(Photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN)
ASU men’s basketball tips off the 2017-18 season Friday night against Idaho State. For third-year head coach Bobby Hurley, it’s the first step in a season with increased expectations for the program.
Hurley’s prized recruits are finally getting a chance to show what they can do at the collegiate level. Freshmen Kimani Lawrence and Remy Martin will be difference makers right away, while big man Romello White — who’s a game-time decision on Friday — will aim to capitalize off of a redshirt year that gave him time to develop.
ASU returns three seniors in guards Tra Holder, Shannon Evans and Kodi Justice. The veteran trio is complemented by 6-10 junior transfer De’Quon Lake, sophomore forward Ramon Vila and redshirt freshman forward Vitaliy Shibel — returning to the court after suffering an ACL injury last season.
The length and skill of this Sun Devil team is leaps and bounds better than last season. That will improve even further when Ohio State transfer Mickey Mitchell is eligible in January.
“I feel like we have a team that, when all the guys are healthy and eligible, we have a lot of different ways we can attack our opponent,” Hurley said. “I didn’t always feel that way last year.”
The Sun Devils are coming off a year in which they finished 15-18 in the regular season and lost to Oregon in the second round of the Pac-12 tournament. It was an undersized group with a thin bench that relied heavily on the scoring ability of Torian Graham.
Now, with Graham graduated and a replenished frontcourt, the Sun Devils are nine-deep and boast a balanced offensive attack. Where Hurley still sees room for improvement is defense and rebounding — two categories in which ASU struggled mightily last season.
The 2016-17 Sun Devils lost the rebounding margin by roughly seven rebounds per game and allowed nearly 82 points per game. Expect those numbers to improve now that Justice isn’t forced to play backup center.
Evans, a vocal leader on this ASU team, said the rebounding is visibly improved in practice. He likes what he’s seen so far this fall.
“We’re doing great right now,” Evans said. “Everybody’s gelling together, we’re getting better and better every day. Friday night, our first dress up, we’ll be ready.”
This season will be a test of Hurley’s coaching philosophy with quality depth and personnel. His practices are intense, he demands high physical fitness and he preaches a unique level of discipline. These early games provide an opportunity to iron out the kinks before a challenging non-conference schedule.
“My practices do take their toll on the players in late September, early October,” Hurley said. “Generally, we scale back when we get close because I know their fitness level is where it needs to be.”
Nerves are normal early in the season, even for experienced players. Justice looked ahead to the Idaho State game with nervous excitement — a feeling he shares with his teammates and head coach on the cusp of a crucial campaign for the program.
“I got the butterflies when we played an exhibition game,” Justice said. “As a basketball player, just starting the season, you always get those early butterflies.”
ASU vs. Idaho State tips off at 8 p.m. Friday at Wells Fargo Arena, airing locally on the Pac-12 Network.
