Arizona State Basketball Began Full Team Practices
The Sun Devils opened team training at the Weatherup Center in Tempe as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Basketball
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Will the Sun Devils succeed with their new roster and coaching staff this season?
The Arizona State University men's basketball team has officially commenced full team practices in Tempe. This follows a summer of conditioning and internal scrimmages to integrate a new roster.
Why it matters
The program enters a new era under head coach Randy Bennett, who was hired in March 2026 after spending 25 seasons at Saint Mary's College. The staff and several players have transitioned from Saint Mary's to reshape the team's identity.
Arizona State finished with a 7-11 Big 12 conference record in 2025. The team has not secured a winning conference record since the 2022-2023 campaign.
The players
Randy Bennett
He is the head coach of the Arizona State University men's basketball team who previously led the Saint Mary's College program for 25 seasons.
Dillan Shaw
He is an incoming sophomore transfer student-athlete participating in the team's current practice sessions.
The details
The squad has been utilizing the ASU Weatherup Center to build chemistry ahead of their first competitive matchups. Coaching staff and athletes, including sophomore transfer Dillan Shaw, focused on team integration during recent conditioning sessions.
Timeline
March 2026: Randy Bennett was hired as head coach.
September 28, 2026: The team held a post-practice media availability.
October 25, 2026: An exhibition game against New Mexico is scheduled.
November 2, 2026: The regular season opener against East Tennessee State will take place.
Season Trajectory
The team seeks to reverse a multi-year trend of sub-.500 conference finishes that began after the 2022-2023 season. Success this year would mark a significant pivot in the program's competitive standing within the Big 12.
The transition of staff and players from Saint Mary's suggests a shift in tactical philosophy that may impact future rotation minutes. Fans should look for roster developments during the October exhibition to gauge the impact of new transfer athletes.
The takeaway
Arizona State's new coaching leadership is focused on immediate roster cohesion to overcome recent conference struggles. Implementing a new system after a successful long-term tenure elsewhere will be the primary challenge for the staff this season.
What happens next
The Sun Devils will play an exhibition game against New Mexico on October 25, 2026, followed by the regular season opener against East Tennessee State on November 2, 2026.
Further reading
For more updates on the squad's progress, visit the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
Live Poll
Will the Sun Devils succeed with their new roster and coaching staff this season?
