ARIZONA STATE BASKETBALL

Bobby Hurley points to defense, toughness as Arizona State’s identity

Dec 4, 2022, 6:00 AM | Updated: 8:13 am

Things you didn’t expect to hear the first week of December this college basketball season: Arizona State is 7-1 and received votes to be ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll.

After an impressive road 60-59 victory over Colorado on Thursday, ASU head coach Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devils start off the year 1-0 in conference play.

Hurley joined the NCAA’s Andy Katz to discuss the team filled with transfers hot start as well as a defense that ranks towards the top in the nation.

“(Our identity) is getting stops and relying on our defense,” Hurley told Katz.

“The consistency of our defense. I think metrics-wise and analytics-wise our defense is up there nationally with anyone.”

Hurley is not wrong, as the Sun Devils rank No. 5 nationally in opponent field goal percentage, No. 9 in three-point defense, No. 18 in defensive rebounds per game and No. 32 in scoring defense.

The Sun Devils head coach attributed much of the turnaround defensively to Michigan transfer guard Frankie Collins. He mentioned the active hands in passing lanes as well as the deflections he forces for the team.

Collins is averaging 12.9 points per game, 5.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals across seven games.

After finishing 14-17 in 2021-22, Hurley and Arizona State are off to a 7-1 start to the year. The Sun Devils did not get their seventh win of the year last season until Feb. 5 against UCLA.

They will take the court and look to take control of the Pac-12 against Washington State at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Desert Financial Arena.

Catch all the action on ESPN 620 AM and 98.7 FM HD-2.

Comments

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

Arizona State Basketball

ASU basketball's Basheer Jihad...

Damon Allred

Rothstein: Basheer Jihad an ‘under-the-radar transfer’ for ASU basketball

While much of the attention on ASU basketball has been directed toward highly decorated freshmen, forward Basheer Jihad stands to make an impact as a transfer with experience.

3 days ago

James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers looks on before Game Six of the Western Conference First Round P...

Arizona Sports

Arizona State basketball alum James Harden gifts Sun Devils new Adidas Harden Vol. 8 shoes

Arizona State basketball legend and current Clippers guard James Harden gifted pairs of his Adidas Harden Volume 8 to the Sun Devils. 

5 days ago

Bobby Hurley said Friday freshman center Jayden Quaintance has a "scary" ceiling. (Photo by Chris C...

Damon Allred

Jayden Quaintance’s versatility popping early for Arizona State basketball

Arizona State basketball coach Bobby Hurley has been impressed by heralded freshman Jayden Quaintance, calling the 17-year-old's ceiling "scary" on Friday.

9 days ago

Bobby Hurley returns to Duke with ticket packages that will benefit the NIL Sun Angel Collective...

Arizona Sports

ASU sells 5-figure package for Bobby Hurley’s Duke visit that goes to NIL funding

Exclusive packages are now available to go see ASU basketball take on Duke in the "Hurley Homecoming" at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

10 days ago

Bobby Hurley looks on during an ASU-Arizona basketball game. Arizona State will play its first Big ...

Arizona Sports

Arizona State’s Big 12 basketball schedules drop

Arizona State men's basketball will enter its first season in the Big 12 Conference with arguably the most talent head coach Bobby Hurley has had.

11 days ago

The Pac-12 logo at Sun Devil Stadium during the second half of an NCAA college football game betwee...

Associated Press

Pac-12 in talks with basketball powerhouse Gonzaga to join rebuilding league in 2026

The Pac-12 is in discussions with Gonzaga to join the rebuilding conference in 2026.

14 days ago

Bobby Hurley points to defense, toughness as Arizona State’s identity