Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley had a historical career as a player and made clear his respect for the California powerhouses of college basketball before the two schools visit Tempe this week.
First, a visit from the struggling UCLA Bruins (7-10, 2-4 Pac-12) has the veteran coach keeping his players on high alert.
“UCLA is one of the most storied programs in college basketball,” he said. “There are standards in that program regardless if they’ve had a tough stretch… you can see a different team in [UCLA’s] last game, so that’s a dangerous team that’s coming here.”
Hurley mentioned that many of his players grew up watching UCLA and the program’s success. He hoped that Wednesday’s game, being the final Pac-12 matchup between the two schools in Tempe, would create some urgency and a desire to “empty the tank” against the Bruins.
While off to an incredibly stagnant start offensively, UCLA still hangs its hat on defense, with coach Mick Cronin relying on one star returner to make a mess of things for opposing teams in the paint.
Sophomore center Adem Bona averages 12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks coming in to Wednesday’s game. The big man became the central piece for UCLA following the departure of several key players, including Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell.
Bona’s arrival to Tempe coincides with sophomore center Shawn Phillips Jr.’s resurgence after returning from injury. The young big man’s coach has been impressed with his efforts but knows how many tests await the LSU transfer in the Pac-12 season, with Bona being the next.
“He’s still learning the game,” Hurley said. “This is a tough year for a young center to come into the Pac-12… there’s a lot of really good players at his position so he’s going to get tested every night.”
Arizona State relied heavily on junior guard Jamiya Neal in its last two outings. The veteran guard scored 19 points against and 14 against Washington and will be thrust into back-to-back matchups against challenging opposing guards on Wednesday and Saturday.
Hurley has counted on Neal to be a leader on and off the court this season as one of the few returning faces and the longest-tenured Sun Devil. The coach and player have a bond formed from experience and from Neal’s acknowledgment of the Hurley-led Sun Devils’ ‘calling card’: defense.
“We’ve always been a very good defensive team,” Neal said. “Play smarter, not harder.”
Neal’s defense and shot-making will be put to the test against a stingy Bruins defense that has found its rhythm again.
The Bruins bounced back with a double-digit win over Washington on Sunday after a blowout loss to Utah earlier in the week. The Bruins did what ASU could not in beating the Huskies, which rang some alarm bells for Hurley.
When asked if Saturday’s loss to the Washington Huskies was humbling, Hurley respectfully disagreed.
“There have been other times where that word might be applicable this season,” he said. “I just stress with the team for future games like that… if you can’t stop your opponent you better keep scoring with them.”
Hurley blamed a three-minute stretch in which the Sun Devils struggled to score and get stops as the primary reason the result ballooned in favor of Washington.
As for preparation and excitement surrounding Saturday’s game with USC, Hurley claimed that all focus is on UCLA until after that game.
The excitement stems from freshman guard Bronny James and the 8-9 Trojans. While coach Andy Enfield’s squad has largely underachieved, a surplus of future NBA talent could allow for a tough test on Saturday.
With wins in both games, the Sun Devils would be 12-6 with an undefeated record at home in the 2023-24 campaign. It would also set up a potential battle for first place in the Pac-12 standings next Thursday against the Oregon Ducks.
“It’s a big week, particularly with where we are in the standings,” Hurley said. “We’re just hoping that people are paying attention to how we’ve been playing the last few weeks.”
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