Devil's Junkie Podcast

My appearance on the SiriusXM Pac-12 Radio show with Sean O'Connell and Geoff Schwartz briefly discussing the state of the ASU basketball program and then previewing the Sun Devil football team's spring practice and how high of a bar is being set for the program this upcoming season. 

In my interview with Sean O'Connell and Geoff Schwartz, we discuss the Sun Devils' sweep of the Bay Area schools, what contributed to those wins, and can these victories signal a season turnaround for Arizona State?

A weird and challenging shorten 2020 campaign has concluded for the Sun Devils, what can we take away from it? I offer my analysis on ASU’s performance and invite Sun Devil Network color analyst Jeff van Raaphorst to share his perspective and observations. Episode rundown (48 minutes) (:54) Discussing the trends we saw over the four games Arizona State played and what can make of their 2-2 mark? Later in the segment, I examine the offense and what were the surprises and disappointments exhibited by this group. (20:40) If only everything in life could be pleasantly predictable as our preseason expectations for the Sun Devil defense. Nonetheless, one position group still managed to remarkably perform at a much higher level than 2019, and yes, the scheme change was significant here.    (31:06) Sun Devil Network, color analyst Jeff van Raaphorst called the 2020 season “chapter 1 of an unfinished book” and talks about what team aspects showed encouraging signs and why others struggled. Furthermore, what is the

Uncertainty and optimism are two sentiments that obviously are polar opposites from each other but at times can also be mentioned in the same sentence. And those two words each describe the general mood concerning the Arizona State football and basketball squads these days.   Episode Rundown (48 minutes)    (1:24) Sun Devil had to cancel two games due to its COVID-19 breakout. Is a third consecutive game also in danger of having a similar fate? We talk about the various aspects that may answer that question and what ramifications recruiting and personnel wise can a shorter than expected 2020 season bring about?   (21:14) A top-25 AP preseason ranking is hardly commonplace for ASU hoops, and we discuss why that lofty accolade is certainly warranted. What should be expected from some of its players, and what traits will this team have to exhibit early and often to justify an expectation level we haven't seen in Tempe in quite a while?

Guy Haberman and Evan Moore interview DevilsDigest.com Publisher Hod Rabino, to get his thoughts on the Saturday contest in L.A. and what we can expect from the Sun Devils this season.

It's been a long off-season for ASU football fans to say the least but every day we're getting closer and closer to the season’s kickoff and the juices really start flowing with announcements just like the one we had last Saturday October 3rd where the Pac-12 football schedule has been released.   In this episode of the Devil’s Junkie Podcast I will give you my thoughts and analysis on the Sun Devil football schedule, what are some of the pros and cons for this seven-game slate, and later on I will be joined by Pac-12 Network Analyst Yogi Roth who will give his perspective not only on the ASU schedule but also the rest of the Pac-12, how does he see the different division races and who may be the surprise teams in the conference.  Episode Rundown (36 minutes)  (1:00) We begin the show analyzing ASU’s 2020 schedule and the two challenging games that await them right out of the gates. How much can its level of preseason preparedness aid the Sun Devils as they face the Trojans and Golden Bears? Does this yea

It was less than two weeks ago since the Pac-12 released a modified conference only football schedule which certainly gave hope for fans of that conference that we would see football in the fall albeit it a little later in the year and with fewer contests to be played. On August 11th, it decided to delay the start of the football season to January 2021. We discuss the reasons for this decision, the various implications it may have, as well as answer your questions that have now arisen from this historical announcement.   Episode rundown (67 minutes) (1:38) There many catalysts to the league's decision and we detail them, as well as review possible implications on recruiting and other team aspects (39:51) Answering your questions and yes even addressing your vents on the Pac-12 decision 

On the Roc and Manuch show, I talked about the pressing needs for Arizona State football's 2021 recruiting class and the unique approach they are taking in trying to achieve those objectives. We also delved into some basketball talk and previewed what could be ASU's most talented team this century. 

Between the addition of a five-star guard and the loss of a veteran frontcourt player, this week brought a mixture of good and bad news for ASU. We invited Sun Devil Network analyst Kyle Dodd to break it all down and provide his projections for the 2020-21 season.

With the rumors of Vanderbilt being the final destination for ASU grad transfer Romello White I went on The Dore Report to discuss that topic and the circumstances behind the Sun Devils' forward decision to leave Tempe.

Here's my appearance on the Roc and Manuch Show on Fox Sports Radio detailing how the Sun Devils are handling their recruiting efforts with the inability to host prospects, and sharing my impressions of the seven spring practice sessions ASU was able to get in before the forced hiatus around college football.

Sun Devil fans, let alone sports fans at large have never seen a pandemic bring the world of sports to its knees at best mudding the future of some sports and at worst bringing others to an abrupt end. So, in this environment we are left to talk about the impact COVID-19 will have on ASU football that could resume at the earliest in a couple of weeks, and wrap up the Sun Devil basketball and baseball season, two programs that were poised to qualify for NCAA postseason play.  Episode Rundown (56 minutes) (1:08) ASU football was able to get in half of its spring practice allotment of sessions before a forced hiatus. We evaluate the significance of this interruption not only in the preparation sense but also in the recruiting aspect. (10:39) Sadly one of the most impressive ASU basketball seasons in school history will have no postseason achievements to show in light of the NCAA season cancelation, yet we note the feats that did take place and whether the Sun Devils were hurt by not having even a token Select

ASU’s spring break still has us working, specifically delving into the state of the Sun Devils position by position they completed 50 percent of their spring practices. Later we move from the gridiron to the hardwood discussing ASU as a 3rd seed in the Pac-12 tournament this week and what they need to do to hear their name called in Selection Sunday and be called as “safely” in the field of 68. Thanks for tuning in! Episode Rundown (64 minutes) (1:19) We start our analysis of ASU on offense. What do we make of a somewhat lukewarm start in the spring, and how has inexperience at the skill positions affected this group so far? (32:14) Inexperience is much less of an issue when it comes to the Arizona State defense, as we share our observations on this side of the ball.   (48:39) For the third year in a row, ASU basketball has posted a 20-win season. Will this also result in a third trip to the Big Dance? We present all the implications regarding ASU’s possible Pac-12 tournament scenarios can present.

ASU basketball’s winning streak ended in a road sweep by the L.A. schools. What are the various postseason implications of these results in the next couple of weeks for the Sun Devils? We then shift gears to spring football and break down position by position our impressions of Arizona State. Thanks for tuning in! Episode Rundown (42 minutes) (0:44) We analyze where does the Sun Devil basketball stand in terms of its postseason prospects in the Pac-12 and NCAA Tournaments following its recent results. (11:19) Inexperience is all the rage when it comes to each and every role on the ASU offense. We share our observations on all of the positions on the side of the ball following the first week of practice. (29:23) Examining the Sun Devils’ defense and special teams units following the first four spring sessions, and what’s on ASU’s to-do list for the next few weeks of practices?

Episode Rundown (66 minutes)   (1:17) ASU successfully addressed some of its needs as it landed a backup quarterback in Daylin McLemore as well as tight end Jake Ray. Offensive coordinator Zak Hill offered his insight as to what each of those high school player prospects can bring to the table.   (11:56) The Sun Devils also added two graduate transfer offensive linemen and we caught up with one them in Stanford’s Henry Hattis who told us why he chose the Sun Devils and what are his expectations of his new team?   (22:47) There are many accolades associated with the Sun Devils crop of newcomers, especially with their success in the state of California, which is according to the coaches is “first base” to Arizona’s “home base.” We examine an interesting and perhaps somewhat new tone on this topic from the ASU staff.   (37:46) The departures of defensive coordinators Danny Gonzales back in December and Tony just the other day has caused ASU to now move in a different schematic direction that will be anyt

Under Bobby Hurley, upsetting ranked opponents or comeback wins overcoming halftime deficits have been commonplace. Saturday night’s victory over Arizona though wasn’t just another contest that fit both categories. We discuss how historic this win actually was and have the Sun Devils now found the formula to build on its current momentum? Episode rundown (24 minutes)  (1:10) Reviewing ASU’s improbable victory digging itself from a 22-point hole, a contest where once again defense led the way. (13:01) Incoming freshman forward Marcus Bagley talked about the ASU win over Arizona that he attended, his thoughts on being part of the team next season. (16:06) What does the win over Arizona mean in the big picture as far as ASU’s postseason chances? Have they found a winning formula in that victory that can carry them forward and into the upper echelon of the Pac-12?

Much like the last day of 2019 the first week of 2020 has put a big smile on the collective faces of ASU football fans, seeing not only three four-star prospects publicly pledge to the Sun Devils in a span of 48 hours, but also realizing what impressive milestones have been achieved in the process. We examine all of the signees to date in this class, and what can be expected from them as incoming freshmen. We conclude the podcast discussing a rough Pac-12 opener for the basketball team and what is in stored for this program for the rest of the conference schedule. Thanks for tuning in and Happy New Year!!!  Episode Rundown (49 minutes)   (1:14) We review all of the offensive signees in ASU’s 2020 class and which of the newcomers can play a pivotal role in their inaugural season in Tempe.   (18:37) All the talk this week was regarding the offensive skills players signed, but some significant first-year players inked their names to ASU’s letter of intent in this class as well and we take a closer look at t

My interview on the NoBull show with Jordan Simone and Shawn Crespin reviewing the Sun Devil newcomers. This interview was done before LV Bunkley-Shelton committed to Arizona State.

It’s been whirlwind of activity for the first three or so weeks of December and this week's episode covers it all. We take a deep dive look at the crop of ASU newcomers inked in the early signing period, as well as the multiple staffing decisions made by Herm Edwards on both sides of the ball and the thinking behind all of them. Thanks for tuning in and Happy Holidays!!!  Episode Rundown (62 minutes)   (1:16) We examine all of ASU’s 13 signees in the December period, the possible impact some of them can make as freshmen, and what are some of the traits we have seen in a group of newcomers one that is very much work in progress in the positive sense of the term.   (35:12) Not may returning head coaches in college football had to be faced with the predicament of replacing both of his coordinators and several other assistants as well. I explain why Herm Edwards navigated these treacherous waters so well, especially on the defensive side of the ball and the reasoning for all of these staffing decisions.

I offer my analysis of the crop of Sun Devil newcomers, as well as explain why Hem Edwards decided to name Tony White as defensive coordinator