TEMPE - Sun Devil Men's Basketball hosts USC on Saturday at 12 PM MST at Desert Financial Arena.
Arizona State (10-7, 4-2) is tied for second-place in the league heading into their second of two matchups with the LA schools. This is the first of two meetings with the Trojans (8-10, 2-5), as the Sun Devils return the trip to end the Pac-12 Conference season in March. Head Coach Bobby Hurley's team looks to bounce back from their first home loss of the season at a place where they have won 10 of their last 13 games.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The broadcast of Sun Devil Men's Basketball's game on Saturday will be Arizona State's season debut on FOX when they host USC, scheduled for a 12 PM MST tip-off with Jason Benetti (play-by-play) and Casey Jacobsen (analyst) on the call. Make sure to listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.
MILESTONE ACHIEVED
Bobby Hurley secured his 150th victory as the head coach of Sun Devil Men's Basketball over Utah on Jan. 4. The win makes him just the third coach in program history to win 150 games at ASU.
ASU MEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH CAREER WINS
406, Ned Wulk (1957-82)
159, Herb Sendek (2006-15)
151, Bobby Hurley (2015-present)
Hurley also collected his 75th win in Pac-12 Conference play earlier in the season, the most of any coach in program history (Pac-10/12 era).
ASU MEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH CAREER PAC-10/12 WINS
75, Bobby Hurley (2015-present)
72, Herb Sendek (2006-15)
67, Bill Frieder (1990-97)
55, Rob Evans (1999-06)
46, Ned Wulk (1978-82)
GET TICKETS
Tickets for Sun Devil Men's Basketball 2023-24 conference games are on sale now. Ticket packages start at just $90 and the home schedule features highly-anticipated matchups with UCLA, Washington and Arizona. Season Tickets and Mini Plans are still available. For more information or questions, please call 480-965-5812 or email sundeviltickets@asu.edu.
942 CREW GIVEAWAY
I'LL TAKE THAT??DEVILS TAKE ON THE TROJANS!!
— 942 Crew (@942Crew) January 19, 2024
?? Come on out to DFA Saturday for '80s Day at @SunDevilHoops! ????
?? STUDENTS, get there early to get your '80s Day tee! ??
?? BE THERE AND BE LOUD! ??
? Tip-off at 12pm (Doors open at 11am) pic.twitter.com/pYviRh1aHI
Through 17 games of the 2023-24 season, Frankie Collins has emerged as one of the best perimeter defenders in the nation. Collins has 50 steals, putting him 5th in the country in the category. He is currently fourth in the nation in steals per game, averaging 2.94 per contest. He matched a program-record with eight steals in the victory over UMass Lowell and has 10 3+-steal performance already this season. Collins is on pace for 91 steals over a 31-game regular season, which would shatter the program record (76 – Lafayette Lever, 1982).
FRANKIE DOES IT ALL
Guard Frankie Collins has emerged as one of the top all-around players in the Pac-12 Conference. He is currently one of only three players in the nation averaging at least 13.8 points (1st on team), 5.1 rebounds (2nd on team), 3.5 assists (1st on team), and 2.9 steals (1st on team). The only other players to boast those averages is Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey and McNeese State guard Shahada Wells. Collins is stuffing the stat sheet in a historic manner while playing only 31.8 minutes per game. Collins has reached double figures scoring in 15 of the 16 games this season. He is 10-13 from the free-throw line over the past three games.
COMFORTABLE WHEN IT'S CLOSE
After going 12-5 in games decided by six points or less (two possessions) last year, the Sun Devils are 5-2 in such games so far this season. Coach Hurley's team beat Stanford by three and Cal by two, adding to the strong record. Arizona State is now 40-20 (.666) in close games over the past five seasons. The 40 wins are the most in the nation during that span. ASU is 5-1 in games decided by three points or fewer this season. To take it a step further, ASU is 6-2 over its last seven tilts when the game is decided by a two-point deficit or less. Overall ASU is 25-16 in two point or less games under Bobby Hurley.
DON'T COUNT US OUT
Arizona State has come back to win a game when trailing at halftime 43 times during the Bobby Hurley era, including in both games on the Bay Area road trip to start of Pac-12 play. They trailed by nine points against the Cardinal at the break before pulling off a 76-73 victory. Two days later, they found themselves trailing Cal by ten at half before storming back to come away with a 71-69 win. The 10-point halftime comeback was the fifth in which ASU made up a double-digit deficit under Hurley. It was the first time in the Hurley era that Arizona State has completed consecutive road halftime deficit comeback wins. Since 2015-16, the Sun Devils are Top-15 in the nation and lead the Pac-12 with their 43 halftime comeback victories.
2023-24 (4)
(-10) Cal 35, ASU 25/Dec. 31, 2023/ASU 71, Cal 69
(-9) Stanford 37, ASU 28/Dec. 29, 2023/ASU 76, Stanford 73
(-3) SMU 40, ASU 36/Dec. 6, 2023/ASU 76, SMU 74
(-9) UMass Lowell 31, ASU 22/Nov. 16, 2023/ASU 71, UMass Lowell 69
ASU trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half of the Cal game, making this the second straight season in which they overcame a deficit of at least 16 to win a conference game. The Sun Devils won at Oregon St on 1/14/23 after trailing by as many as 16 in the first half.
ZO SAYS NO
Sun Devil forward Alonzo Gaffney is one of the most versatile defenders in the Pac-12 and is a key to the Arizona State defense. He is one of two players in the conference with at least 27 blocks and 20 steals this season (Adem Bona, UCLA). He just played in his 100th career game at the Division I level.
ASU RECORD BY STARTING LINEUP
Due injuries to Shawn Phillips Jr. and Zane Meeks early in the season, the Sun Devils have been shorthanded most of the year. With Adam Miller gaining eligibility midway through the campaign, fluctuation continues with Arizona State's roster. This has resulted in Coach Hurley using six different starting lineup combinations through their first 17 games. Frankie Collins and Jamiya Neal are the only two Sun Devils to have started every game. ASU has at least one win with four different lineup combinations. The Sun Devils are 4-2 when Adam Miller and Shawn Phillips Jr. are both available to play.
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Bryant Selebangue, Alonzo Gaffney (4-1)
Frankie Collins, Adam Miller, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney (4-4)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney, Shawn Phillips Jr. (1-0)
Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Kamari Lands, Alonzo Gaffney, Shawn Phillips Jr. (1-0)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Kamari Lands, Alonzo Gaffney (0-1)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Kamari Lands, Shawn Phillips Jr. (0-1)
PEREZ WILL MAKE YOU PAY
Graduate transfer Jose Perez has been a huge addition to the Sun Devil Men's Basketball roster. He is one of the best players in the country at getting to the free-throw line. He set a new career-high against SMU earlier in the year, attempting 15 free throws in the victory. Perez has now attempted 667 free throws in his career, the sixth-highest total among active NCAA Division I players. His 492 made free-throws puts him eighth among active NCAA Division I players. Perez is a career 74% shooter from the charity stripe. He currently ranks 41st in the nation and second in the Pac-12 this year with 112 free throw attempts.
Perez is one of only 17 active players at the NCAA Division I level that has reached 1,665 career points (1,669) and 380 career assists (385). Perez has the third-fewest total games played (114) of any player on the list (James Bishop IV, George Washington - 112; Mark Sears, Alabama, 113). In the win over Stanford, he secured his 500th career rebound, making him one of only 24 active players at the Division I level with 1,665 career points and 515 career rebounds (516). To take it a step further, Perez is one of only EIGHT players at the NCAA Division I level with at least 1,665 points, 380 assists, AND 515 rebounds in their career (Tristen Newton - UConn, RayJ Dennis - Baylor, Andrew Taylor - Mississippi State, Marcus Domask - Illinois, Baylor Scheierman - Creighton, Jahmir Yong - Maryland, Aaron Estrada, Alabama). He is one of only 13 players in the Pac-12 to have four or more 20+ point performances.
GAMES PLAYED (2023-24 | Career)
Alonzo Gaffney played in his 100th career game at the Division I level against Washington. He becomes the third Sun Devil on the current roster to reach that mark, joining Zane Meeks and Jose Perez. ASU has seven players with over 70 games of experience at the Division I level.
Kamari Lands - 17 | 49
Frankie Collins - 17 | 83
Braelon Green - 15 | 15
Brycen Long - 6 | 90\
Jamiya Neal - 17 | 78
Malachi Davis - 7 | 7
Alonzo Gaffney - 17 | 101
Shawn Phillips Jr. - 9 | 29
Bobby Hurley - 4 | 16
Jose Perez - 17 | 114
Zane Meeks - 5 | 110
Akil Watson - 12 | 12
Bryant Selebangue - 17 | 47
Adam Miller - 8 | 72
Sun Devils have a combined 823 games of experience at the Division I Level (includes previous school).
60-POINT MARK
Arizona State has only three losses when they score 60+ points (at San Diego, at Washington, vs. UCLA). They are 10-3 in such games this season. ASU is averaging 74.7 points in their ten wins and 60.8 points in their seven losses. By contrast, the Sun Devils are holding opponents to 66.9 points in their ten wins and allowing 76.8 points in their seven losses.
THREE-POINT NOTE
The Sun Devils have made at least one three-point field goal in 722 consecutive games dating back to 2/10/2001.
CONSTANT COMPETITION
Coach Hurley has challenged his team with an extremely difficult non-conference slate. Sun Devil Men's Basketball was ready for Pac-12 play after facing one of the toughest schedules in the country so far this season. Here is a closer look at who ASU has played this season.
- Mississippi State - 12-5 record; undefeated in neutral sites; NET of 35; win over No. 5 Tennessee
- vs. Texas Southern - No. 7 NET non-con SOS
- vs. UMass Lowell - 13-4 record, 4-0 in AEC; 7-3 road record (win at Georgia Tech)
- BYU - 14-3 record; No. 20 ranking in latest AP Poll
- vs. San Francisco - 15-4, 4-0 in WCC; NET of 42; best winning % in WCC
- vs. SMU - 12-5 record, 3-1 in AAC; NET of 38; 4-2 road record (wins over Florida St. & Murray St.)
- TCU - 13-4 record; No. 19 ranking in latest AP Poll; wins over No. 2 Houston and No. 9 Oklahoma
- Northwestern - 13-4 record, 4-2 in Big Ten; win over No. 2 Purdue
- at Stanford - 7-2 at home including win over No. 12 Arizona
- vs. Utah - Quad 1 victory; 13-5 record, NET 24
- vs. Colorado - 13-5 with win over Miami; NET 48
- at Washington - 8-2 at home
Arizona State features a total of 11 new players on their roster, joining returners Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney, Bobby Hurley, and Jordan Williams to make up the 2023-24 Sun Devil Men's Basketball roster. The following is a roundup of the ASU newcomer class.
2023 INCOMING TRANSFERS
G Kamari Lands - Louisville
G Brycen Long - Houston Christian
C Shawn Phillips Jr. - LSU
G Jose Perez - West Virginia
F Zane Meeks - San Francisco
F Bryant Selebangue - Tulsa
G Adam Miller - LSU
JUCO ADDITION
G Malachi Davis - Tallahassee CC
FRESHMAN CLASS
G Braelon Green - Southfield, MI
F Akil Watson - Middletown, NY
BY CLASS
Graduate Student (2): Zane Meeks (San Francisco), Jose Perez (West Virginia)
Redshirt Senior (1) Alonzo Gaffney
Senior (1): Brycen Long
Redshirt Junior (1): Adam Miller
Junior (6): Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Malachi Davis, Bobby Hurley, Bryant Selebangue, Jordan Williams
Sophomore (3): Kamari Lands, Shawn Phillips Jr., Zack Markus
Freshman (3): Braelon Green, Andrew Mayock, Akil Watson
BY STATE (10 States Represented)
Ohio (3) – Jamiya Neal (Toledo), Alonzo Gaffney (Cleveland), Shawn Phillips Jr. (Dayton)
New York (3) – Jose Perez (Bronx), Zack Markus (New York City), Akil Watson (Middletown)
California (2) – Frankie Collins (Sacramento), Jordan Williams (Los Angeles)
Canada (2) – Malachi Davis (Toronto), Bryant Selebangue (Montreal)
Arizona (2) – Brycen Long (Gilbert), Bobby Hurley (Scottsdale)
Indiana (1) – Kamari Lands (Indianapolis)
Michigan (1) – Braelon Green (Southfield)
Connecticut (1) – Andrew Mayock (New Canaan)
Kansas (1) – Zane Meeks (Prairie Village)
Illinois (1) – Adam Miller (Peoria)
SOLIDIFYING HIS STAFF
Head Coach Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devil Men's Basketball program officially announced the final additions to the 2023-24 staff in October. Arizona State welcomes Yusuf Ali and Jarryn Skeete to the Sun Devil Family, with Nick Irvin and Mickey Mitchell receiving promotions. The news comes after Greg Lansing (Special Assistant to the Head Coach) and Hunter Eisenhower (Associate Head Coach - Sports Performance) joined the staff earlier in the offseason. ASU now boasts an experienced and diverse staff from top to bottom, featuring some of the nation's top rising talent in the coaching industry.
HERE TO STAY
The Arizona State Board of Regents announced in March of 2023 that Sun Devil Men's Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley has agreed to an extension that will keep him with the program through the 2026 season.
NCAAS UNDER COACH HURLEY
ASU has made the NCAA Tournament three times in the past five chances (2023, 2019, and 2018) and won two games. In the previous 32 seasons (1986-2017), ASU made two NCAA Tournaments and was 2-3.
All 31 of Arizona State's games will be televised, with Coach Hurley's squad making appearances on ESPN, FOX, CBS Sports, Pac-12 Network and several major network affiliates in addition to online streaming platforms.
PHOENIX HOSTING THE 2024 MEN'S FINAL FOUR
The 2024 Men's Final Four will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., with the national semifinals on Saturday, April 6 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 8, 2024. This is the second time the state of Arizona has hosted the Final Four, also doing so back in 2017. Arizona State will once again serve as the host institution as they did for the 2017 edition.
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