When sitting down for his introductory press conference at Arizona State, head coach Bobby Hurley said he wanted his basketball team to push the pace.
In his second year in Tempe, he’s asking his team to go even faster.
Take Hurley’s first season for review. Despite running one of the most fast-paced offenses in the Pac-12 last year – partially due to need, otherwise due to scheme – they still finished ninth in the conference at 73.3 points per game. They embraced the outside shot, with their average of 23.6 3-point attempts per game leading the conference, but hit on just 33.6 percent of those attempts – third-worst in the conference.
Expect those figures to turn around, especially with newcomers Shannon Evans and freshman Sam Cunliffe expected to join the starting lineup in the place of the departing Gerry Blakes and Willie Atwood.
“All of our guards can shoot,” Cunliffe said. “There is not one guard on our team that can’t shoot, so everyone is capable of putting the ball in the basket from deep. Most guys can get to the rim, so it’s a very versatile backcourt.”
ASU may have to have to run even more this season, especially given the lineups, they throw out there. They’ve lost Atwood as well as Savon Goodman and a three-year starter in Eric Jacobsen, leaving just Obinna Oleka as the lone returning frontcourt member. Backing him up this season will be true freshman Jethro Tshisumpa and redshirt freshman Andre Adams, who is coming off his second ACL surgery. Late signee Romello White was expected to have a significant role, but he must sit out this season due to academics.
As a result, the Sun Devils likely will find themselves resorting to “small-ball” lineups, frequently having three, if not four guards on the floor at the same time. Imagine this lineup at Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 11’s season opener – Tra Holder at the point, Evans as the off guard, Kodi Justice at the wing and Cunliffe as a stretch four alongside Oleka. It’s certainly a possibility, bringing with it some exciting possibilities offensively.
“We’re going to play a bunch of different lineups this year,” Justice said. “With Romello [White] out, it’s going to be a little difficult, we’re a little smaller. I could see myself or Sam at the four and being able to be a little more guard-oriented.”
It also asks the Sun Devils to continue to exert themselves, something that led to a noticeable drop-off once their lack of depth came into play in conference play.
“We’ve been doing a lot of conditioning,” Holder said. “I think the difference between last year and this is we didn’t have much depth, and we have a lot more guard play this year. Playing that up-tempo style is definitely going to pay off this year because we have so many talented guards.”
Playing a small lineup will obviously have its challenges, with no true shot-blocking or post threat. They should take a hit on the boards, where they ranked towards the middle of the Pac-12 last season (eighth, 36.8 rebounds per game). They ranked dead last in blocks last season (2.69 per game), a figure that can drop even further with the projected lineup.
“Defensively, I’d have to guard bigger guys, which I’m not used to,” Cunliffe said. “I’m used to point guards and shooting guards, but that’s something that will take over time. I practice that every day, going up against guys like Obi [Oleka].”
Running the show will be Holder and Evans, who often sparred on the practice court last season when Evans was forced to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules.
“Sitting out a whole year, coming off a [conference] championship and NCAA Tournament run and stuff like that, not touching a basketball in a game is kind of heartbreaking,” Evans said of his forced year off. “At the same time, I knew it would be worth it in the end.”
What he did instead was match up against Holder every day, battling the starting guard until the two at times reached a boiling point. Their battles may have led to the two not speaking to one another for the rest of the day, but Holder said the two’s contests came from a level of respect. Holder, of course, returns after being one of the Pac-12’s top surprises and leading the team with 14.2 points per game. Evans was one of the MAC’s best players two seasons, ago, and now will join Holder to create one of the conference’s top backcourts.
“[Shannon is] a multi-dimensional player,” Holder said of his new partner. “He can shoot the ball, penetrate, kick, he plays defense, rebounds. He’s not the tallest player, but he’s pretty athletic. He gets in the paint easily, and can distract the defense.”
Hurley’s first iteration of the Sun Devils limped through the finish line at 15-17, though Evans, who has been with the coach since their Buffalo days, said he sensed something big is coming.
“I think he’s a volcano ready to erupt,” Evans said. “You saw how he was last year on the sideline. I feel like he’s ready to erupt as well [as myself].”
