ARIZONA STATE BASKETBALL
Marcus Bagley did not travel with ASU basketball to Battle 4 Atlantis
Nov 23, 2021, 10:15 AM | Updated: 1:12 pm
Marcus Bagley #23 of the Arizona State Sun Devils looks on during the 2K Empire Classic game against the Rhode Island Rams at Mohegan Sun Arena on November 25, 2020 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
A knee injury has kept Arizona State forward Marcus Bagley from traveling with the Sun Devils for a three-game tournament run at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas, head coach Bobby Hurley told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta.
“We thought it was in his best interest, collectively, just huddling up, that he takes this time to work on his rehab, and just getting on that plane for all this time wasn’t the best thing, smartest thing to do,” Hurley said Tuesday.
“He’s rehabbing, staying at home, and he’ll reunite with us when we get back from this tournament.”
Bagley injured his knee on Nov. 15 in a win against North Florida.
It was a setback to a previously known knee issue that had kept Bagley from ramping up during the preseason.
Hurley later told reporters that Bagley’s injury involves no structural damage, and he is not concerned about it long-term.
Bagley left after nine minutes against North Florida but had played 29 and 30 minutes, respectively, in previous games against Portland and UC Riverside. He scored 12 and then 18 points in those consecutive outings.
The 6-foot-8, 215-pound sophomore opted against entering the NBA Draft after last season and was considered the Sun Devils’ top player heading into this year.
ASU (2-2) faces the No. 6 Baylor Bears on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. for a game that airs on ESPN2 and KTAR News 92.3 FM.
The Battle 4 Atlantis runs through Nov. 26, where the Sun Devils will play two more games after the opener. The field also includes Syracuse, VCU, UConn, Auburn, Loyola Chicago and Michigan State.
