Bobby Hurley noticed something Monday.
"When I got my workout this morning, people weren't avoiding me," the Arizona State men's basketball coach said. "They were wanting to say hi."
After consecutive losing seasons, the Sun Devils are back in the Top 25, the first time since the 2008-09 season. Coming off last week's Continental Tire Invitational championship in Las Vegas, unbeaten ASU is No. 20 in the AP poll and No. 21 in the USA Today coaches poll.
"We've had a lot of dark days here," senior guard Shannon Evans said, "but I feel like guys worked hard even when we were going through (that stretch).