The Arizona State Sun Devil men's hoops team (14-8; 5-4) -- coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time since 1980-81 and the only Pac-12 team to make the NCAAs the past two seasons -- hosts the USC Trojans on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. in a FS1 game with Aaron Goldsmith and Doug Gottlieb on the call. Prior to its past two NCAA appearances under Bobby Hurley, ASU had made the NCAA Tournament three times in previous 22 seasons (1996-2017).
STOCK RISING
ROB EDWARDS
NOW: In past eight games averaging 14.8 ppg and 26-61 (.426) from three-point stripe
THEN: Previous five games prior to past eight: 2.0 ppg and 1-of-18 (.056) from three-point stripe
KHALID THOMAS
NOW: In past two games is averaging 9.5 ppg, 7-10 FGs and 4-6 3s
THEN: Previous 14 games prior to last two: 1.8 ppg, 6-15 FGs and 3-9 3s
ALONZO VERGE JR.
NOW: Past four games: 17.0 ppg, 5-9 3s, 28-48 FGs (.583)
Then: Previous five games prior to past four: 6.2 ppg., 1-9 3s, 11-45 FGs (.244)
GAME #22: ASU 84, UCLA 66 (FEB. 6): It was one of those good nights for ASU at it hit 14-of-24 (.583) three-pointers and had four players in double figures ast it led for over 36 minutes in the win over surging UCLA, who had won four of five. Alonzo Verge Jr. had 26 points off the bench, while Remy Martin had 15, Rob Edwards 13 and Kimani Lawrence 11. ASU never had more than an 8-0 run but led by 23 with just over five minutes on the clock. There were only five lead changes and one tie in the game. Romello White added 16 rebounds and eight points.
MOST SUN DEVIL THREE-POINTERS MADE (1996-97 TO PRESENT)
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
17 vs. Idaho State/Dec. 23, 2008
16 vs. Miami (Ohio)/Nov. 12, 2013
16 vs. Oregon/Mar. 3, 2011
16 vs. California/Feb. 16, 2008
15 vs. Citadel/Nov. 23, 2016
15 vs. UCSB/Dec. 21, 2009
14 vs. UCLA/Feb. 6, 2020
14 at #2 Kansas/Dec. 10, 2017
14 vs. UC-Irvine/Nov. 19, 2017
14 vs. #5 UCLA/Feb. 23, 2017
14 vs. Maryland (at Kansas City)/Nov. 24, 2014
14 at Texas Tech/Dec. 22, 2012
14 vs. Florida Gulf Coast/Nov. 28, 2007
MOST SUN DEVIL THREE-POINTERS MADE BOBBY HURLEY ERA (14 OR MORE)
18 vs. Central Arkansas/Dec. 22, 2016
18 vs. UNLV/Dec. 3, 2016
15 vs. Citadel/Nov. 23, 2016
14 vs. UCLA/Feb. 6, 2020
14 at #2 Kansas/Dec. 10, 2017
14 vs. UC-Irvine/Nov. 19, 2017
14 vs. #5 UCLA/Feb. 23, 2017
THIS IS US: ASU has 24 wins (11 on the road) when trailing at the half under Bobby Hurley in five seasons, after going 12-64 (.157) the previous five seasons. It did it seven times in 2017-18 and did it in 2018-19 at Georgia, vs. No. 1 Kansas, at California, at UCLA, vs. Cal and at Oregon State. This year it has halftime comeback wins over St. John's, at Princeton vs. No. 22 Arizona. ASU actually trailed Arizona 37-15 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half before closing the gap to 43-30 at the half and then scored the first 10 points of second half. The 22-point comeback matches what is believed to the biggest in Pac-12 history.
PAC-12 STAT STUFF: ASU ranks second in the Pac-12 in steals at 7.71 per game (171 in 22 games) while its turnover margin (+2.86) is second behind only Washington State (+3.91)…Remy Martin is third in the league in scoring at 19.14 points per game and third in steals (1.73 per game with 38 on the year)…Romello White leads the Pac-12 in rebounding at 9.33 per game and leads in field goal percentage at .630. His seven double-doubles fifthin the league while his nine double-digit rebounding games is tied for league lead…Remy is second in the Pac-12 at 20.89 points per game in conference games and his 13 20-point games is tied for league lead...Remy Martin is the only Pac-12 player since 1996-97 to open conference play with six straight games of 20+ points (streak ended Jan. 29 at WSU)...ASU is 19-5 when Rob Edwards scores 13 in his two seasons (12-2 when he scores 15)...ASU has now won four straight against UCLA for the first time in school history after the 84-66 Tempe win on Feb. 6.
PAST 11 ASU VS. USC GAMES IN TEMPE (ASU LEADS 10-1)
ASU 80, USC 77/Feb. 8, 2018
ASU 83, USC 82/Feb. 26, 2017
ASU 74, #23 USC 67/Feb. 12, 2016
ASU 64, USC 59/Feb. 22, 2015
ASU 98, USC 93 (OT)/Jan. 24, 2013
ASU 56, USC 52/Feb. 25, 2012
USC 63, ASU 61/Jan. 27, 2011
ASU 59, USC 54/Mar. 4, 2010
ASU 65, USC 53/Feb. 15, 2009
ASU 80, USC 66/Mar. 1, 2008
ASU 68, #22 USC 58/Feb. 18, 2007
PHYSICAL: Top wingspans on the team are Jalen Graham (7-2), Romello White (7-0) and Kimani Lawrence (6-11 1/2). Best standing vertical is Graham (32.5"), while Remy Martin is next (31.5") while best approach verticals are Remy (40.5"), Jaelen House (39.5") and Graham (39").
NCAA NOTE: ASU had been to four NCAA Tournaments (1995, 2003, 2009 and 2014) in 26 seasons (1992-2017) and not been back-to-back since 1980-81. Remy Martin, Kimani Lawrence and Romello White have now gone to the Dance in each of their first two seasons.
SOME SOLID DUBS: Bobby Hurley has led ASU to a 47-16 regular season non-conference record in his five years, with notable wins over NC State, at Creighton, Texas A&M, UNLV (twice), Stephen F. Austin, Kansas State, Xavier, St. John's (twice plus a NCAA Tournament win), Kansas (twice), Vanderbilt and Georgia (twice).
ROAD: ASU opened Pac-12 play with three straight on the road for the seventh time in the past 12 seasons and for the third time in Coach Hurley's five seasons (also in 2017-18, 2016-17, 2014-15, 2011-12, 2010-11 and 2008-09). Coach Hurley's squad navigated something similar as in the past three seasons six times teams have opened with five of first seven on the road (as USC did this year). ASU in 2017-18 is the only one of the six to make the NCAA Tournament in that time.
PAC-12 REFRESHER: ASU finished second in the Pac-12 for just the fourth time in its 41-year Pac-10/12 history last year (2009-10, 1980-81 and 1979-80). ASU won 12 loop games for just the sixth time.
BEST PAC-12 RECORDS
16-2: 1980-81
15-3: 1979-80
12-6: 2018-19, 2009-10, 1994-95, 1982-83
ROMELLO: Romello White sprained his right ankle on Dec. 28 vs. Texas Southern and played eight minutes. His stats took a hit as he played limited minutes at Arizona on Jan. 4. He had 18 points and 17 rebounds in the Georgia win on Dec. 14 and was averaging 14.7 ppg/ 13.7 rpg and shooting 32-of-44 (.727) in his previous six games to TSU (Dec. 28).
ROAD WINS: ASU's 5-4 Pac-12 road mark last year was its best since the 2009-10 and 2008-09 teams went 5-4 and matched ASU's best Pac-12 road mark in 39 seasons. Last year was only ASU's sixth winning road record since it joined the Pac-10 in 1978-79 (41 seasons). Ned Wulk's 1980-81 (8-1) and 1979-80 (7-2) teams set the bar, while Bill Frieder's 1994-95 Sweet Sixteen team also went 5-4.
REMY: Remy Martin became the 38th member of the ASUl 1,000-point club on Jan. 11 as he now has 1,142 career points in 86 career games (13.2 pg). He has 13 20-point games on the year and posted seven straight -- averaging 24.3 points in those seven -- before posting 15 at Washington State on Jan. 29. The seven straight 20-point tilts matched the best by a Sun Devil since Eddie House posted eight in 1999-2000. Remy posted a career-high 33 points at Princeton on Nov. 26 and is averaging 19.2 ppg after averaging 11.3 in his first two years.
PAC-12 MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES 20+ POINTS IN SEASON SINCE 1996-97
11-Ed Gray, CAL (Jan. 9, 1997-Feb. 15, 1997)
9-Landry Fields, STAN (Nov. 24, 2009-Jan. 2, 2010)
9-Brandon Roy, UW (Jan. 26, 2006-Feb. 26, 2006)
8-Tyler Dorsey, UO (March 9, 2017-April 1, 2017)
8-Eddie House, ASU (Dec. 18, 1999-Jan. 15, 2000)
8-Jason Terry, UA (Jan. 28, 1999-Feb. 20, 1999)
7-Remy Martin, ASU (Dec. 28, 2019-Jan. 25, 2020)
7-Klay Thompson, WSU (Feb. 17, 2011-Mar. 21, 2011)
7-Luke Ridnour, UO (Feb. 2, 2003-Mar. 13, 2003)
7-Jeremy Veal, ASU (Jan. 24, 1998-Feb. 19, 1998)
7-O.J. Mayo, USC (Feb. 21, 2008-Mar. 13, 2008)
LOTS OF HOTEL PENS: ASU played five of its first seven in Shanghai, Connecticut, New Jersey and San Francisco as it spent 17 of its first 32 nights of the season in a hotel and flew 20,134 miles on nine flights. When Coach Hurley took the ASU job in April of 2015 he said ASU was going to play some folks and not be afraid to go on the road. ASU's tally of non-conference states in his five years is at 11 with other trips to the Bahamas (vs. Kentucky) and China. ASU has played non-conference games in New York (MSG and Barclays), Nebraska (Creighon), at Kentucky, Nevada (at UNLV), Florida (Old Spice Classic), California (San Francisco and San Diego State), at Kansas, at Georgia, Tennessee (Vanderbilt) and New Jersey (at Princeton).
CARRIED LEAGUE: In Bobby Hurley's first four seasons, ASU led the Pac-12 in wins over ranked out-of-conference teams in the regular season (five) with wins over Kansas (twice), Xavier, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. Four of the wins were away from Tempe. The rest of the league was 15-42 in those four seasons and seven of the teams had one or zero wins.
ON THE ROAD (AGAIN) TO START PAC-12: ASU opened Pac-12 on the road for the eighth time in past dozen seasons when it traveled to Arizona on Jan. 4. Ironically with the 20-game league slate and opening weekends announced, ASU will travel to Cal and make it nine times in past 13 years to open the Pac-12 season on the road next year.
SUN DEVIL PAC-12 OPENERS PAST 12 SEASONS (AND ALSO NEXT YEAR -- HOME GAMES BOLD)
ASU @California (Dec. 3, 2020)
@#25 Arizona 75, ASU 47 (Jan. 4, 2020)
Utah 96, ASU 86 (Jan. 3, 2019)
@#17 Arizona 84, #3 ASU 78 (Dec. 30, 2017)
ASU 98, @Stanford 93 (Dec. 30, 2016)
#4 Arizona 94, ASU 82 (Jan. 3, 2016)
@#8 Arizona 73, ASU 49 (Jan. 4, 2015)
Washington 76, ASU 65 (Jan. 2, 2014)
ASU 55, Utah 54 OT (Jan. 2, 2013)
@Arizona 68, ASU 51 (Dec. 31, 2011)
@Oregon State 80, ASU 58 (Dec. 30, 2010)
@UCLA 72, ASU 70 (Dec. 31, 2009)
ASU 90, @Stanford 60 (Jan. 2, 2009)
2018-19 QUICK REVIEW: ASU was 23-11 and 12-6 (second) in the Pac-12 after being picked sixth in the preseason media poll. It beat No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 22, ASU's first win over No. 1 at home and second all-time (won at Oregon State in March of 1981) and notched first NCAA Tournament win since 2009 with a 74-65 victory over St. John's on March 20.
ROMELLO PAST NOTES: Romello made .625 of his shots in his first two seasons including 120-of-184 in his freshman year...coached by Jerry Stackhouse in the Atlanta AAU circuit...started 63 of 65 games his first two years and led team in offensive boards in each of the past two seasons with 77 last year and 79 in 2017-18...has two of the best field goal percentage mark's in ASU history as he shot .652 in freshman year (fourth) and .598 last year (ninth-best).
ROMELLO WHITE TOP REBOUNDING GAMES
17 vs. Georgia (Dec. 14, 2019)
16 vs. UCLA (Feb. 6, 2020)
16 vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 11, 2019)
15 vs. San Diego State (Nov. 14, 2017)
14 vs. Louisiana (Dec. 7, 2019)
14 vs. Texas Southern (Dec. 1, 2018)
14 at Washington (Feb. 1, 2018)
13 vs. San Francisco (Dec. 2, 2018)
12 vs. Creighton (Dec. 21, 2019)
12 vs. Saint Mary's (Dec. 18, 2019)
ROAD: ASU won at Princeton (67-65/Nov. 26) and San Francisco (71-67/Dec. 3), as it is 7-2 (.778) in OOC road games under Bobby Hurley, after going 8-22 (.267) in its previous 30 efforts.
ASU OUT OF CONFERENCE ROADIES UNDER BOBBY HURLEY (7-2)
ASU 71, San Francisco 67 (Dec. 3, 2019)
ASU 67, Princeton 65 (Nov. 26, 2019)
Vanderbilt 81, ASU 65 (Dec. 17, 2018)
#20 ASU 76, Georgia 74 (Dec. 15, 2018)
#16 ASU 95, #2 Kansas 85 (Dec. 10, 2017)
ASU 74, San Diego State 63 (Dec. 10, 2016)
ASU 66, UNLV 56 (Dec. 16, 2015)
#5 Kentucky 72, ASU 58 (Dec. 5, 2015)
ASU 79, Creighton 77 (Dec. 2, 2015)
REMY: Remy's two best scoring games last year were wins over Arizona -- 31 in 95-88 double OT win on Jan. 31 and 27 in final game of regular season on road on March 9...led ASU to first sweep over Arizona since 2008-09 and first win in Tucson since 2010...second-team All-Pac-12 by the league's coaches in 2018-19...21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals to spark ASU back from an 18-point deficit to a 76-74 victory at Georgia on Dec. 15, 2018, leading to his Dec. 17 Pac-12 Player of the Week Award. Had 12 points, five boards, two assists and two steals in the second half, including back-to-back baskets inside the final 3:11 which gave ASU its first lead of game at 71-70....led Pac-12 with a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio and second in league at five apg..had his November and early December of 2018 ruined by a bum ankle.
SUN DEVIL TOP CAREER SCORING CHART
25. 1,174 – Rihards Kuksiks, '07-11
26. 1,142 – Remy Martin, '17-present
27. 1,137 – Fat Lever, '78-82
WHO WE LOST: Three regular rotation players are gone from last year, including All-Pac-12 performers Zylan Cheatham and Lu Dort (Pac-12 Freshman of the Year), as well as De'Quon Lake.
CLOSE OUT AND HAND UP: Sun Devil opponents are shooting .325 from the three-point stripe, the third-best defensive mark in ASU history.
SUN DEVIL BEST THREE-POINT DEFENSE TEAMS
.317, 2009-10 (181-571)
.319, 2008-09 (212-665)
.320, 2019-20 (155-484)
.326, 2012-13 (175-536)
.333, 1994-95 (137-411)
.334, 2018-19 (292-874)
GOOD NOTE: ASU has defeated seven ranked teams in Bobby Hurley's five seasons, but it trailed at the half in five of the wins, including both wins over Kansas.
ASU WINS VS. RANKED TEAMS UNDER BOBBY HURLEY (ASU DEFICIT AT HALF)
ASU 66, #22 Arizona 65 (Jan. 25, 2020)--Arizona 43, ASU 30
#18 ASU 80, #1 Kansas 76 (Dec. 22, 2018)--Kansas 39, #18 ASU 31
ASU 72, #15 Mississippi State 67 (Nov. 19, 2018/Las Vegas)
#16 ASU 95, at #2 Kansas 85 (Dec. 10, 2017)--Kansas 40, #16 ASU 37
ASU 102, #15 Xavier 86 (Nov. 24, 2017/Las Vegas)-- Xavier 46, ASU 44
ASU 74, #23 USC 67 (Feb. 12, 2016)-- USC 30, ASU 27
ASU 67, #18 Texas A&M 54 (Dec. 5, 2015)
ROB EDWARDS: Dropped buckets in big wins in 2018-19, with 15 off the bench vs. #1 Kansas, 19 vs. Arizona, 28 at Utah and 13 at Oregon State...when he scores 13, ASU is 19-5 and 12-2 when he scores 15...entered ASU with 909 points in 63 games (14.4 ppg.)...71-of-85 (.835) from the free throw line in 2018-19...missed six games early and only scored 14 points in the first nine games (14 in opener, six DNPs due to a back injury and zero points vs. Nevada and Georgia)...stats last year look a lot better when you remember he went from Nov. 7-Dec. 16 without scoring. In those three games he did play, he was 4-of-26 (.154) from field and 2-of-9 (.222) from three and had 14 points (all against CSF in the opener).
ROB EDWARDS 15+ POINTS SUN DEVIL SCORING TILTS (12-2)
28 at Utah (2/16/19)
24 vs. Utah (1/18/20)
23 vs. CCSU (11/14/19)
20 vs. Colorado/China (11/9/19)
19 at Washington (2/1/20)
19 vs. Arizona (1/31/19)
18 at Oregon State (1/9/20)
17 vs. Louisiana (12/7/19)
16 vs. California (2/24/19)
16 vs. Stanford (2/20/19)
15 vs. Arizona (1/25/20)
15 vs. Oregon (3/15/19)
15 vs. UCLA (3/14/19)
15 vs. #1 Kansas (12/22/18)
GONNA' PLAY FOLKS: Bobby Hurley is going to play some folks. In his first year after looking at a schedule he inherited that included tilts against NC State in Brooklyn, at Creighton, at UNLV and against eventual No. 18 Texas A&M, he put the wheels in motion 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, and finished a series with No. 9 Creighton. Kansas returned a trip to Tempe last year after ASU's win on Dec. 10, 2017. Coach Hurley has played six top-10 non-conference opponent in his five years, after ASU faced one in the previous 17 seasons during the regular season.
ASU REGULAR SEASON OOC GAMES VS. TOP-10 TEAMS (SINCE JOINING PAC-10)
#7 Virginia 48, ASU 45 (Nov. 24, 2019 at Mohegan Sun Resort)
#18 ASU 80, #1 Kansas 76 (Dec. 22, 2018)
#16 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)
KIMANI NOTES: Long-armed and mobile swingman guards multiple positions...good mid-range jumper and helps in any and all rebounding and defensive categories...posted double digits in 14 games in 2018-19 and team was 5-0 when he scored 15...best game was 22-point effort vs. Mississippi State in Las Vegas on Nov. 19, which included the game-winning three-pointer with the scored tied and 29 seconds left...had 10 points in 2019-20 opener vs. Colorado in China...had 11 off the bench vs. Georgia on Dec. 14.
MOST POINTS IN SUN DEVIL HISTORY
61-Eddie House at California (2 OT), Jan. 8, 2000
46-Eddie House vs. San Diego State, Dec. 18, 1999
45-Paul Williams at USC, Mar. 10, 1983
43-Alonzo Verge Jr. vs. Saint Mary's, Dec. 18, 2019
STARTING LINEUP COMBINATIONS (9)
Cherry, Edwards, Lawrence, Martin, White (2): UTAH, UA
Cherry, Edwards, Martin, Verge, White (4): Creighton, TSU, @UA, @WSU
Cherry, Edwards, Martin, Valtonen, White (2): Georgia, SMC
Cherry, Lawrence, Martin, Verge, White (3): @OSU, @UO, CU
Edwards, Lawrence, Martin, Mitchell, White (2): @UW, UCLA
Edwards, Martin, Thomas, Valtonen, White (3): @USF, LA, PVAM
Edwards, Lawrence, Martin, Valtonen, White (3): SJU, UVA, @PU
Edwards, Lawrence, Martin, Verge, White (1): Rider
Edwards, Graham, Lawrence, Martin, Verge (2): CCSU, CU
FINAL FOUR TRIVIA: Coach Hurley is one of four current head coaches who won the Final Four Most Oustanding Player Award. Juan Dixon (2002), Danny Manning (1988) and Patrick Ewing (1984) are the others.
REGULAR SEASON OOC RECORDS UNDER BOBBY HURLEY (47-16)
2019-20: 9-4
2018-19: 9-3
2017-18: 12-0
2016-17: 7-6
2015-16: 10-3
ASU CONSECUTIVE 20-POINT GAMES (LISTED MOST RECENT, 7 OR MORE)
7-Remy Martin, Jr. (Dec. 28, 2019-present)
8-Eddie House, Sr., (Dec. 18, 1999-Jan. 15, 2000)
7-Jeremy Veal, Sr. (Jan. 24-Feb.19, 1998)
7-Trent Edwards, Sr. (Feb. 11-March 9, 1989)
DOWN GOES RANKED TEAM: ASU has defeated seven ranked teams in Bobby Hurley's Sun Devil tenure, including five out of conference. The Nov. 24, 2017, Xavier win was the highest ranked non-conference team ASU had topped since it beat No. 7 Maryland in the 1994 Maui Invitational...until it won at #2 Kansas on Dec. 10...until it beat #2 Kansas on Dec. 22, 2018.
@SUNDEVILHOOPS OOC WINS VS. RANKED TEAMS PAC-10/12 ERA
#18 ASU 80, #1 Kansas 76 (Dec. 22, 2018)/Bobby Hurley
ASU 72, #15 Mississippi State 67 (Nov. 19, 2018)/Bobby Hurley
#16 ASU 95, @#2 Kansas 85 (Dec. 10, 2017)/Bobby Hurley
ASU 102, #15 Xavier 86 (Nov. 24, 2017 at Las Vegas)/Bobby Hurley
ASU 67, #18 Texas A&M 54 (Dec. 5, 2015)/Bobby Hurley
ASU 79, #25 Marquette 77 (Nov. 25, 2013)/Herb Sendek
ASU 77, #17 Xavier 55 (Dec. 15, 2007)/Herb Sendek
ASU 97, #7 Maryland 90 (Nov. 23, 1994 at Maui Invitational)/Bill Frieder
ASU 79, #13 Michigan 62 (Nov. 22, 1994 at Maui Invitational)/Bill Frieder
#14 ASU 71, #7 Ohio State 58 (Dec. 20, 1980)/Ned Wulk
ASU 96, #12 Iowa 88 (Dec. 6, 1980)/Ned Wulk
STOCK RISING
ROB EDWARDS
NOW: In past eight games averaging 14.8 ppg and 26-61 (.426) from three-point stripe
THEN: Previous five games prior to past eight: 2.0 ppg and 1-of-18 (.056) from three-point stripe
KHALID THOMAS
NOW: In past two games is averaging 9.5 ppg, 7-10 FGs and 4-6 3s
THEN: Previous 14 games prior to last two: 1.8 ppg, 6-15 FGs and 3-9 3s
ALONZO VERGE JR.
NOW: Past four games: 17.0 ppg, 5-9 3s, 28-48 FGs (.583)
Then: Previous five games prior to past four: 6.2 ppg., 1-9 3s, 11-45 FGs (.244)
GAME #22: ASU 84, UCLA 66 (FEB. 6): It was one of those good nights for ASU at it hit 14-of-24 (.583) three-pointers and had four players in double figures ast it led for over 36 minutes in the win over surging UCLA, who had won four of five. Alonzo Verge Jr. had 26 points off the bench, while Remy Martin had 15, Rob Edwards 13 and Kimani Lawrence 11. ASU never had more than an 8-0 run but led by 23 with just over five minutes on the clock. There were only five lead changes and one tie in the game. Romello White added 16 rebounds and eight points.
MOST SUN DEVIL THREE-POINTERS MADE (1996-97 TO PRESENT)
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
17 vs. Idaho State/Dec. 23, 2008
16 vs. Miami (Ohio)/Nov. 12, 2013
16 vs. Oregon/Mar. 3, 2011
16 vs. California/Feb. 16, 2008
15 vs. Citadel/Nov. 23, 2016
15 vs. UCSB/Dec. 21, 2009
14 vs. UCLA/Feb. 6, 2020
14 at #2 Kansas/Dec. 10, 2017
14 vs. UC-Irvine/Nov. 19, 2017
14 vs. #5 UCLA/Feb. 23, 2017
14 vs. Maryland (at Kansas City)/Nov. 24, 2014
14 at Texas Tech/Dec. 22, 2012
14 vs. Florida Gulf Coast/Nov. 28, 2007
MOST SUN DEVIL THREE-POINTERS MADE BOBBY HURLEY ERA (14 OR MORE)
18 vs. Central Arkansas/Dec. 22, 2016
18 vs. UNLV/Dec. 3, 2016
15 vs. Citadel/Nov. 23, 2016
14 vs. UCLA/Feb. 6, 2020
14 at #2 Kansas/Dec. 10, 2017
14 vs. UC-Irvine/Nov. 19, 2017
14 vs. #5 UCLA/Feb. 23, 2017
THIS IS US: ASU has 24 wins (11 on the road) when trailing at the half under Bobby Hurley in five seasons, after going 12-64 (.157) the previous five seasons. It did it seven times in 2017-18 and did it in 2018-19 at Georgia, vs. No. 1 Kansas, at California, at UCLA, vs. Cal and at Oregon State. This year it has halftime comeback wins over St. John's, at Princeton vs. No. 22 Arizona. ASU actually trailed Arizona 37-15 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half before closing the gap to 43-30 at the half and then scored the first 10 points of second half. The 22-point comeback matches what is believed to the biggest in Pac-12 history.
PAC-12 STAT STUFF: ASU ranks second in the Pac-12 in steals at 7.71 per game (171 in 22 games) while its turnover margin (+2.86) is second behind only Washington State (+3.91)…Remy Martin is third in the league in scoring at 19.14 points per game and third in steals (1.73 per game with 38 on the year)…Romello White leads the Pac-12 in rebounding at 9.33 per game and leads in field goal percentage at .630. His seven double-doubles fifthin the league while his nine double-digit rebounding games is tied for league lead…Remy is second in the Pac-12 at 20.89 points per game in conference games and his 13 20-point games is tied for league lead...Remy Martin is the only Pac-12 player since 1996-97 to open conference play with six straight games of 20+ points (streak ended Jan. 29 at WSU)...ASU is 19-5 when Rob Edwards scores 13 in his two seasons (12-2 when he scores 15)...ASU has now won four straight against UCLA for the first time in school history after the 84-66 Tempe win on Feb. 6.
PAST 11 ASU VS. USC GAMES IN TEMPE (ASU LEADS 10-1)
ASU 80, USC 77/Feb. 8, 2018
ASU 83, USC 82/Feb. 26, 2017
ASU 74, #23 USC 67/Feb. 12, 2016
ASU 64, USC 59/Feb. 22, 2015
ASU 98, USC 93 (OT)/Jan. 24, 2013
ASU 56, USC 52/Feb. 25, 2012
USC 63, ASU 61/Jan. 27, 2011
ASU 59, USC 54/Mar. 4, 2010
ASU 65, USC 53/Feb. 15, 2009
ASU 80, USC 66/Mar. 1, 2008
ASU 68, #22 USC 58/Feb. 18, 2007
PHYSICAL: Top wingspans on the team are Jalen Graham (7-2), Romello White (7-0) and Kimani Lawrence (6-11 1/2). Best standing vertical is Graham (32.5"), while Remy Martin is next (31.5") while best approach verticals are Remy (40.5"), Jaelen House (39.5") and Graham (39").
NCAA NOTE: ASU had been to four NCAA Tournaments (1995, 2003, 2009 and 2014) in 26 seasons (1992-2017) and not been back-to-back since 1980-81. Remy Martin, Kimani Lawrence and Romello White have now gone to the Dance in each of their first two seasons.
SOME SOLID DUBS: Bobby Hurley has led ASU to a 47-16 regular season non-conference record in his five years, with notable wins over NC State, at Creighton, Texas A&M, UNLV (twice), Stephen F. Austin, Kansas State, Xavier, St. John's (twice plus a NCAA Tournament win), Kansas (twice), Vanderbilt and Georgia (twice).
ROAD: ASU opened Pac-12 play with three straight on the road for the seventh time in the past 12 seasons and for the third time in Coach Hurley's five seasons (also in 2017-18, 2016-17, 2014-15, 2011-12, 2010-11 and 2008-09). Coach Hurley's squad navigated something similar as in the past three seasons six times teams have opened with five of first seven on the road (as USC did this year). ASU in 2017-18 is the only one of the six to make the NCAA Tournament in that time.
PAC-12 REFRESHER: ASU finished second in the Pac-12 for just the fourth time in its 41-year Pac-10/12 history last year (2009-10, 1980-81 and 1979-80). ASU won 12 loop games for just the sixth time.
BEST PAC-12 RECORDS
16-2: 1980-81
15-3: 1979-80
12-6: 2018-19, 2009-10, 1994-95, 1982-83
ROMELLO: Romello White sprained his right ankle on Dec. 28 vs. Texas Southern and played eight minutes. His stats took a hit as he played limited minutes at Arizona on Jan. 4. He had 18 points and 17 rebounds in the Georgia win on Dec. 14 and was averaging 14.7 ppg/ 13.7 rpg and shooting 32-of-44 (.727) in his previous six games to TSU (Dec. 28).
ROAD WINS: ASU's 5-4 Pac-12 road mark last year was its best since the 2009-10 and 2008-09 teams went 5-4 and matched ASU's best Pac-12 road mark in 39 seasons. Last year was only ASU's sixth winning road record since it joined the Pac-10 in 1978-79 (41 seasons). Ned Wulk's 1980-81 (8-1) and 1979-80 (7-2) teams set the bar, while Bill Frieder's 1994-95 Sweet Sixteen team also went 5-4.
REMY: Remy Martin became the 38th member of the ASUl 1,000-point club on Jan. 11 as he now has 1,142 career points in 86 career games (13.2 pg). He has 13 20-point games on the year and posted seven straight -- averaging 24.3 points in those seven -- before posting 15 at Washington State on Jan. 29. The seven straight 20-point tilts matched the best by a Sun Devil since Eddie House posted eight in 1999-2000. Remy posted a career-high 33 points at Princeton on Nov. 26 and is averaging 19.2 ppg after averaging 11.3 in his first two years.
PAC-12 MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES 20+ POINTS IN SEASON SINCE 1996-97
11-Ed Gray, CAL (Jan. 9, 1997-Feb. 15, 1997)
9-Landry Fields, STAN (Nov. 24, 2009-Jan. 2, 2010)
9-Brandon Roy, UW (Jan. 26, 2006-Feb. 26, 2006)
8-Tyler Dorsey, UO (March 9, 2017-April 1, 2017)
8-Eddie House, ASU (Dec. 18, 1999-Jan. 15, 2000)
8-Jason Terry, UA (Jan. 28, 1999-Feb. 20, 1999)
7-Remy Martin, ASU (Dec. 28, 2019-Jan. 25, 2020)
7-Klay Thompson, WSU (Feb. 17, 2011-Mar. 21, 2011)
7-Luke Ridnour, UO (Feb. 2, 2003-Mar. 13, 2003)
7-Jeremy Veal, ASU (Jan. 24, 1998-Feb. 19, 1998)
7-O.J. Mayo, USC (Feb. 21, 2008-Mar. 13, 2008)
LOTS OF HOTEL PENS: ASU played five of its first seven in Shanghai, Connecticut, New Jersey and San Francisco as it spent 17 of its first 32 nights of the season in a hotel and flew 20,134 miles on nine flights. When Coach Hurley took the ASU job in April of 2015 he said ASU was going to play some folks and not be afraid to go on the road. ASU's tally of non-conference states in his five years is at 11 with other trips to the Bahamas (vs. Kentucky) and China. ASU has played non-conference games in New York (MSG and Barclays), Nebraska (Creighon), at Kentucky, Nevada (at UNLV), Florida (Old Spice Classic), California (San Francisco and San Diego State), at Kansas, at Georgia, Tennessee (Vanderbilt) and New Jersey (at Princeton).
CARRIED LEAGUE: In Bobby Hurley's first four seasons, ASU led the Pac-12 in wins over ranked out-of-conference teams in the regular season (five) with wins over Kansas (twice), Xavier, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. Four of the wins were away from Tempe. The rest of the league was 15-42 in those four seasons and seven of the teams had one or zero wins.
ON THE ROAD (AGAIN) TO START PAC-12: ASU opened Pac-12 on the road for the eighth time in past dozen seasons when it traveled to Arizona on Jan. 4. Ironically with the 20-game league slate and opening weekends announced, ASU will travel to Cal and make it nine times in past 13 years to open the Pac-12 season on the road next year.
SUN DEVIL PAC-12 OPENERS PAST 12 SEASONS (AND ALSO NEXT YEAR -- HOME GAMES BOLD)
ASU @California (Dec. 3, 2020)
@#25 Arizona 75, ASU 47 (Jan. 4, 2020)
Utah 96, ASU 86 (Jan. 3, 2019)
@#17 Arizona 84, #3 ASU 78 (Dec. 30, 2017)
ASU 98, @Stanford 93 (Dec. 30, 2016)
#4 Arizona 94, ASU 82 (Jan. 3, 2016)
@#8 Arizona 73, ASU 49 (Jan. 4, 2015)
Washington 76, ASU 65 (Jan. 2, 2014)
ASU 55, Utah 54 OT (Jan. 2, 2013)
@Arizona 68, ASU 51 (Dec. 31, 2011)
@Oregon State 80, ASU 58 (Dec. 30, 2010)
@UCLA 72, ASU 70 (Dec. 31, 2009)
ASU 90, @Stanford 60 (Jan. 2, 2009)
2018-19 QUICK REVIEW: ASU was 23-11 and 12-6 (second) in the Pac-12 after being picked sixth in the preseason media poll. It beat No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 22, ASU's first win over No. 1 at home and second all-time (won at Oregon State in March of 1981) and notched first NCAA Tournament win since 2009 with a 74-65 victory over St. John's on March 20.
ROMELLO PAST NOTES: Romello made .625 of his shots in his first two seasons including 120-of-184 in his freshman year...coached by Jerry Stackhouse in the Atlanta AAU circuit...started 63 of 65 games his first two years and led team in offensive boards in each of the past two seasons with 77 last year and 79 in 2017-18...has two of the best field goal percentage mark's in ASU history as he shot .652 in freshman year (fourth) and .598 last year (ninth-best).
ROMELLO WHITE TOP REBOUNDING GAMES
17 vs. Georgia (Dec. 14, 2019)
16 vs. UCLA (Feb. 6, 2020)
16 vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 11, 2019)
15 vs. San Diego State (Nov. 14, 2017)
14 vs. Louisiana (Dec. 7, 2019)
14 vs. Texas Southern (Dec. 1, 2018)
14 at Washington (Feb. 1, 2018)
13 vs. San Francisco (Dec. 2, 2018)
12 vs. Creighton (Dec. 21, 2019)
12 vs. Saint Mary's (Dec. 18, 2019)
ROAD: ASU won at Princeton (67-65/Nov. 26) and San Francisco (71-67/Dec. 3), as it is 7-2 (.778) in OOC road games under Bobby Hurley, after going 8-22 (.267) in its previous 30 efforts.
ASU OUT OF CONFERENCE ROADIES UNDER BOBBY HURLEY (7-2)
ASU 71, San Francisco 67 (Dec. 3, 2019)
ASU 67, Princeton 65 (Nov. 26, 2019)
Vanderbilt 81, ASU 65 (Dec. 17, 2018)
#20 ASU 76, Georgia 74 (Dec. 15, 2018)
#16 ASU 95, #2 Kansas 85 (Dec. 10, 2017)
ASU 74, San Diego State 63 (Dec. 10, 2016)
ASU 66, UNLV 56 (Dec. 16, 2015)
#5 Kentucky 72, ASU 58 (Dec. 5, 2015)
ASU 79, Creighton 77 (Dec. 2, 2015)
REMY: Remy's two best scoring games last year were wins over Arizona -- 31 in 95-88 double OT win on Jan. 31 and 27 in final game of regular season on road on March 9...led ASU to first sweep over Arizona since 2008-09 and first win in Tucson since 2010...second-team All-Pac-12 by the league's coaches in 2018-19...21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals to spark ASU back from an 18-point deficit to a 76-74 victory at Georgia on Dec. 15, 2018, leading to his Dec. 17 Pac-12 Player of the Week Award. Had 12 points, five boards, two assists and two steals in the second half, including back-to-back baskets inside the final 3:11 which gave ASU its first lead of game at 71-70....led Pac-12 with a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio and second in league at five apg..had his November and early December of 2018 ruined by a bum ankle.
SUN DEVIL TOP CAREER SCORING CHART
25. 1,174 – Rihards Kuksiks, '07-11
26. 1,142 – Remy Martin, '17-present
27. 1,137 – Fat Lever, '78-82
WHO WE LOST: Three regular rotation players are gone from last year, including All-Pac-12 performers Zylan Cheatham and Lu Dort (Pac-12 Freshman of the Year), as well as De'Quon Lake.
CLOSE OUT AND HAND UP: Sun Devil opponents are shooting .325 from the three-point stripe, the third-best defensive mark in ASU history.
SUN DEVIL BEST THREE-POINT DEFENSE TEAMS
.317, 2009-10 (181-571)
.319, 2008-09 (212-665)
.320, 2019-20 (155-484)
.326, 2012-13 (175-536)
.333, 1994-95 (137-411)
.334, 2018-19 (292-874)
GOOD NOTE: ASU has defeated seven ranked teams in Bobby Hurley's five seasons, but it trailed at the half in five of the wins, including both wins over Kansas.
ASU WINS VS. RANKED TEAMS UNDER BOBBY HURLEY (ASU DEFICIT AT HALF)
ASU 66, #22 Arizona 65 (Jan. 25, 2020)--Arizona 43, ASU 30
#18 ASU 80, #1 Kansas 76 (Dec. 22, 2018)--Kansas 39, #18 ASU 31
ASU 72, #15 Mississippi State 67 (Nov. 19, 2018/Las Vegas)
#16 ASU 95, at #2 Kansas 85 (Dec. 10, 2017)--Kansas 40, #16 ASU 37
ASU 102, #15 Xavier 86 (Nov. 24, 2017/Las Vegas)-- Xavier 46, ASU 44
ASU 74, #23 USC 67 (Feb. 12, 2016)-- USC 30, ASU 27
ASU 67, #18 Texas A&M 54 (Dec. 5, 2015)
ROB EDWARDS: Dropped buckets in big wins in 2018-19, with 15 off the bench vs. #1 Kansas, 19 vs. Arizona, 28 at Utah and 13 at Oregon State...when he scores 13, ASU is 19-5 and 12-2 when he scores 15...entered ASU with 909 points in 63 games (14.4 ppg.)...71-of-85 (.835) from the free throw line in 2018-19...missed six games early and only scored 14 points in the first nine games (14 in opener, six DNPs due to a back injury and zero points vs. Nevada and Georgia)...stats last year look a lot better when you remember he went from Nov. 7-Dec. 16 without scoring. In those three games he did play, he was 4-of-26 (.154) from field and 2-of-9 (.222) from three and had 14 points (all against CSF in the opener).
ROB EDWARDS 15+ POINTS SUN DEVIL SCORING TILTS (12-2)
28 at Utah (2/16/19)
24 vs. Utah (1/18/20)
23 vs. CCSU (11/14/19)
20 vs. Colorado/China (11/9/19)
19 at Washington (2/1/20)
19 vs. Arizona (1/31/19)
18 at Oregon State (1/9/20)
17 vs. Louisiana (12/7/19)
16 vs. California (2/24/19)
16 vs. Stanford (2/20/19)
15 vs. Arizona (1/25/20)
15 vs. Oregon (3/15/19)
15 vs. UCLA (3/14/19)
15 vs. #1 Kansas (12/22/18)
GONNA' PLAY FOLKS: Bobby Hurley is going to play some folks. In his first year after looking at a schedule he inherited that included tilts against NC State in Brooklyn, at Creighton, at UNLV and against eventual No. 18 Texas A&M, he put the wheels in motion 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, and finished a series with No. 9 Creighton. Kansas returned a trip to Tempe last year after ASU's win on Dec. 10, 2017. Coach Hurley has played six top-10 non-conference opponent in his five years, after ASU faced one in the previous 17 seasons during the regular season.
ASU REGULAR SEASON OOC GAMES VS. TOP-10 TEAMS (SINCE JOINING PAC-10)
#7 Virginia 48, ASU 45 (Nov. 24, 2019 at Mohegan Sun Resort)
#18 ASU 80, #1 Kansas 76 (Dec. 22, 2018)
#16 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)
KIMANI NOTES: Long-armed and mobile swingman guards multiple positions...good mid-range jumper and helps in any and all rebounding and defensive categories...posted double digits in 14 games in 2018-19 and team was 5-0 when he scored 15...best game was 22-point effort vs. Mississippi State in Las Vegas on Nov. 19, which included the game-winning three-pointer with the scored tied and 29 seconds left...had 10 points in 2019-20 opener vs. Colorado in China...had 11 off the bench vs. Georgia on Dec. 14.
MOST POINTS IN SUN DEVIL HISTORY
61-Eddie House at California (2 OT), Jan. 8, 2000
46-Eddie House vs. San Diego State, Dec. 18, 1999
45-Paul Williams at USC, Mar. 10, 1983
43-Alonzo Verge Jr. vs. Saint Mary's, Dec. 18, 2019
STARTING LINEUP COMBINATIONS (9)
Cherry, Edwards, Lawrence, Martin, White (2): UTAH, UA
Cherry, Edwards, Martin, Verge, White (4): Creighton, TSU, @UA, @WSU
Cherry, Edwards, Martin, Valtonen, White (2): Georgia, SMC
Cherry, Lawrence, Martin, Verge, White (3): @OSU, @UO, CU
Edwards, Lawrence, Martin, Mitchell, White (2): @UW, UCLA
Edwards, Martin, Thomas, Valtonen, White (3): @USF, LA, PVAM
Edwards, Lawrence, Martin, Valtonen, White (3): SJU, UVA, @PU
Edwards, Lawrence, Martin, Verge, White (1): Rider
Edwards, Graham, Lawrence, Martin, Verge (2): CCSU, CU
FINAL FOUR TRIVIA: Coach Hurley is one of four current head coaches who won the Final Four Most Oustanding Player Award. Juan Dixon (2002), Danny Manning (1988) and Patrick Ewing (1984) are the others.
REGULAR SEASON OOC RECORDS UNDER BOBBY HURLEY (47-16)
2019-20: 9-4
2018-19: 9-3
2017-18: 12-0
2016-17: 7-6
2015-16: 10-3
ASU CONSECUTIVE 20-POINT GAMES (LISTED MOST RECENT, 7 OR MORE)
7-Remy Martin, Jr. (Dec. 28, 2019-present)
8-Eddie House, Sr., (Dec. 18, 1999-Jan. 15, 2000)
7-Jeremy Veal, Sr. (Jan. 24-Feb.19, 1998)
7-Trent Edwards, Sr. (Feb. 11-March 9, 1989)
DOWN GOES RANKED TEAM: ASU has defeated seven ranked teams in Bobby Hurley's Sun Devil tenure, including five out of conference. The Nov. 24, 2017, Xavier win was the highest ranked non-conference team ASU had topped since it beat No. 7 Maryland in the 1994 Maui Invitational...until it won at #2 Kansas on Dec. 10...until it beat #2 Kansas on Dec. 22, 2018.
@SUNDEVILHOOPS OOC WINS VS. RANKED TEAMS PAC-10/12 ERA
#18 ASU 80, #1 Kansas 76 (Dec. 22, 2018)/Bobby Hurley
ASU 72, #15 Mississippi State 67 (Nov. 19, 2018)/Bobby Hurley
#16 ASU 95, @#2 Kansas 85 (Dec. 10, 2017)/Bobby Hurley
ASU 102, #15 Xavier 86 (Nov. 24, 2017 at Las Vegas)/Bobby Hurley
ASU 67, #18 Texas A&M 54 (Dec. 5, 2015)/Bobby Hurley
ASU 79, #25 Marquette 77 (Nov. 25, 2013)/Herb Sendek
ASU 77, #17 Xavier 55 (Dec. 15, 2007)/Herb Sendek
ASU 97, #7 Maryland 90 (Nov. 23, 1994 at Maui Invitational)/Bill Frieder
ASU 79, #13 Michigan 62 (Nov. 22, 1994 at Maui Invitational)/Bill Frieder
#14 ASU 71, #7 Ohio State 58 (Dec. 20, 1980)/Ned Wulk
ASU 96, #12 Iowa 88 (Dec. 6, 1980)/Ned Wulk