Arizona State rising fast
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devils move into the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2008-09.
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State has taken college basketball by devilish hurricane, running and gunning its way into the national consciousness while igniting an often-blase local fan base.
Even the Sun Devils’ rivals down south have taken notice.
“Bobby Hurley, he’s en route right now to be one of the coaches talked about for national coach of the year because of what he’s done with their program,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said of the coach of his biggest rival. “He’s played a tough nonconference schedule. It shows some guts to play who they play. Their results speak really clearly. They might be underrated where they’re at right now.”
It wasn’t supposed to be like this, at least not yet.
The Sun Devils were expected to be better in Hurley’s third season in the desert. They returned three senior guards and finally got them some front-court help with the addition of Romello White and De’Quon Lake.
Kodi Justice, ASU’s 6-foot-5 guard, would no longer have to guard 7-footers. Arizona State would be better defensively and on the glass. The guards would not have to carry the entire load.
Even so, the Sun Devils were projected to be at the middle of the Pac-12, picked to finish sixth.
The big jump was supposed to be next season, when a trio of transfers will be eligible and could possibly lead the Sun Devils to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.
This breakneck band of Devils spun the narrative forward a year early. Playing with a confidence bordering on cocky and with an offensive freedom afforded them by their coach, the Sun Devils have pushed their way into the national spotlight.
They made a blip by beating Xavier, No. 15 at the time but now No. 10 in the AP Top 25 . Blew the Musketeers away, actually, turning a 15-point first-half deficit into File, Rick Scuteri / AP a 102-86 rout with an onslaught of fast breaks and 3-pointers.
Arizona State next moved into the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2008-09, coming in at No. 20 after the win over Xavier. The Sun Devils climbed four spots the next week.
The catapult launched last Sunday: Arizona State 95, No. 2 Kansas 85. At Allen Fieldhouse.
One of the biggest wins in program history led to another bit of history: A No. 5 ranking this week, ASU’s highest since reaching No. 3 in 1980-81. The Sun Devils even garnered the first No. 1 votes as a program. Five of ’em, actually.
Now Arizona State is 9-0 and being mentioned as a possible national-title contender. Yeah, really.
“I knew the success was going to be better, but you don’t expect necessarily when you look at a schedule to run the table up to this point, and beat the type of teams we’ve beaten,” Hurley said. “So you just appreciate it and then you kind of move on and get ready for the next battle.”
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE Quarterback — Brett Kasper, senior, Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Running backs — John Smith, senior, Husson; Austin Breunig, senior, North Central.
Linemen — Cole Parrish, senior, Mount Union; Matt Gono, senior, Wesley; Corbin Campbell, senior, Mary Hardin-Baylor; Ty Summers, senior, WisconsinOshkosh; Vic Rodriguez, senior, Hardin-Simmons.
Tight end — Jacob Maher, sophomore, Worcester State.
Receivers — Jesse Zubik, senior, Washington & Jefferson; Nick Holcomb, senior, Wisconsin-La Crosse.
All-purpose player — Bryce Wilkerson, senior, Mary HardinBaylor.
Kicker
Linemen — Chase Greenlee, senior, Wheaton; Austin Crow, senior, Heidelberg; Monte Lee, senior, Ferrum; Elijah Berry, senior, Mount Union.
Linebackers — Charlie Dear, senior, Mount Union; Jason Farlow, senior, Linfield; Mason McKenrick, senior, John Carroll.
Backs — Jordan Powell, junior, Widener; Fred Hargrove, sophomore, Otterbein; Quan Soyini, junior, Husson; Trevor Staley, junior, Illinois Wesleyan.
Punter — Andrew DiNardo, senior, Catholic.