Men’s Basketball Meets San Diego in White Out Game – Arizona … – Sun Devil Athletics

Men’s Basketball | December 17, 2022

TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Men’s Basketball makes their return to Desert Financial Arena after taking care of business in two games away from home, as they host San Diego on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Arizona State (10-1, 2-0) has won their last nine games and is 5-0 at home this season. Sun Devil fans now get to see the red hot squad and are asked to wear white in recognition of our annual White Out game and bring a teddy bear to participate in the “Teddy Bear Toss” for charity at halftime. This is only the third meeting between the two programs, with ASU winning the previous two matchups against the Toreros.

 

HOW TO FOLLOW

Tune-in to Pac-12 Network at 5 PM MST to watch Sun Devil Men’s Basketball take on San Diego. Daron Sutton (play-by-play) and Don MacLean (analyst) will be on the call. All 31 of Arizona State’s games this season will be televised, with Coach Hurley’s squad making appearances on ESPN, FOX, CBS, and Pac-12 Network in addition to several major network affiliates. Listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on ESPN 620 AM. The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.

10-1 START

Facing adversity and resisting several significant momentum shifts in the second half, Arizona State overcame a 21-point swing and downed Creighton 73-71 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay. Desmond Cambridge Jr. was lethal, dropping his game-high 19 points in only 18 minutes. With ASU taking body blows in the form of a 16-0 Creighton run early in the second half, he drilled two threes in less than 30 seconds to silence the Bluejays faithful. The Sun Devils clamped down defensively – forcing Creighton to miss seven of its final nine shots in the final five minutes. ASU moved to 10-1 for only the fourth time since 1974-75.

 

SUN DEVIL BEST STARTS (11 GAMES) 

2022-23: 10-1 (2-0)

2017-18: 12-1 (12-0)

2008-09: 12-1 (4-0)

2004-05: 11-1 (2-0)

1974-75: 15-1 (9-0)

1962-63: 15-1 (5-0)

SEASON SNAPSHOT

On December 5, Arizona State opened the NET ranked 35th, its highest debut since at least the 2019-20 season in the NCAA’s ranking metric. They have since risen to 25th, including a road win since the NET’s debut. The Sun Devils are ranked higher than…

• Ohio State (28)
• Kentucky (29)
• Iowa State (31)
• Preseason No. 1 North Carolina (32)
• Iowa (39)
• Wisconsin (46)

The Sun Devils have faced some high level competition in the non-conference. The Sun Devils have more Quad 1 wins than…

• UCLA (6)
• West Virginia (8)
• UCLA (14)
• Indiana (16)
• Arkansas (22)
• Kentucky (29)
• Iowa (39)

LOCKING IT DOWN

Arizona State has been one of the best defensive teams in the country through 11 games, making it difficult on opponents to score. The Sun Devils rank 5th in the nation holding opponents to just 34.6% shooting from the field. Arizona State has held opponents under 60 points six times in their first 11 games. That is the best in the Pac-12. The most ASU has allowed in a game this season was 71 points against Creighton. Nine of the first 11 Sun Devil opponents shot less than 40% from the field including five under 35%.

CLOSE GAMES

Coach Hurley’s team has played in a two-possession game in six of its first 11 contests, boasting a 5-1 record. The Sun Devils are 28-12 in two possession games over the last three seasons, the most wins in the Pac-12 during that span.

THREE POINT DEFENSE

The Sun Devils three-point defense has been exceptional this season. Opponents are now shooting 67-244 (27.5%) overall from three point range against ASU, the 20th-best mark in the country.

WILL ‘GUARD U’

Through 11 games this season, opposing guards are shooting 131-419 (31.2) from the field against the ASU defense. Opposing guards are also averaging 7.3 turnovers per game.

MR. CONSISTENCY

Devan Cambridge has been extremely effective shooting the rock as of late. In his last seven games, he is 33-45 (73.3%) from the floor and is averaging 12.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game.

BALANCED SCORING

A signature of the Arizona State offense has been the different individuals stepping up at the offensive end. The Maroon & Gold are averaging 72.2 points per game and four different Sun Devils are averaging at least 10.6 points per game or more (D.J. Horne, Frankie Collins, Desmond Cambridge Jr., Devan Cambridge). No one on the team averages over 30 minutes. ASU has had four players score in double-digits in six games this season, including four consecutive contests (VCU, Michigan, Grambling State and Alcorn State). This is the longest such streak since the start of the 2018-19 season. 

PROTECTING THE PAINT

Arizona State continues to find themselves near the top of the national rankings in blocks per game, averaging 5.4. 11 players have recorded at least one block this season, led by Warren Washington’s 20.  ASU ranks 25th nationally in blocks per game. Capitalizing on their presence inside, Arizona State won the rebounding battle 42-35 as well as the offensive glass 12-10 against Creighton. It is the third consecutive contest ASU has won the rebounding battle. The Sun Devils have scored 324 of their 794 points inside the painted area. That’s 40% of ASU’s points coming from inside.

SHARING THE ROCK

In five of its last six games, Arizona State has had a FGM/A ratio of better than 60%. This marks just the third time since the 2011-12 season and the second time in as many years that a Bobby Hurley squad has recorded that stretch. Frankie Collins continued his dominance dishing the basketball this season. He has led or tied the ASU lead in assists in all 10 games he’s played and had a game-high six against the Bluejays. He has at least five assists in each of his past six games, combining for 33 during that stretch (5.5/game).

36 TOTAL HALFTIME DEFICIT WINS UNDER COACH HURLEY 

(8 over the past two seasons)

• A characteristic of Head Coach Bobby Hurley‘s teams have been the ability to come from behind and make adjustments following the halftime break.
• Arizona State has a total of 36 wins when trailing at the half, 17 of which have come on the road.
• They have added to that total twice in the past two weeks, making up a 38-23 halftime deficit to beat Colorado 60-59 in Boulder followed by a 75-57 win at SMU after trailing 33-28 at the break.

2022-23 (3)

(-5) SMU 33, ASU 28/Dec. 7, 2022/ ASU 75, SMU 57

(-15) Colorado 38, ASU 23/Dec. 1, 2022/ASU 60, Colorado 59

(-7) VCU 35, ASU 28/Nov. 16, 2022/ASU 63, VCU 59

2021-22 (5)

(-2) Stanford 32, ASU 30/Mar. 3, 2022/ASU 65, Stanford 56

(-2) @Washington State 29, ASU 27/Feb. 12, 2022/ASU 58, @Washington State 55

(-2) Utah 28, ASU 26/Jan. 17, 2022/ASU 64, Utah 62

(-6) @Creighton 32, ASU 26/Dec. 14, 2021/ASU 58, @Creighton 57

(-1) @Oregon 31, ASU 30/Dec. 5, 2021/ASU 69, @Oregon 67 OT

GET TICKETS

Want to see one of the nation’s best defensive teams in action? Have an itch to watch some high-flying dunks? How about a team building momentum? Well you are in luck! The remainder of tickets for Sun Devil Men’s Basketball home games are now on sale. You can have an impact on our home-court advantage. Plenty of options are still available, including six-game mini plans starting at only $90. Group ticket packages are a great option for parties of 15 or more. Get more information on all of our different packages by calling the Ticket Sales and Service team at 480-965-5812 or sundeviltickets@asu.edu

PREGAME RECOGNITION

Prior to the game on Sunday, a moment of recognition will be held for a couple individuals with important ties to the program. Former ASU AD Charles Harris, who was at ASU from 1985-95 passed away recently. He was the first African American to serve as Athletic Director at an NCAA Division I program, and the first to serve in this capacity in the Pacific-10 Conference. The Sun Devil and local basketball communities lost an influential figure in the passing of former student manager Brandon Wechsler. Weschsler spent time with the team in both the Bobby Hurley and Herb Sendek regimes, making an enormous impact on the program.

WHITE OUT

Grab your best white Sun Devil gear and come out to Desert Financial Arena for the annual White Out game. 

TEDDY BEAR TOSS

In the spirit of giving this holiday season, be sure to bring a teddy bear to throw onto the court at halftime for the annual teddy bear toss. All items will be donated to charity following the game.

MINI PACKS = MAJOR SAVINGS

MINI PLANS = MAJOR SAVINGS ??

The best way to watch @SunDevilHoops ??

??? https://t.co/jzSYlg2gBq

Visit https://t.co/iRg2f8SDj8 or call 480-727-0000 for more information pic.twitter.com/XEyilXW1Ts

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 15, 2022

942 CREW GIVEAWAY

THIS WEEKEND!@SunDevilWBB v PVAMU

12/17 2pm

??Beanie@SunDevilHoops v San Diego

12/18 5pm

??WHITEOUT

??Santa Hat

??Students in attendance have the first chance to claim tix for the game v UA on NYE!

Teddy Bear Toss both days! Bears are donated to a New Leaf homeless shelter! pic.twitter.com/l8JM9qC9FD

— 942 Crew (@942Crew) December 16, 2022

Lights. Camera. Action. ?? ??@SunDevilHoops light show????

Follow the steps below to take part in lighting up DFA for the opening tip ?????

Bring the NOISE & the LIGHT ????? pic.twitter.com/tDIxwHqtQj

— 942 Crew (@942Crew) December 16, 2022

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