Arizona State has a chance to keep its perfect start rolling Friday night, and the Sun Devils are doing it with a mix of size, scoring punch and early-season defensive grit.
At 3-0, Arizona State is off to its best opening since the 2018-19 season after an 85-63 win over Hofstra on Tuesday. That victory came with a clear edge on the glass: the Sun Devils outrebounded Hofstra 49-25, their highest rebound total since grabbing 56 in an overtime win over Cal on Feb. 11, 2023.
Paulius Murauskas has been at the center of it all. The transfer from Saint Mary's, who followed new coach Randy Bennett to Tempe, is averaging 25.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He has also been a problem for opposing defenses at the line, with 32 free-throw attempts this season, the most in the Big 12.
Against Hofstra, Murauskas added another layer to his impact, recording his first career game with three blocks and two steals.
Joel Foxwell is giving Arizona State another reliable scoring option at 12.7 points per game, while JRob Croy is adding 11.7 per contest. On the defensive end, Tuesday's effort marked the first time since the 2014-15 season that the Sun Devils held their first three opponents to 65 points or fewer.
"This can be a good team. I'm not just trying to pump our team or our program up," Bennett told The Arizona Republic. "I just compare them to our good teams at St.
Mary's. Those were usually around 25-ish (wins). ...
We're every bit in that conversation; we just haven't done it yet. It's gonna get crazy in January."
Louisiana-Monroe arrives in Tempe at 1-3 after pushing TCU to double overtime before falling 100-92 on Tuesday in Fort Worth. The Warhawks had five players score in double figures, and two of them posted double-doubles: Dayjaun Anderson finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Lance Carr had 13 points and 14 rebounds.
The trip doesn't get any easier from here. Louisiana-Monroe is in the middle of a four-game road swing, with two games in Texas and two in Arizona, including a matchup with Grand Canyon in nearby Phoenix this weekend.
In Other News...
Arizona State Faces A Brutal Pre-Kickoff Test At UCF
Arizona States trip to UCF turned into a travel headache before the Sun Devils ever got to the stadium, with a nationwide ground stop from the Federal Aviation Administration throwing the teams plans into chaos. The football team was stuck on a plane for two hours before heading back to its facility, a disruption that left players dealing with the kind of logistical mess that can make a road game feel longer before it even starts.
The delay also pushed kickoff back to 5:30 p.m. ET, forcing Arizona State to adjust its entire schedule on the fly. For a team already facing a tricky road environment, the added uncertainty around travel and timing only increases the challenge as it tries to settle in and get ready for UCF. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona State Faces A Real Pregame Concern Before UCF Kickoff
A travel headache turned Arizona States trip to UCF into a pregame story of its own, with a nationwide FAA ground stoppage forcing the Sun Devils to leave much later than planned. Instead of settling in on the usual game-day rhythm, the team had to navigate a delayed departure before still making it to Orlando in time for the rescheduled 5:30 p.m. EST kickoff.
Kenny Dillingham tried to keep the focus on handling the disruption the right way, stressing a positive attitude even as the schedule got thrown off. For a team trying to get ready for a road game, it was the kind of unexpected wrinkle that tests routine as much as it does preparation, and Arizona State at least avoided the worst-case scenario by getting there in time to play. [Read more 🡒]
Paulius Murauskas Is Becoming Arizona States Centerpiece Fast
Paulius Murauskas is wasting no time becoming the kind of player Arizona State can build around. In the Sun Devils 92-62 win over UL Monroe, he delivered a dominant all-around effort with 31 points and 13 rebounds, giving the offense a steady focal point and the kind of interior presence that can shape a game from the opening tip.
Randy Bennett came away impressed not just with the production, but with the leadership Murauskas showed while carrying the load. For Arizona State, that matters as much as the final margin, especially with Oakland up next on Nov. 18 and the early-season rotation still taking shape around a player who looks increasingly central to what the Sun Devils want to be. [Read more 🡒]