Summer School: Hurley Talks ASU Basketball (VIDEO)

Despite it being the dog days of summer, Arizona State head basketball coach Bobby Hurley addressed a number of different topics on and off the court during his media session Tuesday morning inside Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe.

Bobby Hurley addressing the media here in Tempe. Catching up on all the #ASU off-season news. #SunDevils pic.twitter.com/OYhSY8PhR2

— Sports360AZ (@Sports360AZ) June 25, 2019

The Sun Devils, coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since the early 1980’s will once again play a competitive non-conference schedule which includes games against St. John’s, Georgia, Creighton, St. Mary’s and Princeton. ASU will also play in New England, as well as in China against Pac-12 foe Colorado.

“The way I believe it should be is challenging your guys,” Hurley said. “We try and challenge our players at workouts and practices and get them prepared and then just want to play in games that they can get excited about playing and our fans are excited to see and then also put you in a position if you take care of business and you win those games and then you’re viewed as a potential NCAA Tournament team. So that’s kind of the way that we’re trying to do our whole philosophy.”

Different summer, different season ahead ? pic.twitter.com/mELVLjXepQ

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) June 25, 2019

Hurley addressed a number of other topics, including some of the fresh faces you’ll be seeing in maroon and gold when the season tips off.

“I don’t want to make any judgments too soon,” Hurley explained. “It’s a really good group, though. I think Alonzo Verge has already stood out for me just with his creativity and he makes guys better on the floor…Jaelen House is always excited, enthusiastic and communicating…Andre Allen is working hard. Jalen Graham is a guy that I think has shown good footwork.” 

Earlier this month he received a two-year extension which now runs through 2024.

“It’s tremendous to get that type of feedback.” Hurley said about ASU President Michael Crow. “They immediately made it known to me that they wanted to get me here for the max amount of years so I can continue to build off of what we’ve been able to do the last two seasons.”

Two of last year’s stars, Lu Dort and Zylan Cheatham, both went undrafted but inked NBA contracts. Dort signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, while Cheatham is now a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.