The Arizona State Sun Devils (20-12 in 2017-18) -- who advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 last year -- take to the court against 2018 Big West champion Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday, Nov. 6, to open the 2018-19 season. ASU's top three scorers are gone and took with them many games and points, but the Sun Devil have six lettermen back along with a pair of high-level transfers and a top-20 recruiting class.
Under fourth-year head coach Bobby Hurley (two-time NCAA champion, 1992 Final Four MOP and NCAA career assist leader) the Sun Devils were the final undefeated team in college hoops last year (12-0), beat No. 1 seeds Xavier and Kansas along with Kansas State in its non-conference action and went 5-2 against NCAA Tournament teams, also topping UCLA and San Diego State. ASU averaged 10,603 fans per game last year, topping the 9,514 school record set in 1995-96.
ASU'S EARLIEST SEASON OPENERS
Nov. 6, 2018: Cal State Fullerton vs. ASU
Nov. 8, 2013: ASU 96, UMBC 61
Nov. 10, 2017: ASU 94, Idaho State 74
Nov. 10, 2012: ASU 79, Central Arkansas 64
Nov. 10, 2000: Tulsa 69, ASU 67 (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Nov. 11, 2016: ASU 88, Portland State 70
Nov. 11, 2011: ASU 78, Montana State 72
WHAT HAS CHANGED: The 2017-18 season saw a lot of upgrades for Sun Devil basketball beyond the NCAA Tournament appearance as attendance records were busted and it won a dozen straight for just the second time in school history. Below is a list of what was truth last year at this time and what ASU can flash the fork about now.
LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME/#FORKSUP NOW
5,807 attendance in BH first year/10,603 in third year (school record)
11-game win streak in 1980-81 was awesome/Best start in school history 12-0
8-22 in road OOC games prior to CBH/4-1 under Bobby Hurley
12 wins when trail at half previous 5 seasons to BFH/15 under BH in 3 seasons
Averaged 80+ points twice in previous Pac-12 history/82.7 last year led Pac-12
ONE OF FOUR: Arizona State and Cal State Fullerton is one of just four games on opening night (Nov. 6) between 2018 NCAA Tournament teams. Others are Michigan State vs. Kansas, Duke vs. Kentucky and Florida vs. Florida State.
TALENT UPGRADE: From 2002-16, Arizona State signed six top-85 players according to 247Sports/Scout.com. It is very possible ASU could have a five-man lineup on the floor this year alone with top-85 recruits in Remy Martin (77) at the point, Lugentz Dort (33) and Kimani Lawrence (58) on the wings and Taeshon Cherry (29) and Romello White (81) underneath.
TOP-85 247SPORTS/SCOUT.COM SUN DEVIL SIGNEES (2002-2018)
23. James Harden, 2007
29. Taeshon Cherry, 2018
33. Luguentz Dort, 2018
34. Jahii Carson, 2011
41, Sam Cunliffe, 2016
55. Ike Diogu, 2002
58. Kimani Lawrence, 2017
77. Remy Martin, 2017
79. Keala King, 2010
81. Romello White, 2016
IT IS A BIRD: ASU has five players on its roster with wingspans of at least 6-11: Uros Pavsic (7-2.5), De'Quon Lake (7-2), Zylan Cheatham (7-0.5), Romello White (7-0.25), Vitaliy Shibel (6-11.75), Kimani Lawrence (6-11.5).
IT IS A PLANE: Best standing verticals on the team: De'Quon Lake and Luguentz Dort both did 34 inches, while Zylan Cheatham is at 33.5 inches.
SUPERMAN: Best approach vertical on the team is Zylan Cheatham at 41.5 inches, with Remy Martin not far behind at 40 inches.
ONE BAD ONE: Villanova was the only team to have zero double-digit defeats in 2017-18, but ASU came close as it was one of just eight teams with one double-digit loss. The others were Cincinnati, Clemson, Duke, Nevada, Purdue, Virginia and Wichita State.
NO. 3: ASU reached No. 3 in the Associated Press poll last year in late December, matching the best ranking in school history. ASU entered the polls after beating Kansas State and #15 Xavier in the Continental Tire Invitational on Thanksgiving weekend. It moved up to No. 5 after winning at second-ranked Kansas 95-85 on Dec. 10. It then reached No. 3 and was the last undefeated team in the nation when it took to the floor on Saturday, Dec. 30, in the Pac-12 opener at Arizona. The No. 3 ranking is the best in school history, matched only on March 9, 1981 when ASU was 22-3 and on Jan. 7, 1963, when ASU was 10-1.
IN THE DANCE: ASU made its 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2014 last season. ASU is 13-15 in the Big Dance and has reached the final eight on three occasions (1961, 1963 and 1975) under Ned Wulk. In 2009, sixth-seeded ASU beat Temple 66-57 in Miami before falling to Syracuse 78-67.
OFF THE BENCH: The Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year officially returned for the first time in 30+ seasons in 2017-18 and freshman Remy Martin shared the award with CU's Dominique Collier. Players must not have exceeded more than 1/3 starts in league games. The previous Pac-10 Sixth Man of the Year was awarded from 1984-87. Martin – with zero starts -- averaged 9.6 points, had 94 assists and was 71-of-94 (.755) from the free throw line in 23.8 minutes per game. He had 20 double-figure scoring games including 15 of the final 21 tilts. He had a season-best 21 at No. 2 Kansas on Dec. 10. Against Utah on Jan. 25, he had a personal second-half 10-0 run in 2:18 that gave ASU a three-point lead after being down seven. At WSU on Feb. 4, he had all 10 points in the final 6:20 and added two steals as ASU outscored WSU 19-9 in final seven minutes. He also had 20 in the Pac-12 Tournament loss to Colorado.
CLOSE: ASU played 15 Pac-12 regular season games decided by single digits, the most by any Pac-12 team in past 22 seasons. In its perfect (12-0) non-conference action, ASU played one single digit game (92-90 over Kansas State in Las Vegas). ASU's only three league margins in double digits were wins over California (84-53), Colorado (80-66) and at Washington State (88-78).
PUMPED UP CROWDS: ASU has done well under Coach Hurley in places that were large and loud outside of the Pac-12. In addition to the Dec. 10, 2017 win over No. 2 Kansas in front of 16,300, ASU in the Coach Hurley era has won at Creighton (16,282), UNLV (13,014) and San Diego State (12,414) and hung tough with Kentucky (23,665) in his first season as it was a 32-31 Kentucky lead at the half and a four-point game with 13 minutes to play. Prior to Bobby Hurley, ASU was 8-22 in its previous 30 non-conference road games. It is 4-1 under Coach Hurley with wins at San Diego State, UNLV, Creighton and No. 2 Kansas.
DOWN AT HALF: ASU came back from down at the half against USC, Oregon State, at Utah, at Kansas, vs. Xavier and Kansas State in Las Vegas and in Tempe vs. San Diego State in 2017-18. ASU came back from deficits of at least nine points in seven wins last season.
DEFICIT (TIME/HALF)/FINAL SCORE
Nov. 14: -9 vs. San Diego State (19:22/2nd)/90-68; +31 final 19 minutes
Nov. 23: -9 vs. Kansas State (18:16/2nd)/92-90; +11 final 18 minutes
Nov. 24: -15 vs. #15 Xavier (3:16/first)/102-86; 73 points final 23 minutes
Dec. 10: -13 at #2 Kansas (16:39/first)/95-85; +23 after 15-2 deficit
Dec. 17: -13 vs. Vanderbilt (15:03/first)/76-64; +25 after 13-0 deficit
Jan. 13: -13 vs. Oregon State (11:32/second)/77-75; 33-18 final 11:30
Feb. 8: -9 vs. USC (11:04/second)/80-78; 31-19 final 10:51
12-GAME STREAK: Much has been made about the best start in school history last year that not much was said about the win streak as it stood alone. The Dec. 22, 2017, win over Pacific gave ASU the second-best winning streak in ASU history. Only four ASU teams have posted 11-game winning streaks.
ASU TOP WINNING STREAKS
18: 1961-62
12: 2017-18
11: 1980-81 and 1962-63
#DUNK-KWON: Junior college transfer De'Quon Lake is 90-of-126 (.714) from the field with 43 dunks. He has 58 offensive rebounds and posted five dunks against both Idaho State and San Diego State. He also had seven blocks vs. Pacific. ASU is 9-2 when he scores in double digits and 8-2 when he gets at least seven boards.
KU WIN: The Dec. 10 win over No. 2 Kansas marked the highest OOC ranked opponent the Sun Devils have defeated. Only the win over top-ranked and undefeated Oregon State on March 7, 1981, was higher. Kansas also marked ASU's first road win over a ranked team since James Harden led ASU to a win at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 17, 2009.
-----
#1 REMY MARTIN SUN DEVIL HIGHS
POINTS: 21 at #2 Kansas (12/10/17)
REBOUNDS: 7 vs. Longwood (12/19/17)
ASSISTS: 9 vs. Longwood (12/19/17)
FG MADE: 8 at #2 Kansas (12/10/17))
FG ATT: 13 at #17 Arizona (12/30/17)
FT MADE: 5 (4x) at Oregon (2/22/18)
FT ATT.: 6 (3x) at Oregon (2/22/18)
MINUTES: 34 vs Idaho State (11/10/17)
-----
#3 MICKEY MITCHELL SUN DEVIL HIGHS
POINTS: 12 (2x) at California (1/20/18)
REBOUNDS: 13 vs. Vanderbilt (12/17/17)
ASSISTS: 5 vs. Oregon (1/11/18)
MINUTES: 33 at Stanford (1/17/18)
-----
#10 VITALIY SHIBEL SUN DEVIL HIGHS
POINTS: 11 vs. St. John's (12/8/17)
REBOUNDS: 8 vs Idaho State (11/10/17)
3PT MADE: 3 at Cal (1/20/18) and vs. St. John's (12/8/17)
ASSISTS: 4 vs. Idaho State (11/10/17)
MINUTES: 28 vs. St. John's (12/8/17)
-----
#23 ROMELLO WHITE SEASON HIGHS
v AAU coach was Jerry Stackhouse
POINTS: 25 vs Northern Arizona (11/17/17)
REBOUNDS: 15 vs San Diego State (11/14/17)
FG MADE: 10 (2x) at Washington State (2/4/18)
FG ATTEMPTED: 12 vs Northern Arizona (11/17/17)
FREE THROWS MADE: 11 at Stanford (1/17/18)
FREE THROWS ATTEMPTED: 14 at Stanford (1/17/18)
BLOCKS: 3 vs Idaho State
MINUTES: 39 vs Kansas State (11/23/17)
-----
#35 DE'QUON LAKE SEASON HIGHS
v Made 8-10 FGs in season opener vs. Idaho State
POINTS: 24 vs Idaho State (11/10/17)
REBOUNDS: 12 (2x) at Oregon (2/22/18)
FG MADE: 8 vs Idaho State (11/10/17)
FG ATTEMPTED: 9 vs. Utah (1/25/18)
FREE THROWS MADE: 8 (2x) Longwood (12/19/17)
FREE THROWS ATTEMPTED: 14 vs Idaho State (11/10/17)
BLOCKS: 7 vs. Pacific (12/22/17)
MINUTES: 29 vs Kansas State (11/23/17)
-----
HALF: ASU has 15 wins when trailing at the half under Bobby Hurley, after going 12-64 (.157) the previous five seasons.
15 HALFTIME DEFICIT WINS UNDER COACH HURLEY
(-4) USC 37, ASU 33/Feb. 8, 2018/ASU 80, USC 77
(-1) Oregon State 34, ASU 33/Jan. 13, 2018/ASU 77, OSU 75
(-1) @Utah 36, ASU 35/Jan. 7, 2018/ASU 80, @Utah 77
(-3) @#2 Kansas 40, ASU 37/Dec. 10, 2017/ASU 95, @KU 85
(-2) #15 Xavier 46, ASU 44/Nov. 24, 2017/ASU 102, #15 Xavier 86
(-2) Kansas State 44, ASU 42/Nov. 23, 2017/ASU 92, KSU 90
(-6) SDSU 40, ASU 34/Nov. 14, 2017/ASU 90, SDSU 68
(-1) USC 48, ASU 47/Feb. 26, 2017/ASU 83, USC 82
(-2) @UW 41, ASU 39/Feb. 16, 2017/ASU 83, @UW 81
(-1) Stanford 33, ASU 32/Feb. 11, 2017/ASU 75, Stanford 69
(-7) @SDSU 32, ASU 25/Dec. 10, 2016/ASU 74, @SDSU 63
(-3) #23 USC 30, ASU 27/Feb. 12, 2016/ASU 74, USC 67
(-12) @UNLV 37, ASU 25/Dec. 16, 2015/ASU 66, @UNLV 56
(-8) @Creighton 41, ASU 33/Dec. 2, 2015/ASU 79, @Creighton 77
(-2) UCSB 29, ASU 27/Nov. 29, 2015/ASU 70, UCSB 68
RANKED: ASU has defeated four ranked teams in Bobby Hurley's tenure, as besides the win at #2 Kansas, it beat #15 Xavier 102-86 on Nov. 24, 2017 in Las Vegas, #23 USC 74-57 on Feb. 12, 2016 and #18 Texas A&M 67-54 on Dec. 5, 2015. The Nov. 24 Xavier win was the highest ranked OOC team ASU had topped since it beat No. 7 Maryland in the 1994 Maui Invitational...until it won at #2 Kansas on Dec. 10.
ASU WINS VS. RANKED TEAMS UNDER COACH HURLEY
ASU 95, @#2 Kansas 85/Dec. 10 2017
ASU vs. #15 Xavier/Nov. 24, 2017
ASU 74, #23 USC 67/Feb. 12, 2016
ASU 67, #18 Texas A&M 54/Dec. 5, 2015
GONNA' PLAY SOME FOLKS: Bobby Hurley is going to make an attempt to play some folks. In his first year after looking at a schedule he inherited that included tilts against NC State/Marquette in Brooklyn, at Creighton, at UNLV and against eventual No. 18 Texas A&M, he put the wheels in motion to make it even better by agreeing to play at Kentucky and filled a holiday break hole that could have been a yawner with Stephen F. Austin. In 2016-17, the squad played No. 1 Kentucky in the Bahamas, Purdue in New York City, at San Diego State, in Orlando for three games, and finished a series with No. 9 Creighton. Kansas will return the trip to Wells Fargo next year after ASU's win on Dec. 10, and ASU already played No. 15 Xavier and hosted 2017 NCAA Tournament product Vanderbilt Dec. 20. Coach Hurley has played four top-10 non-conference opponents in his three years, after ASU faced one in the previous 17 seasons.
ASU REGULAR SEASON OOC GAMES VS. TOP-10 TEAMS (SINCE JOINING PAC-10)
ASU 95 @#2 Kansas 85 (Dec. 10, 2017)
#9 Creighton 96, ASU 85 (Dec. 20, 2016)
#1 Kentucky 115, ASU 69 (Nov. 28, 2016 at Bahamas)
@#5 Kentucky 72, ASU 58 (Dec. 12, 2015)
#7 Duke 64, ASU 53 (Nov. 25, 2009 at MSG)
#2 Kansas 90, ASU 88, OT (Nov. 26, 1997 at MSG)
ASU 97, #7 Maryland 90 (November 23, 1994 at Maui)
@#8 Oklahoma St. 87, ASU 69 (December 2, 1993)
@#9 Kentucky 94, ASU 68 (December 14, 1991)
@#2 Kansas 90, ASU 67 (December 22, 1989)
#10 North Carolina 85, ASU 66 (December 23, 1984 at Tokyo)
#6 Missouri 48, ASU 47 (December 27, 1982 at Honolulu)
HOME: ASU won its first eight home games for the first time since the 2013-14 and 2008-09 seasons, also the last two times it made the NCAA Tournament. It also won the final eight home games in 2013-14, as it went 16-1 at home that season.