Arizona State at Aztecs
Records: ASU 2-1, SDSU 1-1
Series history: ASU leads 18-11 and is 8-2 in the last 10. SDSU won the most recent meeting, 80-68 in Tempe last year.
Sun Devils update: Bobby Hurley has almost a completely new roster after an exodus of players from a team that finished 11-14 overall and ninth in the Pac-12. The most notable returnees are forwards Marcus Bagley, Kimani Lawrence and Jalen Graham. They’re joined by MAC player of the year Marreon Jackson (Toledo), Luther Muhammad (Ohio State), Jay Heath (Boston College), DJ Horne (Illinois State) and six other newcomers. Their minutes continuity from last season of 22.4 percent ranks 315th in Division I. Expect a similar team to last year, though, in that they are gifted offensively and can score from all five positions. Over the previous four years, the Sun Devils have led the Pac-12 in scoring at 77.3 points. Graham and Heath missed the first two games because of COVID-19 protocols, including the 66-65 home loss against UC Riverside two days after SDSU beat the Highlanders 66-53. Both returned for Tuesday’s 72-63 win against North Florida. The other win was 76-60 against Portland in the opener. This is their first road game.
Aztecs update: They are trying to avoid going sub-.500 for the first time in 10 years and 305 games. This is the back end of a home-and-home series that saw SDSU win convincingly at then-No. 23 ASU last year, leading by as many as 20 in the second half behind 25 points from Jordan Schakel and a monster night (17 points, 15 rebounds) from Nathan Mensah. After not playing for six days, the Aztecs now have games in five of the next 13 days. The good news: They have won 16 straight following a loss when the next game is at home. Mensah is three blocks from passing Aerick Sanders into seventh place on the school’s career list and is on pace to be third by season’s end. He also is 10 of 11 shooting through two games while averaging 9.0 rebounds. Trey Pulliam hit double figures in scoring five times in his first 56 games at SDSU and now has done it in five of his last six games, including both this season. SDSU’s opponents have shot 39.2 and 38.6 percent. Several players missed parts or all of practice this week, but the entire roster is expected to suit up, including Aguek Arop.
Next up: Saturday vs. UT Arlington (7 p.m., YurView)