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ASU Basketball: New-look Sun Devils entertain in maroon & gold scrimmage

There's no 'D' in preseason.

By Josh Nacion
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With how big of a competitor first-year Arizona State Sun Devils coach Bobby Hurley was in his playing days at Duke, Friday's Maroon & Gold scrimmage is probably the only time you may see Hurley relaxed on the sidelines.

Hurley sported one of two of his NCAA Championship rings, but was mingling with his players' antics as the Sun Devils entertained Wells Fargo Arena with an all-star game-like scrimmage.

"These type of events are just being more for the players to enjoy," Hurley said.

There wasn't anything to take away from what resembled an impromptu pickup game. Neither squad ran anything that looked like an organized offense. The scrimmage was plagued with iso plays and turnovers, with both teams scoring the majority of their points off with dunks in transition.

With ASU starting practices just last week, that's OK for Hurley.

"All I'm hoping is that no one gets hurt," he said. "Believe me, what we did today for multiple hours, we got everything I want to get out of the day."

Hurley said the team is progressing after its first week of practicing together. With a new coach and just six players carrying over from last year, the Sun Devils still seem to be figuring each other out on the court, though they appear to be close socially. Hurley said the biggest thing ASU must improve on is defense, along with shaking off the pickup habits many players get over the offseason.

"A lot of the guys, I feel comfortable with," Hurley said. "I think they're tracking the right way.

The night started off with the women's basketball team holding its scrimmage, which lasted for a 10-minute session. After the women's exhibition, ASU's two basketball programs briefly shared the court for a 3-point shootout, with women's guard Katie Hempen beating men's guard Kodi Justice 18-9 in the finals.

After the scrimmage, the men's team convened for a slam dunk contest, with special guest judges that included former ASU standout and NBA champion Eddie House, Pac-12 Networks analyst Yogi Roth and Arizona Sports radio personality Vince Marotta. Torian Graham was crowned the dunk contest champion, beating out Gerry Blakes, Obinna Oleka and Maurice O'Field.

After the men's scrimmage ended, we caught House putting up some threes with kids in the open shootaround.

The Sun Devils play their first game against Western New Mexico in an exhibition on Nov. 7.

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