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Arizona State Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Sun Devils

By Brian Rauf

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Colorado Buffaloes at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes won 97-85. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Colorado Buffaloes at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes won 97-85. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 14: Romello White #23 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts in the second half against the Syracuse Orange during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 14, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH – MARCH 14: Romello White #23 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts in the second half against the Syracuse Orange during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 14, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Arizona State Basketball had a winning record and made the NCAAT for the first time in three years last season. Can the Sun Devils take another step forward?

The Arizona State Sun Devils were on their way to a breakout season a year ago following an undefeated non-conference slate in which they beat the likes of Kansas State, Xavier, and Kansas. However, they barely snuck into the NCAA Tournament after going just 8-10 in Pac-12 play.

Arizona State is hoping to build on last season’s success (which came after two straight losing seasons) but the Sun Devils are going to look like a vastly different team. Star guards Tra Holder, Shannon Evans, and Kodi Justice graduated and have been replaced by bigger, more versatile wings.

Head coach Bobby Hurley’s squad won’t be as point guard-centric as last year, there is plenty of talent on the roster. The Sun Devils return six scholarship players and welcome in a top 10 recruiting class, headlined by forward Taeshon Cherry. Two transfers (Zylan Cheatham, Rob Edwards) will also be eligible after sitting out last year.

More size and more talent has Hurley excited about this team’s potential – particularly defensively – and said as much following the first practice of the season.

"“The time is now. We made the strides and we got some people excited about what we’re doing, especially with how we started last year. This is when we’ve got to put it all together. “I think our ceiling is very high. I’d anticipate we would be playing our best as the year progresses as some of our younger players make their adjustments and we really gain an identity.”"

Will Arizona State be able to maintain success in 2018-19 and be even better than they were a year ago? Or will they take a step back without Holder, Evans, and Justice? Here’s a full preview for the Sun Devils’ season, including a look at their projected rotation and a breakdown of their non-conference schedule.

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