TEMPE - Sun Devil Men's Basketball is back on the road as they travel to Texas for a matchup with TCU on Saturday.
Arizona State (6-3) will play the Horned Frogs at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth in a neutral site battle taking place in close proximity to TCU's campus. Head Coach Bobby Hurley will look to continue his success in neutral site contests with the Sun Devils, having previously won 13 neutral site games in his tenure. This also represents a rematch of one of the most competitive games of the entire 2022-23 season, with both sides facing off in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Arizona State will make their debut on ESPNU when they take on TCU on Saturday, scheduled for a 8 PM MST tip-off with Mark Neely (play-by-play) and King McClure (analyst) on the call. Make sure to listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.
GET TICKETS
Support the Sun Devils in Texas by attending their matchup with TCU. Tickets are available at the following link. Tickets to Session II of the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series featuring a matchup with Arizona State and Northwestern on Dec. 20 at 6:30 PM MST are on sale now. Tickets for Sun Devil Men's Basketball 2023-24 conference games are still available. Packages start at just $90 and the home schedule features match-ups against top ranked USC, UCLA and Arizona. Check out our Season Tickets and Mini Plans options. For more information or questions, please call 480-965-5812 or email sundeviltickets@asu.edu.
US LBM COAST-TO-COAST CHALLENGE
The 3rd Annual US LBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge is scheduled for Saturday, December 16th with a triple-header of marquee men's college basketball games.
Game 1 – 3 PM MST – UT Arlington vs. Air Force
Game 2 – 5:30 PM MST – Texas Tech vs. Vanderbilt
Game 3 – 8 PM MST – TCU vs. Arizona State
NEUTRALIZING THE OPPONENT
Arizona State has had some big wins at neutral sites under Coach Hurley in the non-conference, including victories over VCU (Brooklyn), Michigan (Brooklyn), and Creighton (Las Vegas) last year. The Sun Devils defeated Vanderbilt in Las Vegas earlier in the season. He has a total of 13 neutral site victories out of conference in the regular season during his tenure.
NEUTRAL SITE NON-CONFERENCE WINS SINCE 2015
ASU 82, Vanderbilt 67 - 11/24/23 at Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas (Vegas Showdown)
ASU 73, Creighton 71 - 12/12/22 at Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas (Jack Jones Shootout)
ASU 87, #20 Michigan 65 - 11/17/22 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn (Legends Classic)
ASU 63, VCU 59 - 11/16/22 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn (Legends Classic)
#18 ASU 94, Rhode Island 88 - 11/25/20 at Mohegan Sun Arena, Connecticut (2K Empire Classic)
ASU 80, St. John's 67 - 11/23/19 at Mohegan Sun Arena, Connecticut (Air Force Reserve Tip-Off)
ASU 87, Utah St. 82 - 11/21/18 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas (MGM Resorts Main Event)
ASU 72, #15 Mississippi St. 67 - 11/20/18 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas (MGM Resorts Main Event)
ASU 82, St. John's 70 - 12/8/17 at STAPLES Center, Los Angeles
ASU 102, #15 Xavier 86 - 11/24/17 at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas (Continental Tire Invitational)
ASU 92, Kansas State 90 - 11/23/17 at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas (Continental Tire Invitational)
ASU 80, Tulane 71 - 11/18/16 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando (Tire Pros Invitational)
ASU 79, NC State 76 - 11/23/15 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn (BE Classic)
WEGUARDU
ASU held its opponents to just 39.9% shooting from the field last season, the third-best mark in the league and 15th in the nation. It was also tied for the second-best mark in school history, one year after posting what is now the fourth-best. Through nine games in 2023-24 the field goal percentage defense has been equally as good. Opponents are shooting just 40.1% against the Sun Devils. The Sun Devil defense is also holding opponents to just 28.9% shooting from three.
COMFORTABLE WHEN IT'S CLOSE
After going 11-5 in games decided by six points or less (two possesions) last year, the Sun Devils are 2-1 in such games so far this season. Arizona State is now 37-19 (.661) in close games over the past five seasons. The 37 wins are tied with Wisconsin for the most in the nation during that span.
DON'T COUNT US OUT
Arizona State has come back to win a game when trailing at halftime 41 times during the Bobby Hurley era, including against SMU last time out. Since 2015-16, that is the 10th-most halftime comeback victories in the nation.
Kansas - 47
Nevada - 44
Rider - 44
UNCG - 44
Hofstra - 43
Providence - 43
Seton Hall - 43
Kent State - 42
Texas Southern - 42
Arizona State - 41
Western Kentucky - 41
ASU RECORD BY STARTING LINEUP
Due to an injury to Shawn Phillips Jr. three games into the season, the Sun Devils have been shorthanded most of the year. This has resulted in Coach Hurley using five different starting lineup combinations through their first nine games. Frankie Collins and Jamiya Neal are the only two Sun Devils to have started every game.
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Bryant Selebangue, Alonzo Gaffney (4-1)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney, Shawn Phillips Jr. (1-0)
Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Kamari Lands, Alonzo Gaffney, Shawn Phillips Jr. (1-0)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Kamari Lands, Alonzo Gaffney (0-1)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Kamari Lands, Shawn Phillips Jr. (0-1)
PEREZ WILL MAKE YOU PAY
Graduate transfer Jose Perez has been a huge addition to the Sun Devil Men's Basketball roster. He is one of the best players in the country at getting to the free-throw line. He set a new career-high against SMU earlier in the month, attempting 15 free throws in the victory. Perez has now attempted 624 free throws in his career, the fifth-highest total among active NCAA Division I players. His 464 made free-throws puts him eighth among active NCAA Division I players. Perez is a career 74.4% shooter from the charity stripe.
Perez is one of only 18 active players at the NCAA Division I level that has reached 1,500 career points (1,579) and 360 career assists (367). He has done so in 106 career games, the second-fewest total games of any player on the list (Mark Sears, Alabama - 105). To take it a step further, Perez is one of only EIGHT players at the NCAA Division I level with 1,500 points, 350 assists, AND 480 rebounds (489) in their career (Tristen Newton - UConn, RayJ Dennis - Baylor, Andrew Taylor - Mississippi State, Marcus Domask - Illinois, Baylor Scheierman - Creighton, Xavier Johnson - Indiana, Jahmir Yong - Maryland).
GAMES PLAYED (2023-24 | Career)
Kamari Lands - 9 | 41
Frankie Collins - 9 | 75
Braelon Green - 7 | 7
Brycen Long - 4 | 88
Jamiya Neal - 9 | 70
Malachi Davis - 6 | 6
Alonzo Gaffney - 9 | 93
Shawn Phillips Jr. - 3 | 23
Bobby Hurley - 3 | 15
Jose Perez - 9 | 106
Zane Meeks - 5 | 110
Akil Watson - 7 | 7
Bryant Selebangue - 9 | 39
Adam Miller - 0 | 64
Sun Devils have a combined 744 games of experience at the Division I Level (includes previous school).
60-POINT MARK
Arizona State suffered their first defeat in a game in which they score more than 60 points against San Diego last Saturday. They were previously 5-0 on the season. They are averaging 73.7 points in their six wins and 63.0 points in their three losses.
THREE-POINT NOTE
The Sun Devils have made at least one three-point field goal in 714 consecutive games dating back to 2/10/2001.
ON THE BREAK
Coach Hurley's squad has developed into one of the top teams in the nation in transition, taking advantage of fast break opportunities. Over the past four games, ASU has scored 28, 22, 22, and 31 fast break points respectively, averaging 25.8 fast break points per game during that stretch. ASU now averages 17.7 fast break points per game, which is the 14th-most in the nation. They are coming off a season-high 31 fast break points against San Diego.
I'LL TAKE THAT
Through nine games of the 2023-24 season, Frankie Collins has emerged as one of the best perimeter defenders in the nation. He has been causing opposing guards issues with his ball pressure and aggressiveness. Collins now has 30 steals, putting him 7th in the country in the category. He is currently is fourth in the nation in steals per game, averaging 3.3 per contest. He matched a program-record with eight steals in the victory over UMass Lowell earlier in the year.
CONSTANT COMPETITION
Arizona State has matched up with some of the most successful teams in the nation to start the 2023-24 campaign. ASU has lost to NET No. 3 BYU (8-1) and Mississippi State (7-2), who have both spent time in the AP Top-25 this season. The Sun Devils represent one of only three losses for UMass Lowell (7-3) this season. ASU has also defeated 2023 NIT participants Vanderbilt and Sam Houston State, in addition to a solid victories over 7-3 San Francisco and 6-4 SMU. Both upcoming opponents (TCU & Northwestern) made the 2023 NCAA Tournament and are in contention for another bid.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Arizona State will feature a total of 11 new players on their roster, joining returners Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney, Bobby Hurley, and Jordan Williams to make up the 2023-24 Sun Devil Men's Basketball roster. The following is a roundup of the ASU newcomer class.
2023 INCOMING TRANSFERS
G Kamari Lands - Louisville
G Brycen Long - Houston Christian
C Shawn Phillips Jr. - LSU
G Jose Perez - West Virginia
F Zane Meeks - San Francisco
F Bryant Selebangue - Tulsa
G Adam Miller - LSU
JUCO ADDITION
G Malachi Davis - Tallahassee CC
FRESHMAN CLASS
G Braelon Green - Southfield, MI
F Akil Watson - Middletown, NY
BY CLASS
Graduate Student (2): Zane Meeks (San Francisco), Jose Perez (West Virginia)
Redshirt Senior (1) Alonzo Gaffney
Senior (1): Brycen Long
Redshirt Junior (1): Adam Miller
Junior (6): Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Malachi Davis, Bobby Hurley, Bryant Selebangue, Jordan Williams
Sophomore (3): Kamari Lands, Shawn Phillips Jr., Zack Markus
Freshman (3): Braelon Green, Andrew Mayock, Akil Watson
BY STATE (10 States Represented)
Ohio (3) – Jamiya Neal (Toledo), Alonzo Gaffney (Cleveland), Shawn Phillips Jr. (Dayton)
New York (3) – Jose Perez (Bronx), Zack Markus (New York City), Akil Watson (Middletown)
California (2) – Frankie Collins (Sacramento), Jordan Williams (Los Angeles)
Canada (2) – Malachi Davis (Toronto), Bryant Selebangue (Montreal)
Arizona (2) – Brycen Long (Gilbert), Bobby Hurley (Scottsdale)
Indiana (1) – Kamari Lands (Indianapolis)
Michigan (1) – Braelon Green (Southfield)
Connecticut (1) – Andrew Mayock (New Canaan)
Kansas (1) – Zane Meeks (Prairie Village)
Illinois (1) – Adam Miller (Peoria)
SOLIDIFYING HIS STAFF
Head Coach Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devil Men's Basketball program officially announced the final additions to the 2023-24 staff in October. Arizona State welcomes Yusuf Ali and Jarryn Skeete to the Sun Devil Family, with Nick Irvin and Mickey Mitchell receiving promotions. The news comes after Greg Lansing (Special Assistant to the Head Coach) and Hunter Eisenhower (Associate Head Coach - Sports Performance) joined the staff earlier in the offseason. ASU now boasts an experienced and diverse staff from top to bottom, featuring some of the nation's top rising talent in the coaching industry.
HERE TO STAY
The Arizona State Board of Regents announced in March of 2023 that Sun Devil Men's Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley has agreed to an extension that will keep him with the program through the 2026 season.
NCAAS UNDER COACH HURLEY
ASU has made the NCAA Tournament three times in the past five chances (2023, 2019, and 2018) and won two games. In the previous 32 seasons (1986-2017), ASU made two NCAA Tournaments and was 2-3.
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
With several marquee non-conference matchups away from home, Arizona State has once again been challenged early in the year. The Sun Devils are in the midst of an 11-game stretch before the holidays, including six games away from home. Beginning with a late December trip to the Bay Area, the Maroon & Gold will play 20-straight conference games, with the Pac-12 eliminating the two standalone league games in the middle of the non-conference portion of the schedule. All 31 of Arizona State's games will be televised, with Coach Hurley's squad making appearances on ESPN, FOX, CBS Sports, Pac-12 Network and several major network affiliates in addition to online streaming platforms.
PHOENIX HOSTING THE 2024 MEN'S FINAL FOUR
The 2024 Men's Final Four will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., with the national semifinals on Saturday, April 6 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 8, 2024. This is the second time the state of Arizona has hosted the Final Four, also doing so back in 2017. Arizona State will once again serve as the host institution as they did for the 2017 edition.
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