The Arizona State men’s basketball team went 4-1 on its recent trip to Hawaii, making it to the championship game of the Southwest Maui Invitational before losing to USC.
The Sun Devils are ready to get back into action closer to home. They won’t be playing in the familiar confines of Desert Financial Arena, but they will be not far away as they take to the Mortgage Matchup Center floor to compete in the annual Jerry Colangelo Classic against a more unfamiliar foe.
Advertisement
Here is a quick look at the next outing for coach Bobby Hurley’s squad.
Oklahoma (6-2) vs. Arizona State (6-2)
Time: Saturday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m.
Site: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix.
TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/Arizona Sports 98.7.
About the matchup: The teams have actually played one common opponent, Gonzaga, with similar results. Oklahoma lost to Gonzaga 83-68 in Spokane, while ASU lost to the Bulldogs at Desert Financial Arena 77-65. Like ASU, Oklahoma has had a massive roster overhaul since posting a 20-14 mark a year ago. This will be the second game of the night, with Grand Canyon (5-3) taking on Oklahoma State (8-0) in the opener at 5:30 p.m.
Advertisement
About the Sooners: Oklahoma last played on Friday, Nov. 28 and defeated Marquette 75-74. Its losses this season have come to Nebraska (105-99) and Gonzaga. It comes in riding a four-game winning streak. The team’s leading scorer is senior guard Nijel Pack (18.5 ppg), with senior forward Davis (13.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg), junior guard Xzayvier Brown (13.4 ppg) and sophomore forward Derrion Reid (12.1 ppg) also averaging double figures. Davis is a transfer from Notre Dame. Defense is an area Oklahoma has sought to improve. Its opponents last season shot 55% from two-point range, and the 74.6 ppg allowed ranked 289th. Oklahoma was singled out as a middle-of-the-pack finisher in the SEC in most preseason projections.
About the Sun Devils: Guards Mo Odum and Anthony “Pig” Johnson (13.5 ppg) both earned all-tournament honors at the Hawaii event. Odum (19.1 ppg, 93.3 rpg, 6 apg) averaged 26 points over the three-game tournament. He ranks sixth in scoring, fourth in assists, and third in free-throw percentage among Big 12 players, although the team has yet to start conference play. Hurley has started the same quintet in every game this season, which consists of Odum, freshman center Massamba Diop (12.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg), sophomore forward Santiago Trouet (7.5 ppg, 6 rpg), junior forward Andrija Grbovic (5.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, and junior guard Bryce Ford (10.6 ppg). Trouet has two double-doubles already this season and Diop one.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU basketball team to face Oklahoma in Colangelo Classic
