LAS VEGAS - Head Coaches and two student-athletes from each Pac-12 Men's Basketball program are set to take part in the 2023 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Media Day, held at Park MGM Las Vegas on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
Sun Devil Men's Basketball will be represented by Head Coach Bobby Hurley, who is making his ninth appearance at Pac-12 Media Day. He will be joined by a pair of junior guards, Frankie Collins and Jamiya Neal, who are expected to play prominent roles for Arizona State this season. Members of the national and local media congregate annually at this event and are given exclusive access to the representatives of each program. In addition to Pac-12 Media Day, the league will announce the Preseason Poll and All-Conference Teams this week.
Watch Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, and Coach Hurley at Pac-12 Media Day as they make live appearances on Pac-12 Network, Sirius XM Pac-12 Radio (Channel 373), and the Field of 68 Podcast. Stay tuned to our social media platforms (@SunDevilHoops) for additional behind-the-scenes content from Las Vegas. More information on where and how to watch is included below.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Coverage of Basketball Media Days will be available across Pac-12 Networks, Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app, featuring Ashley Adamson, Guy Haberman and Don MacLean among others.
LIVE APPEARANCES
Coach Hurley
-- 9:25 am – 9:36 am Pac-12 Networks Show & Main Stage
-- 10:00 am – 10:10 am Sirius XM Pac-12 Radio (Channel 373)
-- 12:40 pm – 12:50 pm Field of 68 Podcast
Frankie Collins
-- 9:36 am – 9:47 am Pac-12 Networks Show & Main Stage
-- 10:10 am – 10:20 am Sirius XM Pac-12 Radio (Channel 373)
Jamiya Neal
-- 9:36 am – 9:47 am Pac-12 Networks Show & Main Stage
-- 10:10 am – 10:20 am Sirius XM Pac-12 Radio (Channel 373)
MORE ON COACH HURLEY...
Sun Devil Men's Basketball is in the midst of one of the most successful eras in program history, reaching new heights with Bobby Hurley at the helm. Not only has he directed Arizona State to three NCAA Tournament appearances and two NCAA Tournament victories, Hurley has also won 20+ games in four of the last six seasons. He is coming off a memorable 23-win campaign in 2022-23 in which the Sun Devils earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament where they secured a First Four victory over Nevada. Thanks to his efforts, he agreed to an extension that will keep him with the program through the 2026 season
In winning 20+ games four times over the past six years, Hurley accomplished a feat seldom reached in Tempe. The program had reached that mark only nine times in the previous 35 years. The 23 wins in 2022-23 is the most in the Hurley era, as the state of the program is as strong as ever. This is only the fifth time since 1980-81 that Arizona State has won 23 games in a season. Hurley has adapted to the changing landscape of college basketball, patrolling his squads to three NCAA tournaments in the seven seasons that there has been a big dance. He joins Ned Wulk as the only two coaches in program history to take the Sun Devils to three NCAA Tournaments. He is the first ASU coach since Bill Frieder (1989-97) to win multiple NCAA Tournament games in his coaching tenure at ASU.
Under the direction of Hurley, the 2022-23 squad made a historical run at the Pac-12 Conference Tournament, reaching the semifinal round for only the fourth time in program history. Arizona State was seeded No. 6 after finishing the regular season at 11-9 in conference play. The Sun Devils started their stay in Las Vegas off with a 63-57 win over Oregon State in the opening round. They then went on to beat No. 3 seed USC, 77-72, to advance to the semifinals. The Sun Devils had 13 wins away from home, seven in true road games and six at neutral sites during the 2022-23 season. That included victories over Michigan and VCU at the Legends Classic, as Hurley won his third preseason tournament at Arizona State. Massive wins over Creighton, Arizona, Oregon, USC, and Colorado helped seal the NCAA Tournament berth. Under Hurley, ASU now has two wins in a hostile road environment in Tucson in the last five years, tied for second most in the Pac-12 in that span. The Sun Devils swept two road Pac-12 series this season (Oregon, Bays). It is the first time ASU has swept the Bay schools since 2019-20. It is just the third time since joining the conference and the first since the 1980-81 season that Arizona State has swept two road series in the same season.
ASU WINS VS. RANKED TEAMS UNDER BOBBY HURLEY
ASU 89, at #7 Arizona 88 (Feb. 25, 2023)
ASU 87, #20 Michigan 62 (Nov. 17, 2022)
ASU 87, #3 UCLA 84 3 OT (Feb. 5, 2022)
ASU 77, #14 Oregon 72 (Feb. 20, 2020)
ASU 66, #22 Arizona 65 (Jan. 25, 2020)
#18 ASU 80, #1 Kansas 76 (Dec. 22, 2018)
ASU 72, #15 Mississippi State 67 (Nov. 19, 2018 at Las Vegas)
#16 ASU 95, at #2 Kansas 85 (Dec. 10, 2017)
ASU 102, #15 Xavier 86 (Nov. 24, 2017 at Las Vegas)
ASU 74, #23 USC 67 (Feb. 12, 2016)
ASU 67, #18 Texas A&M 54 (Dec. 5, 2015)
In eight seasons with Hurley in charge, Sun Devil Men's Basketball matched its highest ranking in school history (third in the Associated Press Poll in December of 2017), notched its best two average attendances in history (10,603 in 2017-18 is the ASU record), recorded its best two non-conference wins in school history (vs. No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 22, 2018 and at No. 2 Kansas on Dec. 10, 2017) and defeated two eventual 2018 No. 1 seeds in a span of a few weeks (Kansas and Xavier).
Following a three-year drought without a First or Second Team Pac-12 All-Conference selection, ASU has had at least one in each of the past six seasons under Hurley. Hurley has coached two Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year winners in addition to the 2019 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (Lu Dort). Three Sun Devils have been selected to the Pac-12 All-Tournament team and two have landed on an All-Defensive Team during Hurley's tenure. In addition to the on-court success, 20+ players have earned Academic All-Conference distinction in the eight years under Hurley.
LIVE APPEARANCES
Coach Hurley will make three live appearances throughout the day, starting on Pac-12 Network at 9:25 AM MST.
-- 9:25 am – 9:36 am Pac-12 Networks Show & Main Stage
-- 10:00 am – 10:10 am Sirius XM Pac-12 Radio (Channel 373)
-- 12:40 pm – 12:50 pm Field of 68
MORE ON FRANKIE COLLINS...
Follow him on Twitter (@Frankiecollins0) and Instagram (@frankieee)
- Leading returning scorer from the 2022-23 team that won 23 games and made the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
- Averaged 9.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game as a sophomore.
- One of only two Pac-12 players (Drew Peterson) to average 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
- Played in 35 games, starting in 34.
- Scored in double-figures 19 times, eclipsing the 20-point mark twice.
- Four games with seven or more assists, including an 11-assist effort when he recorded a double-double (12 points) against San Diego.
- Excellent rebounding guard, pulling in six or more boards in 10 games, highlighted by a 10-rebound game against Cal.
LIVE APPEARANCES
Frankie Collins will make two live appearances throughout the day, starting on Pac-12 Network at 9:36 AM MST.
-- 9:36 am – 9:47 am Pac-12 Networks Show & Main Stage
-- 10:10 am – 10:20 am Sirius XM Pac-12 Radio (Channel 373)
MORE ON JAMIYA NEAL...
Follow him on Twitter (@jamiyaneal_) and Instagram (@jamiyaneal_)
- Returning wing who came on strong as the season progressed.
- Enters his third season with the program, with improvement evident each offseason.
- Offers position versatility allowing for roster flexibility.
- Averaged 8.2 points over his final eight games.
- Posted 4.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 31 games as a sophomore.
- Put together five double-digit scoring efforts, including a 16-point effort on 6-of-7 shooting in ASU win in the 2023 NCAA Tournament over Nevada.
- Recorded his first-career double-double when scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the win over Washington.
LIVE APPEARANCES
Jamiya Neal will make two live appearances throughout the day, starting on Pac-12 Network at 9:36 AM MST.
-- 9:36 am – 9:47 am Pac-12 Networks Show & Main Stage
-- 10:10 am – 10:20 am Sirius XM Pac-12 Radio (Channel 373)
SCHEDULE IS OUT
Sun Devil Men's Basketball starts their season on Nov. 8 against Mississippi State at the Barstool Sports Invitational in Chicago. With several marquee non-conference matchups away from home, Arizona State will once again be challenged early in the year. The Sun Devils will play 11 games before the holidays, including six games away from home. Beginning with a late December trip to the Bay Area, the Maroon & Gold will play 20-straight conference games, with the Pac-12 eliminating the two standalone league games in the middle of the non-conference portion of the schedule. All 31 of Arizona State's games will be televised, with Coach Hurley's squad making appearances on ESPN, FOX, Pac-12 Network and several major network affiliates in addition to online streaming platforms.
NEW NUMBERS
Arizona State fans should be on the lookout for a couple of jersey updates. Four Sun Devils have either changed their number from last year or updated it from earlier in the offseason.
#1 Frankie Collins will switch from #10
#8 Alonzo Gaffney will switch from #32
#7 Malachi Davis will switch from #4
#9 Shawn Phillips Jr. will switch from #34
HOW GOOD WAS 23 WINS?
ASU won 23 tilts for the first time since 2009 (25 wins led by James Harden) and for just the second time in the past 28 seasons. Prior to 2009, you have to go back to Bill Frieder's 1995 squad that won 24 games to find more wins than the 2023 Sun Devils. Also, it wasn't an easy 23, as it included 13 wins away from home, seven true road wins and a 6-2 mark on neutral floors. The 2023 season marked the fourth 20-win season for ASU in the past six years, after having 20 wins just nine times in the previous 35 seasons.
MOST WINS PROGRAM HISTORY
26 – 1963
25 – 2009, 1975
24 – 1995, 1981
23 – 2023, 1962, 1961
CLOSE GAME SUCCESS
ASU continued its solid play in close game games, going 11-5 in games decided by six points or less, as it is now 35-18 (.660) in close games in the past four seasons.
WEGUARDU
ASU held its opponents to just .399 shooting from the field, the third-best mark in the league and 15th in the nation. It was also tied for the second-best mark in school history, one year after posting what is now the fourth-best.
ASU BEST FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE DEFENSE
.391 -- 1962-63 (791-2024)
.399 -- 2022-23 (836-of-2096)
.399 -- 1971-72 (797-of-1997)
.400 -- 2021-22 (718-1797)
.401 -- 1967-68 (834-2078)
.402 -- 2009-10 (678-1687)
.410 -- 2012-13 (861-2098)
.410 -- 2007-08 (718-1752)
SUN DEVILS ON SOCIAL
For exclusive content, the latest updates, and more information on the Sun Devil Men's Basketball program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilHoops), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/SunDevilHoops/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com). Make sure you are following Coach Hurley on Twitter @BobbyHurley11.