Men's Hoops Battles UCLA in Regular Season Finale

By: Connor Smith

LOS ANGELES - Sun Devil Men's Basketball will take on UCLA in the final regular season game in the history of the Pac-12 Conference.

Arizona State's (14-16, 8-11) 100th all-time matchup with the Bruins is the last on the Pac-12's Saturday schedule, as the Maroon & Gold get the privilege of closing a significant chapter in the conference's history at iconic Pauley Pavilion. The game also holds major implications for conference tournament seeding, with Head Coach Bobby Hurley's team capable of being the No. 6/7 seed with a win or a No. 10/11 with a loss.   

HOW TO FOLLOW
The broadcast of Sun Devil Men's Basketball's game on Saturday will air on FS1 when they travel to UCLA, scheduled for a 9 PM MST tip-off with Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play) and Casey Jacobsen (analyst) on the call. Make sure to listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on ESPN 620 AM (KTAR). The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.

THE HURLEY ERA
Bobby Hurley secured his 150th victory as the head coach of Sun Devil Men's Basketball over Utah on Jan. 4. The win makes him just the third coach in program history to win 150 games at ASU.

ASU MEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH CAREER WINS
406, Ned Wulk (1957-82)
159, Herb Sendek (2006-15)
155, Bobby Hurley (2015-present)

Hurley also collected his 75th win in Pac-12 Conference play earlier in the season, the most of any coach in program history (Pac-10/12 era). 

ASU MEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH CAREER PAC-10/12 WINS
79, Bobby Hurley (2015-present)
72, Herb Sendek (2006-15)
67, Bill Frieder (1990-97)
55, Rob Evans (1999-06)
46, Ned Wulk (1978-82)

ABOUT THOSE SUN DEVIL WINS
Coach Hurley has notched 155 wins at Arizona State and has done it while scheduling aggressively and not being afraid to play on the road. He has won 98 games in Arizona, but also has won at least five games in California (14), Nevada (12), Oregon (six) and Washington (five). Four wins have taken place in Utah, three in New York, and two in Colorado, Nebraska, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Single wins have taken place in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, New Jersey and Texas.

PAC-12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR CAMPAIGN
Junior guard Frankie Collins is putting together one of the best defensive seasons in program history and has emerged as a candidate to win the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award. Collins has saved his best performances for some of the top players in the country, thriving in matchups with productive offensive threats. Take a closer look at how the talented perimeter defender has fared against his best competition.

Opposing Point Guard Performances vs. Frankie Collins
11/8/23 - Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State (16.4 PPG); 6 points on 2-of-6 shooting
11/11/23 - P.J. Henry, Texas Southern (15.0 PPG); 12 points on 5-of-24 shooting
11/16/23 - Ayinde Hikim, UMass Lowell (3.5 TOPG); season-high 7 turnovers
11/23/23 - Dallin Hall, BYU (9.2 PPG); 6 points on 1-of-5 shooting
11/24/23 - Tyrin Lawrence, Vanderbilt (14.1 PPG); 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting
11/29/23 - Jaden Ray, Sam Houston State (6.7 PPG); 2 points on 1-of-7 shooting
12/3/23 - Marcus Williams, San Francisco (13.9 PPG); 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting
12/9/23 - Wayne McKinney III, San Diego (13.7 PPG); 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting
12/16/23 - Avery Anderson III, TCU (8.5 PPG); 6 points on 2-of-9 shooting
12/31/23 - Jalen Cone, Cal (13.2 PPG); 9 points on 2-of-9 shooting
1/4/24 - Rollie Worster, Utah (9.9 PPG); 9 points on 3-of-8 shooting
1/17/24 - Sebastian Mack, UCLA (12.6 PPG); 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting
1/20/24 - Bronny James, USC (1.1 TOPG); 3 turnovers
1/25/24 - Jackson Shelstad, Oregon (12.7 PPG); 2 points on 1-of-4 shooting
2/1/24 - Kanaan Carlyle, Stanford (11.9 PPG); 3 points on 1-of-3 shooting
2/8/24 - K.J. Simpson, Colorado (19.8 PPG); 17 points on 5-of-14 shooting
2/10/24 - Deivon Smith, Utah (12.5 PPG); 0 points on 0-of-3 shooting in 31 minutes (only scoreless game with more than 12 minutes played)
2/14/24 - Jordan Pope, Oregon State (17.9 PPG); 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting
2/17/24 - Kylan Boswell, Arizona (10.4 PPG); 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting
2/22/24 - Sahvir Wheeler, Washington (14.1 PPG); 6 points on 2-of-8 shooting
2/24/24 - Myles Rice, Washington State (15.3 PPG); 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting

RECORD SETTER
Frankie Collins made history in the matchup with Washington in February. He finished the game with three steals, making him the single-season record holder at Arizona State for steals in a season. Collins broke Lafayette Lever's 42-year-old previous record of 76 steals set in 1982. He continues to add to his record, currently sitting at 82 total steals.

MOST SUN DEVIL STEALS IN A SEASON
82 – Frankie Collins, 2024
76 – Lafayette Lever, 1982
74 – Eddie House, 2000
74 – Lafayette Lever, 1981
73 – James Harden, 2008
73 – Marcell Capers, 1993

I'LL TAKE THAT
Through 30 games of the 2023-24 season, Frankie Collins has emerged as one of the best perimeter defenders in the nation. Collins has 82 steals, putting him fifth in the country in the category. He is currently sixth in the nation in steals per game, averaging 2.73 per contest. He matched a program-record with eight steals in the victory over UMass Lowell and has 16 3+-steal performance already this season. His 82 steals are 23 MORE than any other player in the Pac-12 (Kobe Johnson, USC - 59) and he has four games with 6+ steals.

FRANKIE DOES IT ALL
Guard Frankie Collins has emerged as one of the top all-around players in the Pac-12 Conference. He is currently one of only two players in the nation (Shahada Wells, McNeese State) averaging at least 13.7 points (1st on team), 4.6 rebounds (2nd on team), 3.4 assists (1st on team), and 2.7 steals (1st on team). Collins is stuffing the stat sheet in a historic manner while playing only 32.1 minutes per game (20th in the conference). Collins has been extremely consistent, reaching double figures scoring in 27 of the 30 games this season. 

COMFORTABLE WHEN IT'S CLOSE
After going 12-5 in games decided by six points or less (two possessions) last year, the Sun Devils are 5-3 in such games so far this season. Arizona State is 40-20 (.666) in close games over the past five seasons. The 40 wins are the most in the nation during that span. ASU is 5-2 in games decided by three points or fewer this season. To take it a step further, ASU is 6-3 over its last nine tilts when the game is decided by a two-point deficit or less. Overall, ASU is 25-17 in two point or less games under Bobby Hurley.

DON'T COUNT US OUT
Arizona State has come back to win a game when trailing at halftime 44 times during the Bobby Hurley era and five times this season, three of which have come on the road. They trailed Utah, California, and Stanford at the break in games away from home before mounting a successful comeback. Since 2015-16, the Sun Devils are Top-15 in the nation and lead the Pac-12 with their 44 halftime comeback victories.

2023-24 (5)
(-2) Utah 42, ASU 40/Feb. 10, 2024/ASU 85, Utah 77
(-10) Cal 35, ASU 25/Dec. 31, 2023/ASU 71, Cal 69
(-9) Stanford 37, ASU 28/Dec. 29, 2023/ASU 76, Stanford 73
(-3) SMU 40, ASU 36/Dec. 6, 2023/ASU 76, SMU 74
(-9) UMass Lowell 31, ASU 22/Nov. 16, 2023/ASU 71, UMass Lowell 69

ASU trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half of the Cal game, making this the second straight season in which they overcame a deficit of at least 16 to win a conference game. The Sun Devils won at Oregon St on 1/14/23 after trailing by as many as 16 in the first half.

The Sun Devils nearly pulled off a 25-point comeback against Washington earlier in the season, which would have represented the largest deficit overcome in college basketball this season. They outscored the Huskies 51-30 in the second half, including a three separate runs of 8-0, 7-0, and 6-0.

WHAT'S TRENDING

• Adam Miller has scored at least 12 points in each of his last eight games, averaging 15.3 points during that span. He is shooting an efficient 42-for-75 (56.0%) from the field and 14-for-33 (42.4%) from three. He is also 24-for-30 (80%) from the free throw line.
  • Miller ranks ninth in the Pac-12 shooting 81.8% (61-of-74) from the free-throw line.

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
Arizona State has done an excellent job of taking care of the basketball during the 2023-24 season. The Sun Devils have won the turnover battle in 25 of their 30 games this season, including in each of the past four games. The Maroon & Gold are the best team in the Pac-12 and rank 22nd in the nation when it comes to turnover margin, sitting at +3.3 on the year. ASU forces the most turnovers/game (13.6) while committing the fewest (10.3) of any team in the Pac-12. 

ZO SAYS NO
Sun Devil forward Alonzo Gaffney is one of the most versatile defenders in the Pac-12 and is a key to the Arizona State defense. He is the ONLY PLAYER in the conference with at least 36 blocks (36) and 31 steals (31) this season. Gaffney has ten games in which he has registered one block and one steal. He ranks 5th in the league in blocks and is T-21st in steals.

ASU RECORD BY STARTING LINEUP
Due injuries to Shawn Phillips Jr., Zane Meeks, and Brycen Long early in the season, the Sun Devils have been shorthanded the entirety of the year. With Adam Miller gaining eligibility midway through the campaign, fluctuation continues with Arizona State's roster. This has resulted in Coach Hurley using 11 different starting lineup combinations in 30 games. Frankie Collins is the only Sun Devil to have started every game, with nine different players earning a start so far this year. ASU has at least one win with seven different lineup combinations. The Maroon & Gold started a different lineup against USC for the eighth straight game.

Frankie Collins, Adam Miller, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney (5-8)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Bryant Selebangue, Alonzo Gaffney (4-1)
Frankie Collins, Adam Miller, Jose Perez, Alonzo Gaffney, Shawn Phillips Jr. (1-0)
Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Jose Perez, Alonzo Gaffney, Shawn Phillips Jr. (1-0)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney, Shawn Phillips Jr. (1-0)
Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Kamari Lands, Alonzo Gaffney, Shawn Phillips Jr. (1-0)
Frankie Collins, Adam Miller, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Shawn Phillips Jr. (1-2)*
Frankie Collins, Bobby Hurley, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney (0-1)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Kamari Lands, Alonzo Gaffney (0-1)
Frankie Collins, Jose Perez, Jamiya Neal, Kamari Lands, Shawn Phillips Jr. (0-1)
Frankie Collins, Adam Miller, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney, Shawn Phillips Jr. (0-2)
*Used at USC

GAMES PLAYED (2023-24 | Career)
Sun Devils have a combined 948 games of experience at the Division I Level (Includes previous school). ASU has nine players with over 60 games of experience at the Division I level. Jamiya Neal became the sixth Sun Devil to reach 90 career games (only one to play all at ASU).

Kamari Lands - 30 | 62
Frankie Collins - 30 | 96
Braelon Green - 24 | 24
Brycen Long - 6 | 90
Jamiya Neal - 30 | 91
Malachi Davis - 7 | 7
Alonzo Gaffney - 30 | 114
Shawn Phillips Jr. - 22 | 42
Bobby Hurley - 8 | 20
Jose Perez - 30 | 127
Zane Meeks - 5 | 110
Akil Watson - 19 | 19
Bryant Selebangue - 30 | 60 
Adam Miller - 21 | 85

70-POINT MARK
Arizona State suffered just their third loss in regulation this season when they score 70+ points (at USC, at San Diego & at Oregon State). They are 12-3 in such games this season. ASU is averaging 76.1 points in their 14 wins and 64.9 points in their 16 losses. By contrast, the Sun Devils are holding opponents to 66.8 points in their 14 wins and allowing 80.3 points in their 16 losses. 

THREE-POINT NOTE
Arizona State made three three pointers against USC on Thursday. The Sun Devils have made at least one three-point field goal in 735 consecutive games dating back to 2/10/2001. 

CONSTANT COMPETITION
Coach Hurley challenged his team with an extremely difficult non-conference slate. Sun Devil Men's Basketball was ready for Pac-12 play after facing one of the toughest schedules in the country so far this season. Arizona State's average opponent NET is the 11th-highest in the nation. Here is a closer look at who ASU has played this season.

• Mississippi State - 19-11 record; ranked four weeks in AP Poll; undefeated in neutral sites; NET of 39; win over No. 5 Tennessee
• Win vs. Texas Southern - No. 6 NET non-con SOS; 11-6 in SWAC
• Win vs. UMass Lowell - 20-9 record, 11-5 in AEC finished 2nd; 10-6 road record (win at Georgia Tech)
• BYU - 21-9 record, 9-8 in Big 12; No. 20 in AP Top-25; undefeated in neutral sites; wins vs. No. 24 Iowa State, vs. No. 17 San Diego State, vs. No. 11 Baylor, at No. 7 Kansas; NET of 12
• Win vs. Sam Houston State - 19-11 record, 12-3 in C-USA (1st)
• Win vs. San Francisco - 22-9, 11-5 in WCC finished 3rd; NET of 64; 6-5 on the road
• Win vs. SMU - 20-10 record, 11-6 in AAC; NET of 55; road wins over Florida St., Murray St., and Tulane
• TCU - 20-10 record, 9-8 in Big-12; ranked four weeks in AP Poll; wins over No. 2 Houston, No. 9 Oklahoma, at No. 15 Baylor, and No. 15 Texas Tech; NET of 38
• Northwestern - 20-10 record, 11-8 in Big Ten; wins over No. 2 Purdue and No. 10 Illinois; NET of 52
• Win at Stanford - 10-6 at home including win over No. 12 Arizona
• Season sweep of Utah - 18-12 record; NET 47; win over No. 22 BYU; 14-2 at home (only losses to ASU and No. 8 Arizona)
• Win vs. Colorado - 21-9 record, 12-7 in Pac-12; NET of 29
• Washington - 17-14 record; 11-6 at home; win at No. 18 Washington St.
• vs. UCLA - preseason Top-25
• Win vs. USC - preseason Top-25; wins over Kansas State & Seton Hall
• at Oregon - 19-11, 11-8 in Pac-12; 12-3 at home; NET of 68
• Win vs. Oregon State - win over No. 10 Arizona; 12-5 at home
• No. 5 Arizona - Ranked in Top-25 entire 2023-24 season; 24-6 record, 15-4 in Pac-12; 15-1 at home; NET of 4
• Win vs. No. 21 Washington State - Currently #18 in AP Poll; 23-8 record, 14-6 in Pac-12; NET of 44

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Arizona State features a total of 11 new players on their roster, joining returners Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney, Bobby Hurley, and Jordan Williams to make up the 2023-24 Sun Devil Men's Basketball roster. The following is a roundup of the ASU newcomer class.

2023 INCOMING TRANSFERS
G Kamari Lands - Louisville
G Brycen Long - Houston Christian
C Shawn Phillips Jr. - LSU
G Jose Perez - West Virginia
F Zane Meeks - San Francisco
F Bryant Selebangue - Tulsa
G Adam Miller - LSU

JUCO ADDITION
G Malachi Davis - Tallahassee CC

FRESHMAN CLASS
G Braelon Green - Southfield, MI
F Akil Watson - Middletown, NY

BY CLASS
Graduate Student (2): Zane Meeks (San Francisco), Jose Perez (West Virginia)
Redshirt Senior (1) Alonzo Gaffney
Senior (1): Brycen Long
Redshirt Junior (1): Adam Miller
Junior (6): Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Malachi Davis, Bobby Hurley, Bryant Selebangue, Jordan Williams
Sophomore (3): Kamari Lands, Shawn Phillips Jr., Zack Markus
Freshman (3): Braelon Green, Andrew Mayock, Akil Watson

BY STATE (10 States Represented)
Ohio (3) – Jamiya Neal (Toledo), Alonzo Gaffney (Cleveland), Shawn Phillips Jr. (Dayton)
New York (3)  – Jose Perez (Bronx), Zack Markus (New York City), Akil Watson (Middletown)
California (2) – Frankie Collins (Sacramento), Jordan Williams (Los Angeles)
Canada (2) – Malachi Davis (Toronto), Bryant Selebangue (Montreal)
Arizona (2) – Brycen Long (Gilbert), Bobby Hurley (Scottsdale)
Indiana (1) – Kamari Lands (Indianapolis)
Michigan (1) – Braelon Green (Southfield)
Connecticut (1) – Andrew Mayock (New Canaan)
Kansas (1) – Zane Meeks (Prairie Village)
Illinois (1) – Adam Miller (Peoria)

SOLIDIFYING HIS STAFF
Head Coach Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devil Men's Basketball program officially announced the final additions to the 2023-24 staff in October. Arizona State welcomes Yusuf Ali and Jarryn Skeete to the Sun Devil Family, with Nick Irvin and Mickey Mitchell receiving promotions. The news comes after Greg Lansing (Special Assistant to the Head Coach) and Hunter Eisenhower (Associate Head Coach - Sports Performance) joined the staff earlier in the offseason. ASU now boasts an experienced and diverse staff from top to bottom, featuring some of the nation's top rising talent in the coaching industry.

HERE TO STAY
The Arizona State Board of Regents announced in March of 2023 that Sun Devil Men's Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley has agreed to an extension that will keep him with the program through the 2026 season.

NCAAS UNDER COACH HURLEY
ASU has made the NCAA Tournament three times in the past five chances (2023, 2019, and 2018) and won two games. In the previous 32 seasons (1986-2017),  ASU made two NCAA Tournaments and was 2-3.

WHERE TO WATCH
All 31 of Arizona State's games will be televised, with Coach Hurley's squad making appearances on ESPN, FOX, CBS Sports, Pac-12 Network and several major network affiliates in addition to online streaming platforms.

PHOENIX HOSTING THE 2024 MEN'S FINAL FOUR
The 2024 Men's Final Four will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., with the national semifinals on Saturday, April 6 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 8, 2024. This is the second time the state of Arizona has hosted the Final Four, also doing so back in 2017. Arizona State will once again serve as the host institution as they did for the 2017 edition.

SUN DEVILS ON SOCIAL
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