Arizona State and Mississippi State both reached the NCAA Tournament last season, so both should get a good test when they meet for their season opener in the Barstool Sports Invitational on Wednesday night in Chicago.
“I don’t know too many schools that are starting as difficult as we are with playing Mississippi State,” Sun Devils coach Bobby Hurley said.
ASU went 23-13 a season ago and won a play-in game against Nevada (98-73) before losing to TCU (72-70) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Sun Devils return just three players from that team, and Hurley brought in seven transfers from other Division I programs to restock the roster.
“We had a great season last year but now we are trying to take further steps to get better,” Hurley said. “Going to the NCAA Tournament is great and it’s very difficult and we take pride in that, but at the same time, we’re trying to win championships.”
Arizona State will start the season without one of its returning players, forward Alonzo Gaffney, who has a foot injury, and one of its transfers, former LSU and Illinois guard Adam Miller, who is awaiting a ruling on his waiver request.
The Bulldogs, 21-13 last season, also will start the season short-handed. All-Southeastern Conference First Team forward Tolu Smith, who averaged 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds last season, is sidelined until the SEC season because of a foot injury.
“Missing Tolu is a big piece,” Mississippi State forward Jaquan Scott said. “He knows the game. He rebounds, he’s smart, he passes the ball and he’s just an all-around player. So, missing him hurts.”
Bulldogs coach Chris Jans said everyone will have to have a part in overcoming the absence of Smith, who has started 84 games across three seasons.
“We’re not asking anybody to replace Tolu,” Jans said. “We’re just asking everybody to do their best and be the best version of themselves.”
–Field Level Media
