By Evan Millstein, SDA Student Assistant
Arizona State played in an absolute thriller at the McKale Center on Dec. 30 but fell late to the Arizona Wildcats on two offensive rebounds and then a tip-in by DeAndre Ayton with 14 seconds on the clock.
Tuesday's media availability before the Territorial Cup matchup arrived with guard Tra Holder and head coach Bobby Hurley at the microphone post-practice.
The spirit of the Sun Devils is far from dull.
"I'm such a great guy," said Hurley on the Arizona fan base not liking him. "I'm such a low-key guy. I keep my composure on the sideline and they should love me just like our fans do."
In reference to his "Bear Down" hiccup comment last week, Holder joked the Sun Devils need to "Fork Up" on the defensive end.
Holder dropped 31 points in their previous matchup and scored 10 straight points to cut a double-digit deficit to one. The senior believes he's at his best game when he plays tough competition.
"It's just a great game," said Holder. "It's what you dream of playing in. The fans are rowdy, the game is intense. As a competitor, it's all you want growing up and this is the day you work hard for."
The Devils swept the Los Angeles schools and found themselves back in the AP Poll at No. 25. Prior to heading to Tempe, the UCLA Bruins defeated the Wildcats in Tucson 82-74, sliding Arizona to No. 17 heading into the rivalry matchup.
DeAndre Ayton has given headaches to his opponents all season long. The Sun Devils are prepping to see him for the second time.
"He grabs those rebounds so effectively and moves well away from the basket," said Hurley. "He can shoot and score inside. He's kind of the total package."
Momentum swings come when Ayton throws it down, but unlike last time the venue is at "The Bank" for the nationally slated game.
"It's been as good as anything we've done this year," said Hurley ahead of the sold-out crowd Wells Fargo Arena. "We've won at Xavier and Kansas. But, just the transformation of how people have rallied behind our team here locally and are coming to the games the way they are with the type of passion and electricity."
Individual and team struggles highlighted Arizona State's play through the thick of the Pac-12 schedule. Just in time, the shots are falling and ASU is playing at the pace that propelled them to their historic start.
"I think we're getting our confidence back," said Holder. "We're getting back to our edge what we had before. It's great, it's the most important time of the year."
The Sun Devils will be tested on both ends of the floor. Hurley believes the Wildcats are a similar team they saw in the first matchup.
"It's the same type of approach noticing their interior game," said Hurley. "(Alonzo) Trier has always been capable of putting the team on his back. It seems like he hits big shots. (Parker Jackson) Cartwright runs the show. So, it's kind of the same team in a lot of ways of what we've seen."
A three-game winning streak with "Guard U" looking in stride, the capacity crowd in Tempe is set up for another drama-filled game.
Tip-off from Wells Fargo Arena is slated for 7 p.m. in Tempe, Arizona. The game can be viewed on ESPN and heard on AZ Sports 98.7 FM.
Arizona State played in an absolute thriller at the McKale Center on Dec. 30 but fell late to the Arizona Wildcats on two offensive rebounds and then a tip-in by DeAndre Ayton with 14 seconds on the clock.
Tuesday's media availability before the Territorial Cup matchup arrived with guard Tra Holder and head coach Bobby Hurley at the microphone post-practice.
The spirit of the Sun Devils is far from dull.
"I'm such a great guy," said Hurley on the Arizona fan base not liking him. "I'm such a low-key guy. I keep my composure on the sideline and they should love me just like our fans do."
In reference to his "Bear Down" hiccup comment last week, Holder joked the Sun Devils need to "Fork Up" on the defensive end.
Holder dropped 31 points in their previous matchup and scored 10 straight points to cut a double-digit deficit to one. The senior believes he's at his best game when he plays tough competition.
"It's just a great game," said Holder. "It's what you dream of playing in. The fans are rowdy, the game is intense. As a competitor, it's all you want growing up and this is the day you work hard for."
The Devils swept the Los Angeles schools and found themselves back in the AP Poll at No. 25. Prior to heading to Tempe, the UCLA Bruins defeated the Wildcats in Tucson 82-74, sliding Arizona to No. 17 heading into the rivalry matchup.
DeAndre Ayton has given headaches to his opponents all season long. The Sun Devils are prepping to see him for the second time.
"He grabs those rebounds so effectively and moves well away from the basket," said Hurley. "He can shoot and score inside. He's kind of the total package."
Momentum swings come when Ayton throws it down, but unlike last time the venue is at "The Bank" for the nationally slated game.
"It's been as good as anything we've done this year," said Hurley ahead of the sold-out crowd Wells Fargo Arena. "We've won at Xavier and Kansas. But, just the transformation of how people have rallied behind our team here locally and are coming to the games the way they are with the type of passion and electricity."
Individual and team struggles highlighted Arizona State's play through the thick of the Pac-12 schedule. Just in time, the shots are falling and ASU is playing at the pace that propelled them to their historic start.
"I think we're getting our confidence back," said Holder. "We're getting back to our edge what we had before. It's great, it's the most important time of the year."
The Sun Devils will be tested on both ends of the floor. Hurley believes the Wildcats are a similar team they saw in the first matchup.
"It's the same type of approach noticing their interior game," said Hurley. "(Alonzo) Trier has always been capable of putting the team on his back. It seems like he hits big shots. (Parker Jackson) Cartwright runs the show. So, it's kind of the same team in a lot of ways of what we've seen."
A three-game winning streak with "Guard U" looking in stride, the capacity crowd in Tempe is set up for another drama-filled game.
Tip-off from Wells Fargo Arena is slated for 7 p.m. in Tempe, Arizona. The game can be viewed on ESPN and heard on AZ Sports 98.7 FM.