TEMPE - Sun Devil Men's Basketball remains in the Valley for a neutral site contest on Wednesday, December 20 at 6:30 PM MST.
Arizona State (6-4) will make the short trip to Phoenix to play Northwestern at the Footprint Center, home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns. Sun Devil fans have a unique opportunity to check out the Maroon & Gold at a neutral site in their own backyard. The two programs both participated in the 2023 NCAA Tournament and face-off for the first time since 2004. It is part of a quadruple-header at the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series - Phoenix, which also includes a 12 PM game featuring Arizona State Women's Basketball taking on Fresno State.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The broadcast of Sun Devil Men's Basketball's game on Wednesday will be on ESPN2 as they face off with Northwestern on Wednesday, scheduled for a 6:30 PM MST tip-off with Dave Pasch (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (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
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.
2023 HALL OF FAME SERIES
The Hall of Fame Series, which is owned and operated by Position Sports, is a collection of multi-game, singular events that showcases several of the top collegiate basketball teams in exciting non-conference matchups played both domestically and abroad. The Phoenix edition is named after legendary basketball executive Jerry Colangelo, who was a prominent figure in the professional sports industry during his time in "The Valley". The Hall of Fame Series joins other previously announced Naismith Hall of Fame events, including the Hall of Fame Tip-Off, Hall of Fame Women's Showcase, and the Hall of Fame Classic.
Coach Hurley's squad will not be the only Sun Devil Basketball team participating in this event. Arizona State Women's Basketball will face Fresno State in the first game of the first session of the 2023 Hall of Fame Series on December 20. The Hall of Fame Series Phoenix, which will feature two separate sessions, includes the following matchups:
Session 1
Arizona State vs. Fresno State (Women) - 12:00 PM
Arizona vs. Gonzaga (Women)
Session 2
Arizona St. vs. Northwestern - 6:30 PM
Arizona vs. Alabama
Both the Arizona State and Arizona men's teams will both play in Phoenix on the same day for the first time since the Southwest Showdown on December 4, 2001. At what was then known as America West Arena, Arizona State knocked off Utah while Arizona defeated Illinois.
QUOTABLES
"Arizona State Men's Basketball is thrilled to be able to compete in the Colangelo Classic," Head Coach Bobby Hurley stated when the game was announced back in July. "We always enjoy competing in Phoenix where our fans have a chance to support us. Jerry Colangelo has done so much for the game or basketball, so it's a honor to participate in an event supporting his legacy."
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 82-67 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)
ACE UP OUR SLEEVE
In his highly-anticipated Sun Devil debut, redshirt junior guard Adam Miller did not disappoint. He was spectacular in the showdown with TCU, showing no signs of rust despite being forced to sit out the first nine games of the season. Miller finished with 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting, making three of his shots from three-point range. He also went a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line while adding three assists, two rebounds, and two steals in only 30 minutes of action.
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 ten games in 2023-24 the field goal percentage defense has repeated that success. Opponents are shooting just 40.7% against the Sun Devils. The Sun Devil defense is also holding opponents to just 30.1% 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 injuries to Shawn Phillips Jr. and Zane Meeks early in the season, the Sun Devils have been shorthanded most of the year. With Adam Miller gaining eligibility, fluctuation continues with Arizona State's roster. This has resulted in Coach Hurley using six different starting lineup combinations through their first ten 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, Adam Miller, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney (0-1)
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 630 free throws in his career, the fifth-highest total among active NCAA Division I players. His 468 made free-throws puts him eighth among active NCAA Division I players. Perez is a career 74.3% shooter from the charity stripe.
Perez is one of only 19 active players at the NCAA Division I level that has reached 1,500 career points (1,579) and 370 career assists (370). This game features a matchup of two players who hae accomplished the feat, as Northwestern guard Boo Buie is also in the exclusive club. Perez has done so in 106 career games compared to Buie's 125. Perez has the third-fewest total games played of any player on the list (Mark Sears, Alabama & James Bishop IV, George Washington - 106). To take it a step further, Perez is one of only NINE players at the NCAA Division I level with 1,500 points, 370 assists, AND 490 rebounds (493) 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, Tyler Robertson - Portland).
GAMES PLAYED (2023-24 | Career)
Kamari Lands - 10 | 42
Frankie Collins - 10 | 76
Braelon Green - 8 | 8
Brycen Long - 5 | 89
Jamiya Neal - 10 | 71
Malachi Davis - 7 | 7
Alonzo Gaffney - 10 | 94
Shawn Phillips Jr. - 3 | 23
Bobby Hurley - 3 | 15
Jose Perez - 10 | 107
Zane Meeks - 5 | 110
Akil Watson - 8 | 8
Bryant Selebangue - 10 | 40
Adam Miller - 1 | 65
Sun Devils have a combined 755 games of experience at the Division I Level (Includes previous school).
60-POINT MARK
Arizona State has only one loss when they score 60+ points (88-83 loss to San Diego). They are 6-1 in such games this season. ASU is averaging 73.7 points in their six wins and 62.0 points in their four losses. By contrast, the Sun Devils are holding opponents to 64.0 points in their six wins and allowing 79.0 points in their four losses.
THREE-POINT NOTE
The Sun Devils have made at least one three-point field goal in 715 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 five games, ASU is averaging 22.4 fast break points over their past five games, including scoring 20+ in transition on four occasions during that stretch. ASU now averages 16.8 fast break points per game, which is the 15th-most in the nation and second-most in the Pac-12.
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 10th in the country in the category. He is currently is fifth in the nation in steals per game, averaging 3.0 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. The Sun Devils have victories over 2023 NCAA Tournament Participant Texas Southern, UMass Lowell (7-4), 2023 NIT participants Vanderbilt and Sam Houston State, in addition to solid victories over San Francisco (8-4) and SMU (7-4). All of ASU's losses have been to stiff competition. Both Mississippi State (9-2) and No. 17 BYU (10-1) have spent multiple weeks in the AP Top-25 this season. TCU is off to an 8-1 start, while San Diego has yet to lose a home game (7-0). The path forward isn't any easier, as Coach Hurley's squad takes on 2023 NCAA Tournament participant Northwestern on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 6:30 PM.
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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