Hurley: Sun Devils in ‘tough stretch’ but ‘not making any excuses’

Jan 25, 2017, 12:53 PM

Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Stanford Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Stanford, Calif. Arizona State won 98-93. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

LISTEN: Bobby Hurley, ASU men's basketball coach

BY RYAN DECKER

Arizona Sports

The Arizona State Sun Devils will be welcomed home after struggling through a three-game road trip with a 9 p.m. tip-off Wednesday versus the University of Washington Huskies.

This season has not been kind to the 9-11 Sun Devils, but their coach Bobby Hurley believes that part of his team’s struggles can be attributed to an unfortunate draw in the scheduling department.

“It’s been a tough stretch for us and I’m not making any excuses, but we’ve played five of our first seven conference games on the road,” he said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM‘s Doug and Wolf on Wednesday. “And it’s hard to project who’s gonna be good and who’s not, but we’ve played a lot of the heavy hitters in the league on the road consecutively.”

The Sun Devils recent road trip saw them play University of Arizona, UCLA and USC in a span of 10 days. These teams currently hold a combined 54-8 record.

Arizona State has played five teams that are currently ranked in No. 4 Kentucky, No. 7 Arizona, No. 8 UCLA, No. 16 Creighton, and No. 20 Purdue. The Stanford University Cardinal is the only other Pac-12 team that can say the same.

Although Hurley was pleased with in his team’s effort Sunday, with ASU narrowly losing 82-79 “on the road against one of the best teams in the country” in USC, it was yet another loss away from Wells Fargo Arena for the Devils, something that is far too common to ASU this season.

While they have gone 6-3 and outscored their opponents by 10 points per game in Tempe, the Sun Devils have gone 3-8 while getting outscored by 12.5 points per game on the road.

Hurley said the Devils got in about 2 a.m. Monday and despite the quick turnaround, Hurley believes that he has his team ready to face the 9-10 Huskies.

“We managed our guys physically – I think – well,” he said. “On Monday we watched film. We had more of a mental day. And then yesterday we got ready for Washington and had a good practice, so I think we’re in a pretty good frame of mind.”

Arizona State guard Shannon Evans II, right, shoots as Southern California guard Jordan McLaughlin defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California guard Elijah Stewart, right, dunks as Arizona State guard Tra Holder watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California guard Jonah Mathews, center, goes up for a shot as Arizona State guard Kodi Justice, right, and guard Shannon Evans II, left, defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California guard Jordan McLaughlin, right, shoots and make a half court shot with not time left as Arizona State guard Torian Graham defends at the end of the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California guard Jordan McLaughlin, left, shoots as Arizona State guard Torian Graham defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona State guard Shannon Evans II, right, shoots as Southern California guard Jonah Mathews defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona State guard Tra Holder, left, shoots as Southern California guard Elijah Stewart defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California forward Chimezie Metu, left, and Arizona State forward Obinna Oleka reach for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California guard Jordan McLaughlin shoots during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. USC won 82-79. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California forward Nick Rakocevic, right, celebrates after dunking as Arizona State forward Ramon Vila watches during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. USC won 82-79. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California forward Nick Rakocevic, left, and Arizona State guard Torian Graham battle for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. USC won 82-79. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona State forward Obinna Oleka, right, reacts after turning over the ball as Southern California guard De'Anthony Melton looks on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. USC won 82-79. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona State guard Torian Graham, left, shoots as Southern California guard Elijah Stewart defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. USC won 82-79. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California forward Nick Rakocevic, right, congratulates Jordan McLaughlin, right, as guard Jonah Mathews runs in after McLaughlin banked in a 3-pointer from just past the midcourt line to beat the halftime buzzer at the end of the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Southern California guard Elijah Stewart, left, goes up for a dunk as Arizona State guard Tra Holder watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.