Bobby Hurley says ASU character is different from his past teams

TEMPE – Moe Odum did not even practice in the two days leading up to the Arizona State men’s basketball game against Utah on Saturday.

Forward Allen Mukeba was limited by an ankle injury. Forward Santiago Trouet has battled injuries to both ankles throughout the season and, as coach Bobby Hurley said, has “not felt perfect in probably a couple months.”

Still, none of them considered sitting out against the Utes at Desert Financial Arena.

“There was not a chance in the world,” Hurley said of Odum’s pregame mindset.

That refusal to step away, even with the rotation down to eight players and little to play for in a season hovering around the .500 mark, is a reason Hurley believes this Arizona State team differs from his past groups.

“I’ve had some teams that, if their guys have had their injuries, they might be out for six to eight weeks,” he said. “Testament to the character of those two.”

Saturday, that character most certainly made a difference.

Arizona State defeated Utah 73-60, delivering one of its cleanest performances of the season in what could prove to be Hurley’s penultimate game at Desert Financial Arena. 

With the win, the Sun Devils secured the No. 15 seed in the conference tournament, which begins March 10. Two regular season games remain for Hurley to make a final impression, both Quad 1 opportunities. ASU hosts No. 14 Kansas on Tuesday and travels to No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday.

The Sun Devils committed only five turnovers and just six personal fouls against the Utes, while blocking nine shots on the defensive end. 

And despite his limited health, Odum logged 35 minutes and scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting while posting a team-high four assists.

“There are a lot of kids who wish they was in my position,” the senior guard said. “So, I mean, if I could walk, I could run. If I could run, I definitely could play. I’m not really worried about too much, you know, baby injuries or lingering injuries, and so is my teammates.”

Amid a season in which mounting adversity and losses could have fractured a locker room, Arizona State’s players and coaches say the effort has remained steady. The results have not always followed, but instead of allowing injuries or close losses to shake their focus, the Sun Devils fought all year long.

“We just got to all have the same mindset,” Trouet said. “We are eight guys. We just got to help each other and not let the team down. We just push through everything.”

Arizona State fell behind by nine points in the first half before responding with multiple double-digit scoring runs. Instead of unraveling, the Sun Devils adjusted defensively, switching between zone and man-to-man looks and at times flashing a soft diamond press before settling into their half-court defense.

Utah guard Terrence Brown entered Saturday averaging more than 20 points per game. He was held to single digits for just the third time this season. Two of those games came against ASU.

By shrinking the floor and funneling drives toward center Massamba Diop, Arizona State (15-14, 6-10 Big 12) forced Utah (10-19, 2-14) into stalled possessions, late-clock shots and difficult attempts

“We want to run them off the line and funnel everything to the middle,” said guard Bryce Ford. “Make them shoot over the top of him.”

Diop finished with four blocks. Trouet added three. However, the defensive activity did not translate into fouls, a departure from past Hurley teams that have often played aggressively but sometimes recklessly.

“This game was night and day,” Hurley said, comparing it to their most recent matchup against TCU. “It was very, very cleanly played.”

The five turnovers were a season low, and Hurley said turnover margin was a point of emphasis. Arizona State had committed 13 turnovers in its previous game. Against Utah, the Sun Devils had just five.

“It’s great as a coach when you have so few mistakes that you could actually clearly remember them,” he said.

Trouet, who has played through injuries to both ankles for much of the season, said the short rotation has had no effect on the team’s mindset.

“We don’t care who starts, who’s on the bench,” he said. “As long as we win.”

With Kansas and Iowa State looming, the margin for error remains thin and the team’s postseason hopes still rest on a miraculous conference tournament run. 

But if Saturday’s performance was any indication, the Sun Devils are beginning to resemble the type of team Hurley described; a small but significant bit of solace in a difficult season.

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