers made, second in the Pac-12...Tra Holder led the league in free throws made and attempted (152-of-197/.772)...ASU likes to shoot the three as its 328 made last year was third-most in league history.
MEET THE SIX: ASU will have six newcomers fill roles in 2017-18, led by three who were in the program last year. Romello White is a 6-8 forward from Suwanee, Ga. who practiced last season as an academic redshirt and was a top-100 player (No. 77 by ESPN, No. 81 by Scout) in the 2016 signing class. Texan Mickey Mitchell is a skilled 6-7 sophomore who started seven games and played in 23 for Ohio State in 2015-16, came to ASU in December of 2016 and will be eligible this December, while 6-9 redshirt freshman Vitaliy Shibel has a great southpaw shooting stroke but missed last year with an ACL injury. Junior college transfer De'Quon Lake has a 6-10 frame and a 7-0 wing span. ESPN 2017 top-100 players Kimani Lawrence (New Hampton School/Providence, RI) is a 6-7 swingman with 6-11 wingspan who is No. 54, while Remy Martin (Sierra Canyon/Chatsworth, Calif.) is a 6-0 lead guard and is No. 82 in the rankings.
FREE THROW DATA: The Sun Devils made free throws at a rate that was third-best in school history (457-of-616/.742) last year. 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 tight win at San Diego State on Dec. 10 and was 16-of-18 for the game...Tra Holder is 368-of-497 (.740) from the charity stripe in his 95 games...Shannon Evans II made his first 20 free throws to start the season and is 280-of-347 (.807) in his career.
LAST YEAR QUICKLY: ASU zig-zagged across North America three times (Orlando, Bahamas and New York City) and got road wins at San Diego State, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington...ASU swept Washington and won all three games against Stanford...five players averaged at least 9.0 ppg. and its starting five averaged at least 33 minutes in Pac-12 play.
UPCOMING GAMES
FRIDAY, NOV. 10 VS. IDAHO STATE (8 P.M./PAC-12 NETWORK)
ASU leads the series 4-1, with the last game an 88-60 Sun Devil win on Nov. 13, 2013. Want a historical note? ASU's first NCAA Tournament game was against Idaho State, as ASU fell to Idaho State 72-68 the 1958 Tournament in Berkeley.
ASU VS. IDAHO STATE (ASU LEADS 4-1)
ASU 88, Idaho State 60 (Nov. 13, 2013)
#20 ASU 90, Idaho State 55 (Dec. 23, 2008)
ASU 69, Idaho State 59 (Dec. 3, 1991)
#19 ASU 82, Idaho State 81 (Dec. 13, 1975 in Tucson)
Idaho State 72, ASU 68 (NCAA Tournament in Berkeley)
TUESDAY, NOV. 14 VS. SAN DIEGO STATE (7 P.M./PAC-12 NETWORK)
ASU leads the series 17-10, with the last Tempe meeting a 55-52 Sun Devil on Dec. 19, 2009. Last year ASU fell behind 14-4 and was down 32-25 at the half on Dec. 10 but came back behind 10 three-pointers and 16-of-18 free throws to post a solid road win at always tough Viejas Arena, where 2016 MWC regular season champion SDSU was 49-5 in its previous 54. Tra Holder had 17 points (perfect in six free throw attempts). SDSU enters 2017-18 having won an average of 25 games the last 12 seasons (including seven NCAA Tournament appearances) and has won the Mountain West Championship regular season title three of the past four years.
ASU VS. SAN DIEGO STATE (ASU LEADS 17-10)
ASU 74, @San Diego State 63 (Dec. 10, 2016)
ASU 55, San Diego State 52 (Dec. 19, 2010)
ASU 59, @San Diego State 52 (Nov. 18, 2008)
@San Diego State 64, ASU 62 (Dec. 16, 2000)
ASU 99, San Diego State 85 (Dec. 18, 1999)
ASU 67, San Diego State 64 (Dec. 8, 1992)
ASU 77, San Diego State 72 (Dec. 17, 1988)
ASU 91, San Diego State 68 (Dec. 4, 1987)
@San Diego State 80, ASU 73 ( Jan. 22, 1979)
San Diego State 77, ASU 74 (Jan. 7, 1978)
ASU 86, San Diego State 65 (Dec. 3, 1976)
ASU 96, San Diego State 86 (Dec. 17, 1974)
ASU 78, @San Diego State 68 (Feb. 26, 1974)
ASU 95, San Diego State 70 (Jan. 20, 1973)
ASU 76, @San Diego State 73 (Jan. 22, 1972)
ASU 117, San Diego State 79 (Dec. 3, 1970)
ASU 74, San Diego State 65 (Dec. 27, 1958)
San Diego State 74, ASU 72 (1957-58)
@San Diego State 89, ASU 64 (1955-56)
ASU 82, San Diego State 76 (1955-56)
San Diego State 69, ASU 59 (Dec. 22, 1953)
@San Diego State 84, ASU 60 (Dec. 11, 1953)
ASU 76, @San Diego State 67 (1950-51)
@San Diego State 54, ASU 36 (1949-50)
ASU 58, @San Diego State 54 (Dec. 1, 1948)
@San Diego State 47, ASU 27 (1937-38)
ASU 55, @San Diego State 46 (1937-38)
LAST EXHIBITION: ASU won 85-77 at the University of San Diego on Wednesday, Nov. 1, behind freshman Remy Martin's 25 points off the bench and Tra Holder's 21. ASU was 27-of-36 (.750) from the free throw line, led by Martin's 8-of-10, and played without Shannon Evans II (stomach virus). Romello White added 14 points and 10 boards in 26 minutes. ASU was down 14-6 at the first media timeout but outscored USD 16-7 in next four minutes and led the rest of the first half. ASU had five six-point leads, including 70-64 at 9:04, but USD took a 72-71 lead with 6:12 left and 75-74 at the 3:41 media timeout. ASU scored the next nine points on a three-pointer by Remy Martin, two free throws by Kodi Justice, a layup and free throw by Tra Holder free throw by Kodi Justice.
TOP SCORERS: ASU has two of the top five scorers in the Pac-12 returning, as Tra Holder (16.2 ppg) and Shannon Evans II (15.0) averaged more than 31 points. Only Reid Travis (Stanford), Allonzo Trier (Arizona) and Stephan Thompson (Oregon State) averaged more than Tra and Shannon last year in overall games.
PAC-12 TOP RETURNING SCORERS IN 2017-18
17.4-Reid Travis, Stanford
17.2-Allonzo Trier, Arizona
16.3-Stephen Thompson, Oregon State
16.2-Tra Holder, Arizona State
15.0-Shannon Evans II, Arizona State
PREDICTIONS: ASU was picked sixth in the Pac-12 preseason media poll announced on Oct. 12, its top preseason rankings since being picked fourth in the Pac-10 prior to the 2010-11 season. ASU has been picked 11th (2016-17 and 2012-13), eighth (2015-16), ninth (2014-15 and 2011-12), seventh (2013-14) in seven previous Pac-12 polls. Arizona was picked to finish first, followed by USC, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford, ASU, Utah, Oregon State, Colorado, Washington, California and Washington State.
NOT MANY CAN SAY THIS: ASU's backcourt will have two 1,000-point career scorers. Tra Holder has 1,215 points in 97 Sun Devil games (12.5 ppg.), while Shannon Evans II has 1,248 career points (13.1 ppg.), with 754 of them coming at Buffalo from 2013-15. Combined the duo has made 764 total field goals, 277 three-pointers, 658 free throws and has dropped 2,463 collegiate points in 192 career games.
MOST COMBINED CAREER POINTS BY TWO TEAMMATES ENTERING 2017-18
2,707/St. Bonaventure: Jaylen Adams (1,377) and Matt Mobley (1,330)
2,701/Rhode Island: E.C. Matthews (1,519) and Jared Terrell (1,182)
2,639/Xavier: Trevon Bluiett (1,585) and J.P. Macura (1,054)
2,463/Arizona State: Shannon Evans II (1,248) and Tra Holder (1,215)
STRENGTH NOTES: ASU's 78.6 points per game last year was its best since the 1997-98 squad averaged 84.5...ASU ranked third in the Pac-12 in free throw shooting (.749)...ASU averaged just 10.4 turnovers (first in the league and T-11th in the nation) and 9.9 three-pointers made, second in the Pac-12...Tra Holder led the league in free throws made and attempted (152-of-197/.772)...ASU likes to shoot the three as its 328 made last year was third-most in league history.
MEET THE SIX: ASU will have six newcomers fill roles in 2017-18, led by three who were in the program last year. Romello White is a 6-8 forward from Suwanee, Ga. who practiced last season as an academic redshirt and was a top-100 player (No. 77 by ESPN, No. 81 by Scout) in the 2016 signing class. Texan Mickey Mitchell is a skilled 6-7 sophomore who started seven games and played in 23 for Ohio State in 2015-16, came to ASU in December of 2016 and will be eligible this December, while 6-9 redshirt freshman Vitaliy Shibel has a great southpaw shooting stroke but missed last year with an ACL injury. Junior college transfer De'Quon Lake has a 6-10 frame and a 7-0 wing span. ESPN 2017 top-100 players Kimani Lawrence (New Hampton School/Providence, RI) is a 6-7 swingman with 6-11 wingspan who is No. 54, while Remy Martin (Sierra Canyon/Chatsworth, Calif.) is a 6-0 lead guard and is No. 82 in the rankings.
FREE THROW DATA: The Sun Devils made free throws at a rate that was third-best in school history (457-of-616/.742) last year. 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 tight win at San Diego State on Dec. 10 and was 16-of-18 for the game...Tra Holder is 368-of-497 (.740) from the charity stripe in his 95 games...Shannon Evans II made his first 20 free throws to start the season and is 280-of-347 (.807) in his career.
LAST YEAR QUICKLY: ASU zig-zagged across North America three times (Orlando, Bahamas and New York City) and got road wins at San Diego State, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington...ASU swept Washington and won all three games against Stanford...five players averaged at least 9.0 ppg. and its starting five averaged at least 33 minutes in Pac-12 play.
UPCOMING GAMES
FRIDAY, NOV. 10 VS. IDAHO STATE (8 P.M./PAC-12 NETWORK)
ASU leads the series 4-1, with the last game an 88-60 Sun Devil win on Nov. 13, 2013. Want a historical note? ASU's first NCAA Tournament game was against Idaho State, as ASU fell to Idaho State 72-68 the 1958 Tournament in Berkeley.
ASU VS. IDAHO STATE (ASU LEADS 4-1)
ASU 88, Idaho State 60 (Nov. 13, 2013)
#20 ASU 90, Idaho State 55 (Dec. 23, 2008)
ASU 69, Idaho State 59 (Dec. 3, 1991)
#19 ASU 82, Idaho State 81 (Dec. 13, 1975 in Tucson)
Idaho State 72, ASU 68 (NCAA Tournament in Berkeley)
TUESDAY, NOV. 14 VS. SAN DIEGO STATE (7 P.M./PAC-12 NETWORK)
ASU leads the series 17-10, with the last Tempe meeting a 55-52 Sun Devil on Dec. 19, 2009. Last year ASU fell behind 14-4 and was down 32-25 at the half on Dec. 10 but came back behind 10 three-pointers and 16-of-18 free throws to post a solid road win at always tough Viejas Arena, where 2016 MWC regular season champion SDSU was 49-5 in its previous 54. Tra Holder had 17 points (perfect in six free throw attempts). SDSU enters 2017-18 having won an average of 25 games the last 12 seasons (including seven NCAA Tournament appearances) and has won the Mountain West Championship regular season title three of the past four years.
ASU VS. SAN DIEGO STATE (ASU LEADS 17-10)
ASU 74, @San Diego State 63 (Dec. 10, 2016)
ASU 55, San Diego State 52 (Dec. 19, 2010)
ASU 59, @San Diego State 52 (Nov. 18, 2008)
@San Diego State 64, ASU 62 (Dec. 16, 2000)
ASU 99, San Diego State 85 (Dec. 18, 1999)
ASU 67, San Diego State 64 (Dec. 8, 1992)
ASU 77, San Diego State 72 (Dec. 17, 1988)
ASU 91, San Diego State 68 (Dec. 4, 1987)
@San Diego State 80, ASU 73 ( Jan. 22, 1979)
San Diego State 77, ASU 74 (Jan. 7, 1978)
ASU 86, San Diego State 65 (Dec. 3, 1976)
ASU 96, San Diego State 86 (Dec. 17, 1974)
ASU 78, @San Diego State 68 (Feb. 26, 1974)
ASU 95, San Diego State 70 (Jan. 20, 1973)
ASU 76, @San Diego State 73 (Jan. 22, 1972)
ASU 117, San Diego State 79 (Dec. 3, 1970)
ASU 74, San Diego State 65 (Dec. 27, 1958)
San Diego State 74, ASU 72 (1957-58)
@San Diego State 89, ASU 64 (1955-56)
ASU 82, San Diego State 76 (1955-56)
San Diego State 69, ASU 59 (Dec. 22, 1953)
@San Diego State 84, ASU 60 (Dec. 11, 1953)
ASU 76, @San Diego State 67 (1950-51)
@San Diego State 54, ASU 36 (1949-50)
ASU 58, @San Diego State 54 (Dec. 1, 1948)
@San Diego State 47, ASU 27 (1937-38)
ASU 55, @San Diego State 46 (1937-38)