TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State men's basketball team is ranked 25th by the Associated Press, the first time since 2020-21 and the fourth season in the Bobby Hurley era that the Sun Devils have earned a spot in the top 25, announced Monday by the AP.
The Sun Devils had received votes in the three prior weeks, gaining in each poll before cracking the Top 25.
This is the 17th individual season ASU had been ranked by the AP. Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils were ranked for 18 weeks in the 2018-19 campaign, a squad that reached as high as third in the nation.
In March Madness bracket projections, ASU has a strong grasp on a tournament spot. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Sun Devils as an eight seed on an upward trend as of Dec. 13, while Andy Katz of NCAA.com projects the Sun Devils as a six seed as of Dec. 7.
Arizona State is currently 24th in the NET, the NCAA's own ranking metric and one of the primary statistics used by the Division I selection committee. ASU has jumped 11 spots from the statistics' reveal on December 5, the third best increase of the six Pac-12 teams ranked inside the top 90 through games on Dec. 18.
At 11-1 (2-0), Arizona State is off to its best 12-game start since the 2017-18 squad won its first 12 games. In fact, the 2-0 mark in Pac-12 play is the first time since 2012-13 that ASU won its first two Pac-12 games.
The Sun Devils picked up a win in the last three seconds on the road against Colorado, 60-59 and a gritty home triumph over Stanford, 68-64. ASU is 5-1 in games decided by six points or less this season.
Additionally, the current nine game winning streak is tied for fourth in the country.
Arizona State also features victories against Michigan – at the time ranked No. 20 in the AP – and Creighton on neutral floors.
ASU's depth has been exemplified this season. Three men – Desmond Cambridge Jr., Frankie Collins and DJ Horne - have scored at least 20 points on multiple occasions. Only one other school in the Pac-12 can boast that mark.
In addition, the Sun Devils are distributing the ball. Collins notched his first career double-double against San Diego with 12 points and 11 assist. ASU had 21 dimes on 31 made baskets, good for a 68% A/FGM ratio. It is the sixth time in the last seven games that the Sun Devils have had at least a 60% A/FGM ratio. That stretch has not happened since the 2010-11 campaign.
ASU's defense also ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense and 16th in defensive rebounds per game.
The Sun Devils look to extend their winning streak to 10 for just the eighth time in program history Wednesday night on the road against the San Francisco Dons. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. MST.
The Sun Devils had received votes in the three prior weeks, gaining in each poll before cracking the Top 25.
This is the 17th individual season ASU had been ranked by the AP. Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils were ranked for 18 weeks in the 2018-19 campaign, a squad that reached as high as third in the nation.
In March Madness bracket projections, ASU has a strong grasp on a tournament spot. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Sun Devils as an eight seed on an upward trend as of Dec. 13, while Andy Katz of NCAA.com projects the Sun Devils as a six seed as of Dec. 7.
Arizona State is currently 24th in the NET, the NCAA's own ranking metric and one of the primary statistics used by the Division I selection committee. ASU has jumped 11 spots from the statistics' reveal on December 5, the third best increase of the six Pac-12 teams ranked inside the top 90 through games on Dec. 18.
At 11-1 (2-0), Arizona State is off to its best 12-game start since the 2017-18 squad won its first 12 games. In fact, the 2-0 mark in Pac-12 play is the first time since 2012-13 that ASU won its first two Pac-12 games.
The Sun Devils picked up a win in the last three seconds on the road against Colorado, 60-59 and a gritty home triumph over Stanford, 68-64. ASU is 5-1 in games decided by six points or less this season.
Additionally, the current nine game winning streak is tied for fourth in the country.
Arizona State also features victories against Michigan – at the time ranked No. 20 in the AP – and Creighton on neutral floors.
ASU's depth has been exemplified this season. Three men – Desmond Cambridge Jr., Frankie Collins and DJ Horne - have scored at least 20 points on multiple occasions. Only one other school in the Pac-12 can boast that mark.
In addition, the Sun Devils are distributing the ball. Collins notched his first career double-double against San Diego with 12 points and 11 assist. ASU had 21 dimes on 31 made baskets, good for a 68% A/FGM ratio. It is the sixth time in the last seven games that the Sun Devils have had at least a 60% A/FGM ratio. That stretch has not happened since the 2010-11 campaign.
ASU's defense also ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense and 16th in defensive rebounds per game.
The Sun Devils look to extend their winning streak to 10 for just the eighth time in program history Wednesday night on the road against the San Francisco Dons. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. MST.