ASU’s Bobby Hurley believes ‘ceiling is limitless’ for 2020 Sun Devils squad
Oct 10, 2020, 10:12 AM | Updated: Oct 11, 2020, 9:21 am
Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley looks on during the college basketball game between the Oregon State Beavers and the Arizona State Sun Devils on February 22, 2020 at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
There’s a sense of excitement and anticipation around the ASU men’s basketball team that has players and coaches counting the hours until the season tips off.
Sixth-year head coach Bobby Hurley certainly fits that bill with a glass-half-full view of the potential that this year’s Sun Devils squad possesses.
Hurley believes the Sun Devils can reach unrivaled heights in 2020, with senior guards Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge Jr. returning to Tempe for a final run.
The former Duke University standout believes that the team’s success of late, including NCAA Tournament berths in consecutive seasons, in 2018-19 (and a likely berth in 2020, before the coronavirus cancelled the event).
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“The more we win, the more all of our individual players are going to get more credit. That’s where I’m pointing the credit,” Hurley said. “I’m already telling you that I got a lot of talent in the gym, and these guys are really good players. So it’s going to be our job to continue to build that environment, to create it, to continue to reinforce it, so that we’re putting ourselves in the best position to have a terrific year. A year that, I think, that really the ceiling is limitless for us this year.”
Hurley’s confidence also comes from the addition of five-star guard Josh Christopher, who headlines the seventh-ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to 247 Sports.
He believes that the starting lineup will evolve as the team practices and gels on the court over the next month or so.
“It’s not only these guys getting acclimated to this environment … It’s me learning about them as well. So that’s a process,” Hurley said.
“We’re going to get the role allocation stuff sorted out as we keep going through practice, but there’s a lot of good options so, that’s a good thing.”
Hurley’s team hasn’t released its finalized schedule for the season ahead, but Hurley confirmed Friday that the Sun Devils will replace Michigan in the 2020 Empire Classic tournament, held on Nov. 25-26 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.
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