ASU MEN’S BASKETBALL

TUESDAY'S GAME

Cal State Fullerton at Arizona State

6 p.m.

Wells Fargo Arena. Pac-12 Network/KTAR-AM

This is the regular season opener for both squads . ... Cal State Fullerton (20-12, 10-4 in big West) finished fourth in the Big West in the regular season but went on to win the conference tournament and qualify for the NCAA Tournament but lost in the first round to Purdue. The team is coached by Dedrique Taylor (fifth year, 67-89), who served as an assistant coach at ASU from 2007 to 2013. Four starters return from that team including the leading scorer in the conference Kyle Allman (19.5 ppg). The Titans also return their second-leading scorer Khalil Ahmad (15.1 ppg) and leading rebounder Jackson Rowe (12.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) . ... ASU (20-12, 8-1 in Pac-12) qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year but lost in the opening round. The Sun Devils, coached by Bobby Hurley (fourth year), graduated their three top scorers but have been bolstered by new additions in Zylan Cheatham (San Diego State) and Rob Edwards (Cleveland State), who sat out after transfers last season. The Sun Devils relied on their guard play last season but will be fielding a larger team with more potential to score in the paint. Hurley is also stressing his team's effort on the defensive end of the floor . ... Romello White sat out last week's exhibition game with a sprained ankle but is expected to play. Freshman Taeshon Cherry and senior De'Quon Lake have both been slowed by knee injuries while Mickey Mitchell has had a back problem but all played in the exhibition game.

– Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic