Devils in Detail
Fansided

ASU Basketball: Hurley, players discuss Pac-12 Tournament, all-conference honorees

By Trevor Booth

TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 03: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils watches the action during the first half of the college basketball game at Wells Fargo Arena on January 3, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. The Arizona Wildcats beat the Arizona State Sun Devils 94-82. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 03: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils watches the action during the first half of the college basketball game at Wells Fargo Arena on January 3, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. The Arizona Wildcats beat the Arizona State Sun Devils 94-82. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 19: Taeshon Cherry #35 of the Arizona State Sun Devils and Arizona State bench react after the team defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 72-67 in a semifinal game of the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 19, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 19: Taeshon Cherry #35 of the Arizona State Sun Devils and Arizona State bench react after the team defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 72-67 in a semifinal game of the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 19, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

The Sun Devils are Healthy (It Seems)

Due to injuries, rust or fluke chance, ASU has been unable to field a healthy rotation for the majority of the season.

Last week, freshman forward Taeshon Cherry was taken out after getting kicked in the head at Oregon State. He didn’t play in Saturday’s victory against the Wildcats, but Hurley provided some good news for this week.

“Taeshon was on the floor today,” he said. “He went through practice normal. Assuming that he continues to have no side effects or setbacks between now and the game, he’s trending towards being ready to play.”

That (should) give ASU its eight-to-nine man rotation that it hoped for at the beginning of the season. Despite De’Quon Lake starting over Romello White against UA, the lineup appears to be set.

If the Sun Devils are going to take advantage of a healthy roster, they must use all of it. Saturday’s game was a tough one for junior guard Rob Edwards, who finished scoreless after reaching double figures in each of the last five games.

White was also a non-factor, accumulating five points and five rebounds in 26 minutes played. Kimani Lawrence and Elias Valtonen picked up the pace, but the team knows it can reach a different level when everyone is contributing.

“We have the talent, as everybody knows,” Martin said. “The thing about our team is that if one guy isn’t going, the next guy can pick each other up. We’re talented enough to accomplish anything, but we definitely would be dangerous if everybody was clicking at the same time. That would be a scary sight.”

Some of ASU’s best performances this season (Colorado, Washington, at Utah) came when four or more players scored in double figures. Now, that’s easier said than done, but there have been nights when the Sun Devils have clearly moved the ball better than others.

In fact, when ASU has an assist percentage greater than 55, they are 12-0. It sounds easy, but if the Sun Devils make the extra passes and create transition chances, it’ll be very difficult to beat them in Las Vegas.

More. ASU Basketball: Breaking down Arizona win, Pac-12 Tournament chances. light

“I think this team is capable of accomplishing whatever we put our minds to,” Cheatham said. “When our backs are against the wall, that’s pretty much when we play our best. So if we do get in the (NCAA) Tournament, I think it’s going to be a show.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted. 

Home/ASU Basketball