ASU’s Hurley ‘thrilled’ with success, knows Pac-12 brings ‘new start’

It’s been a great start to the season for the No. 3 Sun Devils, but Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley knows it’s a whole new ballgame when conference play begins.

“It’s a new start, we’re thrilled, again, with the nonconference (record) but that’s the past and now it’s time to move on,” he said Thursday.

And while the team is gearing up for Saturday night’s showdown against in-state rival No. 17 Arizona, Hurley hasn’t felt much of a change in the way his team has carried itself.

“I don’t see on the practice floor and in my interactions with the players are players changing at all. All I see is guys that are hungry, guys that are highly motivated, guys that are practicing hard, that are playing unselfish,” Hurley said. “As a coach, that’s all you want, regardless of success or failure, you hope that your team stays true to what their beliefs are.

“We’ve had some really, really good practices, I feel great at where we are. We have not changed who we are since the last time we were out on the court.”

At 12-0, ASU is off to an all-time best start, highlighted by wins against then-No. 15 Xavier and then-No.2 Kansas. Even though Arizona had a rocky start — beginning the season 3-3 after three straight losses in the Bahamas — the Wildcats have found their stride, riding a seven-game winning streak behind 7-foot freshman big Deandre Ayton and junior guard Allonzo Trier.

They may not have the same record as Hurley’s Sun Devils, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a cakewalk at the McKale Center.

“It’s a big challenge, but this is this season, what we’ve done speaks for itself and it gives me confidence as a coach to go to most places that we’re going to have to go because of what the guys have given me this year.”

What may help the Sun Devils is what they have in the backcourt, a backcourt that has the recently dubbed “Guard U” looking to take down “Point Guard U.”

Senior guard Tra Holder has shown his playmaking abilities early and often for the Devils. He’s averaging 21.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game. His best game of the season came against Xavier where he dropped 40 points and four assists in the 102-86 victory.

But he’s not the only guard making noise for ASU.

Fellow senior guard Shannon Evans II is also having himself a season. He’s averaging 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He’s recorded at least 20 points in six games with a high of 25 against Idaho State.

“When you have two of the best point guards in college basketball on your team and they’re seniors and they’ve been through a lot of games then you are excited to go anywhere and play anybody,” Hurley said.

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