Arizona State (19-9, 10-7) will face their rival in Tucson in a game with huge implications for both programs. The Maroon & Gold will match up with the three teams ahead of them in the Pac-12 standings down the stretch, with a huge opportunity to make a push before the postseason.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The Sun Devil Men's Basketball game against No. 7 Arizona will be broadcast nationally on CBS at 12 PM MST. Rich Waltz (play-by-play) and Jim Spanarkel (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. Listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.
LAST TIME OUT
Sun Devil Men's Basketball received clutch shots and high scoring outputs from its seniors in the final home game of the season, a 67-59 victory over the Utah Utes last Saturday. Arizona State (19-9, 10-7) trailed for most of the game and a stretch of 17 minutes in the second half, but took the lead for good on a Desmond Cambridge Jr. trey with 2:19 to play. The Sun Devils closed the game on a 12-2 scoring edge over the last 2:19 and held Utah (17-11, 10-7) to one make in its last seven shots. The Utes were previously 17-0 when leading at the half this season until ASU earned the win. On senior night, Warren Washington dropped 18 points, tied for his second highest output as a Sun Devil. ASU also received 29 combined points from the Cambridge brothers - 15 from Desmond Jr. and 14 from Devan - in the winning effort. Overall, Sun Devil seniors contributed 59 of ASU's 67 points. ASU has won five straight games on senior day under Hurley.
WARREN WAS SOARIN'
Washington had four blocks to pace the Sun Devils. It was tied for his second highest total of the season and most in league play. He scored 18, tied for his second highest scoring total as a Sun Devil. Washington is one of three Sun Devils to have a positive total +/- in each of the last three games played. He is +14 on the floor in those games,
WARREN WASHINGTON TOP SCORING SUN DEVIL GAMES
21 vs. USC (Jan. 21, 2023)
18 vs USD (Dec. 18, 2022)
18 vs WSU (Jan. 5, 2023)
18 vs. Utah (Feb. 18, 2023)
14 vs. Alcorn State (Nov. 27, 2022)
12 vs. NAU (Nov. 10, 2022)
11 vs. Grambling (Nov. 22, 2022)
10 vs. Texas Southern (Nov. 13, 2022)
10 vs. Oregon (Jan. 12, 2023)
LOCKING IT DOWN
Arizona State has been one of the best defensive teams in the country through 28 games, making it difficult on opposing offenses. The Sun Devils rank 8th in the nation holding opponents to just 38.9% shooting from the field. ASU is 8-0 this season when giving up less than 60 points and have held opponents to 40% or less from the field 16 games this season. ASU is 9-0 when opponents shoot under 35%.
TURNOVER MARGIN
The Sun Devils are one of only five teams in the Power 5, Big East and Mountain West to have forced double digit turnovers in each conference game this season. ASU forced its 10th turnover with 13:22 left against Utah. It's the Sun Devils 20th consecutive conference game forcing double-digit turnovers, the most in the Pac-12. In fact, it's the 26th time in the last 28 games forcing double-digit turnovers, and 53 of 59 dating back to the start of last season.The Sun Devils have won the turnover battle in five of its last six games. Additionally, the Sun Devils have won the turnover battle in nine of its 10 road games this season. Arizona State held onto the ball against Utah, committing just five turnovers to Utah's 17. The five turnovers are a season low, the second time in as many games ASU has recorded a season low in turnovers.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Sun Devils have 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 six road wins are second in the Pac-12, more than Arizona, Utah and Oregon. In fact, ASU is tied for the most road wins in conference play this season (5). 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. Additionally, Arizona State is tied with Arizona for second most league play road wins at five. While ASU was able to earn a true-road win in the non-conference schedule, the Wildcats did not contest a single true-road game outside of conference play.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
Arizona State has forced opponents to shoot under 50% from inside the arc in the last seven games. The win over Utah also marked the second time in league play ASU has held the opponent to less than 40% from the floor. According to KenPom, the Sun Devils boast the nation's third-best two-point field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot only 42.6% from two-point range. ASU's effective field goal percentage defense is ranked No. 13 in the country (45.5%).
COMFORTABLE WHEN IT'S CLOSE
Coach Hurley's team has played in a two-possession game in 11 of its first 28 contests, boasting a 8-3 record. The Sun Devils are 32-16 in two possession games over the last four seasons, trailing only Wisconsin for the most wins in the Division I during that span.
- Wisconsin, 34
- Arizona State, 32
- Providence, 31
Western Kentucky, 31
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. The Sun Devils shot 54.8% in the second half against Utah to move to 3-1 in the last four games when tied or trailing at the half.
OFFENSIVE TRENDS
- Arizona State is 15-1 when shooting at least 40% from the field.
- The Sun Devils are 11-6 in fast break points against their league opponents this season.
- Coach Hurley's team is 12-0 when out-rebounding their opponent.
- The Sun Devils are +113 in the paint this season. ASU has won the battle in the paint in its last four games after a +10 margin tonight.
- In fact, the game against Utah marked the first time all season that ASU has scored 40 points in the paint.
- The Cambridge brothers have the two highest +/-'s in league play for ASU, with Desmond Jr. sporting a +57 mark and Devan at +50.
- Desmond Jr.'s +20 is a team-high in the last three games. The Cambridge brothers are the only two Sun Devils to have a +/- of +10 in any of the last thee individual games.
- The Sun Devils are 5-1 when Warren Washington makes at least five field goals.
- Arizona State is 13-0 when Devan Cambridge scores in double figures.
SHARING THE ROCK
Arizona State has had at least 20 assists five times this season. It is the most such instances through 20 games since the Sun Devils, led by James Harden, had six in the 2008-09 season.
BALANCED SCORING
A signature of the Arizona State offense has been the different individuals stepping up at the offensive end. The Maroon & Gold are averaging 70.6 points per game (fourth in the Pac-12) and four different Sun Devils are averaging at least 10.2 points per game or more (D.J. Horne, Frankie Collins, Desmond Cambridge Jr., Devan Cambridge). No one on the team averages over 30 minutes, with 10 players averaging at least 9.9 minutes per game. Arizona State has had three players - Desmond Cambridge Jr., Frankie Collins and DJ Horne - score at least 20 points at least twice. 11 different Sun Devils have scored 10 or more points in at least one game this season.
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 18 of 27 games he's played, boasting the the fifth 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 4.5 rebounds per game, joined by USC's Drew Peterson. Peterson averages 35.9 minutes per game while Collins does it in only 28.6 minutes per game.
DEVAN DOES IT ALL
Transfer wing Devan Cambridge has been an intregral part of Arizona State's success this season, immediately earning a spot in the starting lineup. Cambridge averages 10.2 points per game while shooting over 50% from the floor. His 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game are second on the team. He is one of only six players in the conference averaging over 10 points and at least 0.9 blocks, doing so in 27.0 minutes per game, the fewest of anyone in that group. The Sun Devils are 13-0 when Devan Cambridge scores in double figures.
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 50. Washington 1.84 blocks per game put him at 35th in the country and 3rd in the Pac-12. The Sun Devils are +113 in the paint this season. ASU has won three of its last four battles in the paint and five of the last seven.
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 2,204 points rank 9th among active NCAA players and his 362 threes rank sixth among active players. He is one of four active players with over 2,200 points and 595 rebounds in his career and has played the fewest games of anyone to accomplish the feat. Cambridge Jr. also ranks 34th in career steals (178) and 45th in career blocks (142) among active players.
DOWN THE STRETCH
ASU's remaining three opponents are currently 63-16 (78%). It is the fourth-toughest remaining winning percentage among remaining opposition in the country. ASU is one of only nine Power 5 teams with at least six road wins and a winning record (6-4). They are also one of only 11 power 5 teams with at least nine non-conference wins and ten conference wins
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.
NET NOTES
ASU has 7 wins over Top-100 teams and 10 wins over Top-150 teams in the NET
- Creighton (#13)*
- Oregon (#49)*
- Utah (#57)
- Colorado (#64)*
- Michigan (#65)*
- Washington State (#75)
- VCU (#82)*
- Stanford (#107)*
- Stanford (#107)
- Washington (#116)
*Away from home
One of ten power five teams that is undefeated against Quad 3 opponents (min. 4 games)
- NC State
- Virginia
- Purdue
- Tennessee
- North Carolina
- Texas A&M
- Auburn
- UCLA
- Alabama
- 7 - Arkansas (19)
- 7 - Duke (26)
- 7 - Illinois (27)
- 7 - Texas A&M (28)
- 7 - Utah State (33)
- 7 - NC State (36)
- 7 - Memphis (41)
- 7 - Mississippi State (43)
- 7 - Pittsburgh (50)
- 7 - Oklahoma (61)
- 7 - Virginia Tech (63)
- 7 - Colorado (64)
- 7 - Michigan (65)
- 6 - Providence (38)
- 6 - New Mexico (47)
- 6 - Penn State (59)
- 5 - Florida Atlantic (22)
- 5 - North Carolina (48)
- 5 - Utah (57)
- 5 - UCF (58)
- 5 - Ohio State (68)
- 4 - Texas Tech (54)
- 3 - North Texas (46)
- 3 - Florida (53)
- 2 - Charleston (52)
- 2 - Sam Houston State (60)
- 2 - Bradley (62)
- 1 - Oral Roberts (44)
- 1 - Liberty (45)
- 1 - Kent State (55)
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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