Bobby Hurley and his staff like playing great non-conference games, everyone knows that.
With 10 road games in the Pac-12 (yes, 10 in 2020-21) and already a trip to Creighton (who some folks have as a top-10 team) and a very good Diamond Head Invitational field over Christmas on the 2020-21 schedule to go with its Dec. 10 game in Tempe against San Diego State, finding a good and NET friendly opponent close to home in a neutral site game seems like a good idea.
Consider it done.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame field of teams for the third annual Jerry Colangelo Classic, a premier college basketball showcase hosted at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Saturday, December 19, 2020 is set. The one-day quadruple-header will feature Gonzaga vs. Texas Tech (televised on CBS), San Francisco vs. Grand Canyon, Northern Arizona vs. San Diego, and Arizona State vs. BYU.
ASU has neutral site wins under Coach Hurley over NC State (Barclays Center), Tulane (Orlando), St. John's (STAPLES Center and Mohegan Sun) while posting four Las Vegas wins over four eventual NCAA Tournament teams (Xavier and Kansas State in November of 2017 and Utah State and Mississippi State in November of 2018).
"We always try to schedule great neutral site games in NBA arenas against great competition and that is what this game allows," says Sun Devil head coach Bobby Hurley, who is entering his sixth year and has posted three straight 20-win seasons. "The game matches two teams that would have been in the NCAA Tournament last year and have the goal of returning this year. Playing in downtown Phoenix, where the ASU administration has made such a great impact economically, is a natural for us. We look forward to being a part of a great day of college hoops in our state."
Ticket information, game times and additional television broadcast details and will be released at a later date. As the health and safety of the athletes, fans and staff is of the utmost importance, ASU and the Basketball Hall of Fame will continue to follow public health recommendations regarding the COVID-19 situation in the coming months and will provide updates should changes occur.
BYU finished the 2019-20 season with 24 wins and ranked No. 18/16 in the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls. Mark Pope set the school record for wins by a coach in his first season while making history by becoming the only Cougar coach to finish his first season ranked in the top 25. BYU had one of the most efficient offenses in the country in 2019-20 as the Cougars were No. 1 in the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage and top five in assist to turnover ratio, field goal percentage, 3-point field goals per game and assists per game. Before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BYU was set to receive a single-digit seed in the 2020 NCAA Tournament.
ASU NEUTRAL SITE NON-CONFERENCE GAMES PLAYED UNDER BOBBY HURLEY
2015-16 (1-1)
Marquette 78, ASU 73, OT (Nov. 24, 2015 at Barclays Center) -- CBE Classic
ASU 79, NC State 76 (Nov. 23, 2015 at Barclays Center) -- CBE Classic
2016-17 (1-4)
#18 Purdue 97, ASU 64 (Dec. 6, 2016, at New York City) -- Jimmy V Classic)
#1 Kentucky 115, ASU 69 (Nov. 28, 2016 at Bahamas)
Davidson 68, ASU 60 (Nov. 19, 2016 at Orlando) -- Tire Pros Invitational
ASU 80, Tulane 71 (Nov. 18, 2016 at Orlando) -- Tire Pros Invitational
Northern Iowa 82, ASU 63 (Nov. 17, 2016 at Orlando) -- Tire Pros Invitational
2017-18 (3-0)
ASU 82, St. John's 70 (Dec. 8, 2017 at STAPLES Center, Los Angeles)
ASU 102, #15 Xavier 86 (Nov. 24, 2017 at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas) -- Continental Tire Invitational
ASU 92, Kansas State 90 (Nov. 23, 2017 at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas) -- Continental Tire Invitational
2018-19 (2-1)
#6 Nevada 72, #20 ASU 66 (Dec. 7, 2018 at STAPLES Center, Los Angeles)
ASU 87, Utah State 82 (Nov. 21, 2018 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas) -- MGM Resorts Main Event
ASU 72, #15 Mississippi State 67 (Nov. 20, 2018 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas) -- MGM Resorts Main Event
2019-20 (1-3)
Saint Mary's 96, ASU 56 (Dec. 18, 2019 at Talking Stick Arena in Phoenix, Ariz.) -- Hall of Fame Showcase
#7 Virginia 48, ASU 45 (Nov. 24, 2019 at Mohegan Sun Arena) -- Air Force Reserve Tip-Off Tournament
ASU 80, St. John's 67 (Nov. 23, 2019 at Mohegan Sun Arena) -- Air Force Reserve Tip-Off Tournament
Colorado 81, ASU 71 (Nov. 9, 2019 at Baoshan Sports Center in Shanghai) -- Pac-12 China Game
"We look forward to hosting a unique collegiate event in Phoenix, featuring three Arizona teams and honoring Jerry Colangelo, a man who has done so much for the game and the state he calls home," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "We think this will be a great opportunity for college basketball fans to come out and enjoy the wonderful desert climate while this holiday season, while taking in four games at the freshly renovated Talking Stick Resort Arena."
SUN DEVIL NOTEWORTHY OOC TEAMS PLAYED SINCE HIRING OF BOBBY HURLEY
Creighton (Big East) -- won at Creighton in 2015-16, lost to top-10 Creighton in 2016-17 in Tempe and in 2019-20
Georgia (SEC) -- swept series with Georgia past two seasons with an Athens win in December of 2018
Kansas (Big 12) -- two fun wins on the road at No. 2 and at home over No. 1
Kansas State (Big 12) -- won at Orleans Arena in November of 2017, Kansas State ended up in 2018 Elite Eight
Kentucky (SEC) -- lost to Wildcats in Lexington and in the Bahamas
Marquette (Big East) -- lost at Barclays Center in Coach Hurley's first year
Mississippi State (SEC) -- beat a ranked and eventual NCAA Tournament Bulldog squad in Las Vegas in November of 2018
NC State (ACC) -- Beat NC State at Barclays Center in November of 2015
Nevada (MWC) -- Lost to undefeated Nevada in December of 2018 at STAPLES Center
Purdue (Big 10) -- Lost at MSG in Jimmy V. Classic in December of 2016
San Diego State (MWC) -- swept SDSU, winning at SDSU (2016-17) and in Tempe (2017-18)
St. John's (Big East) -- beat SJU in Los Angeles in December of 2017 on November 23, 2019 in Connecticut
St. Mary's (WCC) -- lost to constant NCAA Tournament team Gaels in December of 2019
Texas A&M (SEC) -- beat ranked Aggies soundly in Tempe in December of 2015
UNLV (MWC) -- won at UNLV and in Tempe in Coach Hurley's first two seasons
Vanderbilt (SEC) -- teams split with each winning at home after Vanderbilt was 2017 NCAA Tournament team
Virginia (ACC) -- fell to defending NCAA champion in November of 2019 in Connecticut
Xavier (Big East) -- beat No. 15 Musketeers, an eventual No. 1 NCAA seed, 102-86 in November of 2017 in Las Vegas