Arizona State (20-10, 11-8) will battle the Trojans (21-9, 13-6) in a critical conference matchup as the Pac-12 Tournament and postseason approaches. The Sun Devils look to continue their success away from home in a showdown at the Galen Center.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The Sun Devil Men's Basketball game against USC will be broadcasted on FS1 at 9 PM MST. Noah Eagle (play-by-play) and Casey Jacobsen (analyst) will be on the call. All 31 of Arizona State's games this season plus the entire Pac-12 Conference Tournament will be televised, with Coach Hurley's squad making appearances on ESPN, FOX, CBS, and Pac-12 Network in addition to several major network affiliates. Following their iconic call of the shot to beat No. 7 Arizona, make sure to listen to Tim Healey on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.
ANYWHERE. ANYTIME. ANYONE.
The Sun Devils have 10 wins away from home. The national lead is 12 and only seven teams in the AP top 30 have 10 or more. Additionally, of those seven, five of them are the top five teams in the country. ASU has two wins in a hostile road environment in Tucson in the last five years, tied for second most in the Pac-12 in that span.
ROAD WARRIORS
Arizona State picked up a signature win on the road, defeating No. 7 Arizona in the McKale Center. This continues a trend of success for the Sun Devils away from home. They have won a total of 10 games away from home, including seven road wins. The Sun Devils also swept two road Pac-12 series this season (Oregon, Bays). It is the first time ASU has swept the Bay schools since 2019-20. ASU's seven total road wins are second in the Pac-12, more than Arizona, Utah and Oregon. It is just the third time since joining the conference and the first since the 1980-81 season that Arizona State has swept two road series in the same season. Arizona State has the second most league play road wins at six.
TURNOVER MARGIN
The Sun Devils are one of only four teams in the Power 5, Big East and Mountain West to have forced double digit turnovers in each conference game this season. ASU has had 22 consecutive conference game forcing double-digit turnovers, the most in the Pac-12. In fact, it's the 28th time in the last 30 games forcing double-digit turnovers, and 55 of 61 dating back to the start of last season. Additionally, ASU has fewer turnovers than its opponent in 15 of its last 19 games, and the last four games. ASU led the turnover battle against UCLA 19-16. The Bruins entered the contest as No. 1 in the nation in turnover differential at +6.
Sun Devil Men's Basketball has now won 20 games for the fourth time in the last six years. They had accomplished the feat only eight times in the previous 33 years. Bobby Hurley has patrolled his squads to two NCAA tournaments and were in prime position for a third before COVID-19 canceled March Madness.
NOTHIN' BUT NET
ASU eight Quad 1 & 2 wins are more than 18 teams ranked ahead of them in the NET.
- Quad 1: 4-3 (wins over Arizona, Creighton, Oregon, Colorado)
- Quad 2: 4-6 (wins over Michigan, VCU, Utah, Washington St, Stanford)
- Quad 3: 5-0 (wins over Stanford, Washington, SMU, Oregon State)
- Quad 4: 7-1 (wins over Tarleton State, Grambling State, Oregon State, San Diego, Alcorn, Northern Arizona, California)
ASU has 10 wins over Top-100 teams and 11 wins over Top-150 teams in the NET. The Sun Devils are one of only seven unranked teams to hold victories over two Top-15 teams in the NET.
- Arizona (#11)*
- Creighton (#14)*
- Oregon (#48)*
- Michigan (#54)*
- VCU (#66)*
- Washington State (#68)
- Utah (#70)
- Colorado (#74)*
- Stanford (#98)*
- Stanford (#98)
- Washington (#123)
*Away from home
Heading into the Arizona game, ASU's remaining three opponents boasted a record of 63-16 (78%). It was the fourth-highest remaining winning percentage among remaining opposition in the country. They are 1-1 in that stretch so far. ASU is one of only eight Power 5 teams with at least seven road wins and a winning record (7-5).
PROTECTING THE PAINT
Arizona State continues to find themselves near the top of the national rankings in blocks and rebounds per game. 12 players have recorded at least one block this season, led by Warren Washington's 51. Washington 1.82 blocks per game put him at 37th in the country and 3rd in the Pac-12. This will be a matchup featuring two of the Top-20 teams in the nation in shot blocking, as USC ranks 8th nationally and first in the Pac-12.The Sun Devils are +99 in the paint this season. They have won the battle in the paint in four of the last six games.
COMFORTABLE WHEN IT'S CLOSE
Coach Hurley's team has played in a two-possession game in 12 of its first 30 contests, boasting a 9-3 record. The Sun Devils are 33-16 in two possession games over the last four seasons, trailing only Wisconsin for the most wins in the Division I during that span.
1. Wisconsin 34
2. Arizona State 33
3. Providence 31
Western Kentucky 31
Kansas 31
6. Miami (FL) 29
Desmond Cambridge Jr. has 20 games of double-digit points in the 28 games he's played this season. The Sun Devils are 14-6 in the 20 games Cambridge Jr. scores in double figures. He has been in double figures in the last six games. Cambridge Jr. extended his Pac-12-leading 25th straight game with a made three-pointer last night vs. UCLA. He is just the fourth Sun Devil in the last 20 seasons to record one or more three-pointers made in at least 25 consecutive games. Coincidentally, the last player to do this was current teammate DJ Horne (26) last season.
2012-13: Jonathan Gilling, 29
2006-07: Christian Polk, 28
2021-22: DJ Horne, 26
2022-23: Desmond Cambridge Jr. 25
MILESTONE MOMENT
Fifth-year guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. reached a significant milestone in a win over Washington earlier in the season. He surpassed 2,000 career points, becoming the 10th active player in the NCAA to reach the mark. His 2,233 points rank 10th among active NCAA players and his 365 threes rank sixth among active players. He is one of four active players with over 2,230 points and 600 rebounds in his career and has played the fewest games of anyone to accomplish the feat. Cambridge Jr. also ranks 36th in career steals (181) and 46th in career blocks (143) among active players.
DON'T COUNT US OUT
The Sun Devils have six halftime comebacks this year and three on the road (OSU, Colorado and SMU). Four of the six comebacks have come away from home, in addition to a neutral site contest against VCU at the Legends Classic held in Brooklyn, NY. 18 of the 39 halftime comebacks under Coach Hurley have been on the road and 23 have come in Pac-12 play. The Sun Devils trailed by as many as 16 on the road against Oregon State, making it the largest comeback since they overcame a 22-point deficit against Arizona on February 25, 2020. The win was also ASU's largest road comeback since trailing by 18 at Georgia on December 15, 2018.
While they didn't qualify as comebacks, in wins over Creighton and Stanford away from home, ASU withstood 16-0 and 14-0 runs respectively in the second half and still came away with a victory. Prior to their 65-57 loss to Arizona State after leading 26-25 at the half, Utah was undefeated (17-0) when taking the advantage into the break.
LOCKING IT DOWN
Arizona State has been one of the best defensive teams in the country through 30 games, making it difficult on opposing offenses. The Sun Devils rank 11th in the nation holding opponents to just 39.4% shooting from the field. ASU is 7-0 this season when giving up less than 60 points and have held opponents to 40% or less from the field 15 games this season. ASU is 9-0 when opponents shoot under 35%.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
The Sun Devils have the fourth best two point percentage defense in the nation according to KenPom, allowing teams to shoot only 43.2% from inside the arc. Coach Hurley's squad is 30th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency metric and 17th in opponent effective field goal percentage. KenPom also rates ASU 12th in the country in block %.
T-HORNE IN THE SIDE OF OPPOSING DEFENSES
DJ Horne led the Sun Devils in scoring for the seventh time this season, second on the team behind Desmond Cambridge Jr. Horne improved his career scoring average against the Bruins. In his fourth game against UCLA, Horne put up 13 points and entered averaging 11.8. The Sun Devils are 8-1 when Horne makes at least 3 three-pointers.
COLLINS IS BALLIN'
Transfer point guard Frankie Collins has added a different dimension to the Sun Devils offense. Not only can he score at a high level, he has emerged one of the best passers in the conference. He has led the Sun Devils in assists in 19 of 29 games he's played, boasting the the highest assist rate in the Pac-12 per KenPom. Collins' 4.5 assists per game is tied for fifth in the Pac-12. He is one of only two players in the Pac-12 to average at least 10 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, joined by USC's Drew Peterson. Peterson averages 35.8 minutes per game while Collins does it in only 28.4 minutes per game.
SHARING THE ROCK
ASU had 23 assists against the Wildcats, tied for the most in a game this season. The Sun Devils have had six games this season with 20 assists, the most in a season since Arizona State had seven in 2008-09. ASU is 13-3 in games this season when they have more assists than its opponent. It's just the fifth time an opponent has had more assists in a game than Arizona in the last 44 games. Arizona entered second in the country with 19.2 assists per game.
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Three of the Sun Devils' losses have came away from home and with a key piece of their rotation sidelined.
at Texas Southern - No Jamiya Neal
at San Francisco - No Desmond Cambridge Jr.
at Washington State - No DJ Horne
In contrast, ASU has been able to overcome players missing to earn key victories.
vs. NAU – won 84-68 without Desmond Cambridge Jr.
at Colorado – won 60-59 without Frankie Collins
at Stanford – won 68-65 without Warren Washington
at California – won 70-62 without Warren Washington
at No. 7 Arizona – won 89-88 without Austin Nunez
ASU's regular starting lineup of Frankie Collins, DJ Horne, Desmond Cambridge Jr., Devan Cambridge and Warren Washington is 14-5.
TRAVELING DUKE
Duke Brennan leads the team in conference plus-minus away from home (+20). He was the only Sun Devil with a positive +/- at No. 4 UCLA with +4. He is averaging 13.4 minutes per game in his last four road games and has a team-high +21 in that span. His season-highs of minutes played, points, rebounds, field goals made, free throws made, blocks and steals have all come in road games. As a team, the Sun Devils have won three of our last four on the road.
THE SUN DEVILS ARE...
- 15-1 when shooting at least 40% from the field & are 10-0 when shooting over 45%.
- Winners of four of their last six games.
- At 11 wins in the Pac-12 for the third time in seven non-COVID shortened seasons in the Bobby Hurley era. It happened only seven times total in the previous 38 years.
OFFENSIVE TRENDS
- Arizona State is 13-0 when Devan Cambridge scores in double-figures.
- ASU is 8-4 when Warren Washington scores in double figures
- The Sun Devils have had more second chance points than their opponents in four of the last six games.
- ASU has outscored its opponents on the fastbreak in 20 of 30 games this season.
NAVIGATING THE NON-CONFERENCE
Arizona State was extremely successful in the non-conference portion of their schedule, finishing with an 8-2 record. That included several marquee victories away from home. The Sun Devils won the Legends Classic in Brooklyn with wins over VCU and No. 20 Michigan. The Maroon & Gold also traveled to SMU and defeated the Mustangs at Moody Coliseum. Arguably the biggest win came in Las Vegas, when Coach Hurley's team withstood a big second half run to edge Creighton at the Jack Jones Hoopfest.
POSTSEASON PICTURE
The Arizona State-USC matchup is not only an opportunity to boost the postseason resume, but a chance to solidify seeding in the Pac-12 Tournament. If Arizona State wins their final regular season game and Oregon loses to Stanford, the Sun Devils would secure the No. 4 seed. ASU can fall to no lower than the No. 6 seed, with a loss and a Utah loss being the only circumstance in which that happens. ASU has won three games at the Pac-12 Tournament in six seasons under Bobby Hurley. The program won three games in the previous 14 seasons.
PAC-12 TOURNAMENT
The 2023 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament, presented by New York Life, will take place March 8-11, returning to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tickets can be purchased at Pac-12.com/Tickets or by visiting the following link.
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