The Sun Devils have struggled since moving to the Big 12 two years ago, going just 30-36 overall and 11-27 in Big 12 play. The school has not advanced to the NCAA Tournament since 2023. But Bennett's track record over his quarter-century run at Saint Mary's has renewed optimism.
The coaching move was received well in national circles, with Bennett ranked as the "best high-major coaching hire of the 2026 cycle" by nearly 100 men's Division I coaches in a poll by CBS Sports.
The team turned in an impressive performance in its lone exhibition game, defeating a New Mexico team that has been picked to win the Mountain West, 91-86.
"I like our guys a lot. I think we did a good job getting a good group of people," Bennett said. "They've really made a lot of progress. I don't know if I've had a group improve this much in just a month. We just have to keep getting better. I like our team."
Here are 10 things to know:
1. Nonconference schedule has a different look
Hurley always tried to challenge his team with a tough nonconference schedule, and lately there have been many neutral-site events with an NIL component to them. There were just a few nonconference home games.
This season's nonconference schedule doesn't feature any marquee matchups, but there are more home games at Desert Financial Arena, the first being the Monday, Nov. 2, season opener against East Tennessee State. There are no home games against power conference schools.
Bennett pretty much scheduled all mid-majors because he was at a mid-major. It will be interesting to see what opponents he lands moving forward.
2. Don't expect high-scoring, uptempo play
Bennett's style is to run more of a half-court, grind-it-out kind of game. Last year, the Gaels averaged 77.3 points per game, which was well above what was normal in his tenure there. That was the highest average since a 78.9 in 2010-11. Most of Bennett's teams have averaged between 70 and 75.
It isn't necessarily the most crowd-pleasing style of play, but ASU fans will probably be satisfied with wins, no matter how they look.
3. This will be a team with size
The Sun Devils have struggled on the boards in recent years. Last season, the team was 306th overall and 15th in the Big 12 in rebounding margin at -3. Size and strength are components needed to compete in the Big 12, and Bennett has addressed those needs.
There are three 7-footers and at least three other players 6-8 or taller. Boston College transfer Ben Defty (15.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg), a 7-foot center, is among them. The tallest of the lot is 7-3 Filip Malesevic, who played on the Serbian FIBA U20 team and has multiple years of professional experience.
The starting lineup in the exhibition game included Defty, 6-8 forward Paulius Murauskas, 6-5 wing Emmanuel Innocenti, 6-7 forward-guard Dillan Shaw and 6-1 point guard Joel Foxwell.
4. Murauskas will lead the way
Murauskas, who played for Bennett last season at Saint Mary's, averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in helping the Gaels to an NCAA Tournament berth. He recorded seven double-doubles, with a high of 32 points against Pacific.
He totaled 31 points in the exhibition, including a 6-for-7 from long distance. That dynamic looks to be an improved facet of his game. He had just 36 on 108 attempts in 33 games last season.
The native of Lithuania played for the University of Arizona as a true freshman three years ago.
5. There will be an Australian component
Foxwell, a transfer from Portland State, hails from Melbourne, as does 6-8 forward Marcus Vaughns, while 6-10 freshman forward Ajak Nyuon hails from Canberra, about 400 miles northeast of Melbourne.
David Patrick, Bennett's associate head coach, is also from Australia and comes to ASU after serving in the same capacity at LSU. He has served as an assistant coach for the Australian National Team since 2019 and was part of the staff that helped the team win a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. He worked on Bennett's staff at Saint Mary's from 2006-10.
6. Emmanuel Innocenti will defend
The 6-5 senior, a native of the Ivory Coast, came to ASU from Gonzaga, where he spent two seasons. He averaged 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds while coming off the bench. His offensive game isn't necessarily his strength. He is noted as a tenacious defender who welcomes the challenge of guarding the other team's best player. He had five steals in the exhibition game.
In the exhibition, Innocenti defended New Mexico's Jake Hall, the conference preseason player of the year. The newcomer held Hall to four points on 1-for-10 shooting in 14 minutes in the first half.
7. There are just two returning players
The two holdovers from last year's roster are 6-4 senior guard Bryce Ford and 6-6 junior guard Vijay Wallace, both of whom are coming off major surgeries. Wallace sustained a broken leg in the exhibition game against Texas A&M and missed the entire season.
Ford (6.9 ppg), a local product out of Pinnacle High School, had hip surgery for an injury he originally sustained during a nonconference game against Northern Arizona. He was in and out of the lineup but was one of the team's bigger threats from the perimeter when he played. His season high was 20 against Hawaii, going 7-for-11 from the field.
8. The Sun Devils may have just 13 players
Teams are allowed 15 scholarship players, but ASU will not have that many. The roster will be 14 at most and could be down to 13. The school is awaiting word on the eligibility of 6-11 senior forward Jonathan Griman, who played at Cal Baptist under Bennett's lead assistant, Rick Croy.
They were holding back one scholarship in case a last-minute addition could be made, whether it was Moe Odum or someone else. That did not happen.
9. When does Big 12 play start?
ASU's Big 12 opener will be Jan. 2 against BYU at Desert Financial Arena.
The games against rival Arizona, the defending conference champion, will be on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 4 p.m. in Tucson, and Saturday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. at Desert Financial Arena.
The home schedule also includes games against Central Florida, Kansas State, Houston, TCU, Iowa State, Baylor and Utah.
10. Familiar faces in other places
Just what happened to players from last year's team? Well, most found new homes. That includes Massamba Diop (Gonzaga), Noah Meeusen (DePaul), Santiago Trouet (Mississippi), Andrija Grbovic (Oklahoma State), Adante Holiman (Old Dominion) and Trevor Best (East Carolina).
As for others, Joson Sanon is at his third school in as many years, going from ASU in 2024-25 to St. John's to West Virginia. Austin Nunez is at LSU, after going from ASU to Ole Miss, back to ASU, then to UT-San Antonio. Duke Brennan is now at Oklahoma, his fourth school.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Top 10 things to know about Randy Bennett's 1st ASU basketball season