ASU coach Bobby Hurley discusses the start of Pac-12 play on Saturday.
Bobby Hurley might be more jolly than usual, at least in the judgment of guard Shannon Evans who has played for Hurley at two schools.
But Hurley is sternly warning his No. 3 Arizona State Sun Devils not to take lightly the start of Pac-12 play, even given ASU's best start (12-0) in school history.
"We've had a couple of tough years in the Pac-12," Hurley said Thursday. "You've got to reflect on that before you start this season and remember back."
ASU was 11th (5-13) in the Pac-12 in 2015-16, Hurley's first season, and eighth (7-11) in 2016-17.
The Sun Devils are 0-4 against rival Arizona in the Hurley era, and the No. 17 Wildcats (10-3) are up first on the conference docket on Saturday in Tucson.
Hurley said he has only studied UA's recent games during its seven-game win streak, and not the Wildcats' three November losses at a tournament in the Bahamas.
"The games where they've played very well and gotten a big part of who they are in (Rawle) Alkins back into the lineup," he said.
Still, the Bahamas comes into play scouting UA because that's where 7-1 freshman forward Deandre Ayton is from. He and 7-0 senior center Dusan Ristic will be the biggest test so far for ASU's improved front line.
Hurley said 6-9 De'Quon Lake will have a key role in helping to keep up on the boards and in paint defense.
"In a game like this, you've got to get rim-level rebounds," Hurley said. "You've got to be a man and go up there and grab it or else I'm sure Arizona will. De'Quon, particularly in the second half of some of our big games, has gotten some blocks around the basket and rebounds. He's had a very good week, and we hope he could provide a spark for us in those areas."
Lawrence nearly ready
Kimani Lawrence, a 6-7 freshman forward, had a good practice Thursday, Hurley said, and could make his college debut Saturday.
Lawrence suffered a stress fracture in his foot just before the season opened that required surgery. Before the setback, he was contending to start.
"He's moving well," Hurley said. "We'll see how he responds. It will be down to the wire if he's available."
Mickey Mitchell, a 6-7 sophomore forward, has made an impact in his four games since becoming eligible after his transfer from Ohio State. He started in the final non-conference game against Pacific on Dec. 22, tying with Lake for the rebound high (9).
"Mickey is playing pretty well right now, and he's only going to do better for us," guard Shannon Evans said. "Everything he bringing to the game is opening up for me more and Tra (Holder) and Kodi (Justice). It's going to be hard for teams to try to stop him, me, Tra, Mello (Romello White), Remy (Martin). Kimani looked really good today so I'm excited to see what he does."
ASU's Kodi Justice looks ahead to start of conference play.
UA game 'bigger than basketball'
Evans and Justice reflected on ASU's 91-75 loss in Tucson last season when the Sun Devils fell in a deep hole at the outset and trailed 45-25 at halftime.
"We've had games where we started so slow that they're up 20-30 points, and with that crowd it's so hard to fight back," Justice said. "We know we have to get off to a big start (something ASU hasn't always done this season) with not just the crowd but the talent they have.
"We've been on the end of losing. To look at your record and see you're 12-0 makes you want to work even harder to keep pushing because you know how fast this could turn around and we could be 0-3 in conference."
Evans rates beating Arizona as a must.
"It's not just a game any more, it's bigger than basketball," Evans said. "It's for Tempe, for our school, and we have to do it. They're a great team, they're well coached, but going into conference play, it's bigger than anything. What we did the last month or two doesn't matter no more.
"I feel like we're already down 10 when we play in Tucson. You've got to go in there with the mindset you're not going to get any calls, the fans are crazy in there, talking crazy. It's an environment you kind of dream of playing in, everybody is against you for no reason."
Evans said even as one of three remaining unbeaten Division-I teams that ASU is not getting what he deems to be national respect. Case in point for Evans is a recent ESPN discussion about the nation's top point guards that did not include him or Holder.
"When you see things like that, it puts an extra chip on your shoulder," Evans said. "They hate on us so that's cool. I couldn't figure it out. I'm not an analyst so I don't know."
Jolly old Hurley
Evans played first for Hurley at Buffalo then came with him to ASU so this is their fifth year together including 2015-16 when Evans sat out as a transfer.
"He's definitely jolly," Evans said. "The last couple of years around this time, our legs would be hurting from running a lot. You see him more happy. He's always cracking jokes. Before we played Pacific, his pregame speech he was joking on Mello's toes, stuff he never does.
"You could tell he was a little more excited than he normally is, but at the same time he still has that fire and that edge to still get better. Creating a balance, he's doing a great job with that."
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Saturday's game
ASU (12-0) at Arizona (10-3)
When: Saturday at 7 p.m.
Where: McKale Center, Tucson.
TV: Pac-12 Networks.
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM and Fox Sports Radio 910 AM.
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