ASU still recovering from trip to China
The basketball season has barely started but it has been anything but a normal one for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Coach Bobby Hurley’s squad returned on Saturday from a 10-day trip to China where it played and lost its regular-season opener to Pac-12 foe Colorado and took part in a number of other cultural activities.
The Sun Devils (0-1) will make their home debut at 8 p.m. on Thursday night against the visiting Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (0-2), who lost their previous two games by decisive margins. The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.
“I’m just now starting to get my energy back. Today is the best I have felt. We got back Saturday night and there is really no way to simulate that,” Hurley said of the jet lag. “It definitely takes a couple of days. It is good to be back and get to settle into a routine.”
Playing a conference foe overseas wasn’t necessarily the most ideal situation either. The teams took part in the same activities and stayed in the same hotel so other than practices, they saw a lot of each other.
“Early in the week it didn’t affect us much but closer to the game it was like, ‘Are we really seeing these guys again? Breakfast everyone is around, same hotel. You’re always running into everyone,” Hurley said. “There’s no animosity between Arizona State and Colorado or the coaching staffs. Just as far as a competitive nature goes. I think Tad (Boyle) and I were done with pictures. We took the last one eight minutes before the game and we said we had enough of that. So it was interesting in some of those ways.”
While it proved to be a good bonding experience, the entire season changes because of the overseas trip. At this point last season ASU had already played three games. So there is less time between games to make up for the days already lost due to travel.
The Sun Devils will play Rider (2-0) at 4 p.m. on Sunday before heading back out on the road.
“It feels good getting back home,” junior point guard Remy Martin said. “I’ve played here for two years now, and it feels good to get back and I’m ready to
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The Sun Devils will make their home debut after the 10-point loss to Colorado in China. Remy Martin starred in that game with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
The Wildcats have been impressive in their two wins thus far with the highly touted freshmen carrying the load. Zeke Nnaji is averaging 19.5 points and 4.5 assists while Pinnacle product Nico Mannion is at 16 points and 6.5 assists.
get on a roll soon. I’m ready, and I’m not satisfied from the results that happened. I am dialed in, and the team is dialed in and we’re ready to go.”
Martin led the way with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists against the Buffaloes while senior guard Rob Edwards netted 20 points in the 81-71 loss
But Hurley is still working on his rotation with some minor injuries forcing him to adapt. Freshman Jalen Graham was slowed early by a sprained ankle while junior Kimani Lawrence has been dealing with shoulder tendinitis. Both were in the starting lineup though along with Martin, Edwards and junior guard Alonzo Verge
Hurley added the status of junior forward Romello White and sophomore Taeshon Cherry is uncertain. Both sat out the game in China for a violation of team rules that came after his last meeting with the media before the team left and the team’s departure.
White was a starter the last two years and is the only returning post player with significant experience. Cherry was a key reserve last year and one of the team’s best perimeter shooters who was expected to contend for a starting spot this season.
Through adversity you have different routes can go, Martin said. “We didn’t have the guys we wanted but we competed. It taught us, it’s next man up.”