TEMPE, Ariz. - Sun Devil Men's Basketball wraps up the regular season with a road trip to Los Angeles, starting with a matchup against No. 4 UCLA.
Arizona State (20-9, 11-7) looks to knock off their second consecutive Top-10 opponent on the road in a difficult environment, with the Bruins winning their last 23 games at Pauley Pavilion. The Sun Devils reached the 20-win mark in style to move into sole possesion of fourth place in the Pac-12. Games against two of the top three teams in the conference provide huge opporutnities for Head Coach Bobby Hurley's team to boost their postseason resume.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The Sun Devil Men's Basketball game against No. 4 UCLA will be the prime time broadcast on ESPN at 7 PM MST. Roxy Bernstein (play-by-play) and Corey Williams (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 and Kyle Dodd on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. and Arizona State Men's Basketball sunk the No. 7 Arizona Wildcats on a halfcourt heave at the buzzer, 89-88, last Saturday afternoon at the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson. The astonishing scenes were exacerbated by comeback heroics and tense momentum swings. In front of a hostile, sold-out crowd, Arizona State (20-9, 11-7) resisted an 11-point second half swing, trailing by as many as 10 with 6:30 left in regulation. From that juncture, the Sun Devils allowed just one field goal and finished the contest on a 21-10 scoring advantage.
After Arizona center Oumar Ballo went 1-2 from the free throw line with 2.9 seconds to go, Cambridge Jr. launched from beyond halfcourt and connected on one of the biggest shots in program history. He paced the Arizona State offense with 19 points and was supported by DJ Horne's 18. Five men put double-digit scoring tallies for the Sun Devils.
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.
BOBBY HURLEY AGAINST RANKED FOES
ASU has 11 ranked wins under Head Coach Bobby Hurley, including two this season. The 11 victories are tied for second most all-time by Sun Devil Head Coaches. The win over Arizona was the second time the took down a Top-10 team on the road and fourth time overall under Bobby Hurley. Two of his ranked wins have come against the LA schools, a 87-84 3OT victory in Tempe over No. 3 UCLA in Tempe last season. The Sun Devils also downed No. 23 USC 74-67 in Tempe on Feb. 12, 2016.
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.
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: 4-2 (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 8 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 (#12)*
- Creighton (#15)*
- Oregon (#52)*
- Michigan (#55)*
- VCU (#67)*
- Utah (#69)
- Colorado (#75)*
- Washington State (#77)
- Stanford (#107)*
- Stanford (#107)
- Washington (#113)
*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 1-0 in that stretch so far. ASU is one of only eight Power 5 teams with at least seven road wins and a winning record (7-4).
COMFORTABLE WHEN IT'S CLOSE
Coach Hurley's team has played in a two-possession game in 12 of its first 29 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
LOCKING IT DOWN
Arizona State has been one of the best defensive teams in the country through 29 games, making it difficult on opposing offenses. The Sun Devils rank 11th in the nation holding opponents to just 39.2% 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 fifth best two point percentage defense in the nation according to KenPom. Coach Hurley's squad is 34th in KenPom's adjusted defensive effeciency metric and 17th in opponent effective field goal percentage. KenPom also rates ASU 10th in the country in block %.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
ASU's first half 58.8 FG% against Arizona is the second-highest in any game this season. (59.3% vs. WSU). The Sun Devils also made 36 field goals, their most of the season. ASU's halftime lead was significant. The Wildcats have led at the half in 23 of their 28 games entering the contest. Arizona has only lost one game when leading at the half. ASU's 89 points also marked the third highest total of the season. Arizona is now 36-2 over the last five seasons when scoring 88 or more points. Both losses have come against Arizona State.
ASU is now 5-0 this season and 39-3 in the last seven years when shooting 50% or better from the floor. Arizona State shot 54% from the floor against the Wildcats. ASU hit 11 three pointers, including the game-winner by Cambridge Jr.. The Sun Devils capitalized on Arizona's three point defense metrics, who entered the game allowing 7.9 3PT FGM per contest.
DEVAN DOES IT ALL
Transfer wing Devan Cambridge has been an integral 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 51% from the floor. His 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game are second on the team. He is one of only five players in the conference averaging over 10 points, 5.5 rebounds, and at least 0.9 blocks - doing so in 27.2 minutes per game - the fewest of anyone in that group. The Sun Devils are 12-0 when Devan Cambridge scores in double figures.
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. Arizona State forced 13 turnovers in the win over No. 7 Arizona, the 20th consecutive conference game forcing double-digit turnovers, the most in the Pac-12. In fact, it's the 27th time in the last 29 games forcing double-digit turnovers, and 54 of 60 dating back to the start of last season. The Sun Devils have won the turnover battle in six of its last seven games. Their +2.4 turnover margin is the second-best in the Pac-12. Additionally, the Sun Devils have won the turnover battle in 10 of its 11 road games this season.
3X PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sun Devil Men's Basketball's Desmond Cambridge Jr. was named Pac-12 Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday. Cambridge Jr. hit the game-winning shot from beyond half court that resulted in a dramatic 89-88 victory for Arizona State over No. 7 Arizona on Saturday. He stunned a sold-out McKale Center crowd with one of the greatest shots in program history, forever cementing his name into Sun Devil lore. The Nashville native took over late in the game, scoring nine of his 19 points - on a trio of threes - inside the final five minutes to help erase a 80-72 deficit. It is the eighth conference Player of the Week honor in his illustrious career (Ivy 4x, Pac-12 3x, Mountain West 1x).
He is the first Sun Devil to win Pac-12 Player of the Week three times in the same season since Carrick Felix also earned three weekly honors during the 2012-13 season. Dating back to when the award was first given out in 1984, Cambridge Jr. is only the fourth Sun Devil to be named Pac-12 Player of the Week three times in a season. He is now tied for third in program history with three career Pac-12 weekly conference honors despite spending only one season in Tempe, trailing only Eddie House (5) and Ike Diogu (4).
Cambridge Jr. is the only player in the conference to be named Pac-12 Player of the Week on three occasions, breaking a tie with three other individuals. Arizona State now has a total of four Pac-12 Player of the Week recipients so far this season, with Austin Nunez earning Freshman of the Week honors back in November. It is the 14th time a Sun Devil has won a Pac-12 Player of the Week award under Bobby Hurley.
CAMBRIDGE CONSISTENCY
Desmond Cambridge has at least one three-pointer made in the last 24 games, the fourth-longest streak in the last 20 seasons. Additionally, he is just the seventh Sun Devil in that span to have at least one three-pointer made in 20 consecutive games.
2012-13: Jonathan Giling, 29
2006-07: Christian Polk, 28
2021-22: DJ Horne, 26
2022-23: Desmond Cambridge Jr. 24
2017-18: Kodi Justice, 23
2005-06: Kevin Kruger, 22
2004-05: Kevin Kruger, 22
2019-20: Remy Martin, 20
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 2,223 points rank 9th among active NCAA players and his 365 threes rank sixth among active players. He is one of four active players with over 2,220 points and 600 rebounds in his career and has played the fewest games of anyone to accomplish the feat. Cambridge Jr. also ranks 38th in career steals (179) and 46th in career blocks (142) among active players.
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 71.2 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 9.8 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.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 1.85 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. They have won the battle in the paint in four of the last five games after a tie against Arizona.
INSIDE PRESENCE
Warren Washington is +26 in his last three games. The Sun Devils are 6-1 when Warren Washington makes at least five field goals. ASU is 8-3 when Warren Washington scores in double-figures.
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)
16 at #7 Arizona (Feb. 25, 2023)
14 vs. Alcorn State (Nov. 27, 2022)
12 vs. NAU (Nov. 10, 2022)
11 vs. Grambling (Nov. 22, 2022)
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 28 games he's played, boasting the the highest assist rate in the Pac-12 per KenPom. Collins' 4.5 assists per game is sixth 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 36.0 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 14-4.
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.
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 five 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.
GAME TRENDS
- The Sun Devils have had more second chance points than their opponents in four of the last five games.
- ASU is 20-9 in fast break points this season, the exact same mark as their overall record.
- The Cambridge brothers have the two highest +/-'s in league play for ASU, with Desmond Jr. sporting a +54 mark and Devan at +50.
- ASU is 8-1 when DJ Horne makes at least three threes.
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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LEADING THE PAC – DESMOND CAMBRIDGE JR.
- One of five players in the Pac-12 with at least 65 three-pointers this season
- Additionally, out of those five, Cambridge has the fewest minutes played.
- He has a three-pointer made in 24 consecutive games played, the longest active streak in the conference. (2-Highest: 17, Jordan Pope)
- Desmond Cambridge Jr. has led the Sun Devils in 11-of-26 of the games he's played in this season.
- IIn ASU's seven Q1 games, Cambridge Jr. is +49.
- In Las Vegas against Creighton, Cambridge Jr. proved to be the hero in a pivotal non-home Q1 win for the Sun Devils. He banged home two three pointers in less than 30 seconds in the second half, snapping a 21-point swing in favor of the Bluejays. Trailing by as many as 11 in the second half, Cambridge Jr. led ASU with 19 points in 18 minutes.
- At Arizona, Cambridge Jr. hit one of the miraculous shots in Sun Devil Men's Basketball history - a 60-footer from beyond half court - to win the game for ASU at the buzzer.
- His season high 26 points came on the road at Washington.
- The Sun Devils are 14-5 when Cambridge scores in double figures. He has 19 games in double figures and six with at least 20.
- In ASU's most important stretch of the season, he has had five straight games in double figures.