What are the odds? Two freshmen from Utah crack the Sun Devils’ starting five for the Big 12 Tournament

At Arizona State, cracking the lineup is difficult. Doing it as a freshman is rare. Doing it twice with two players who grew up together, well, that is something else entirely. 

“It’s kind of crazy when you think about it geographically,” Thurmond continued. 

The Big 12 starting five includes a Norwegian in Michael Mjaaseth, a San Diegan in Connor Williams, and a Thai in Fifa Laopakdee. 

“Then to have two guys that grew up together play together in the relatively small state of Utah, I mean, it’s kind of remarkable that it would work out that way.”

Heading to the Big 12 Tournament

It’s also the kind of thing that people back home notice.

“I think a lot of people are probably a little shocked,” Bracken admits.

“A lot of people in Utah weren’t sure if I was going to be able to play here. ASU has a really good team, so when I found out that we’re both on the postseason team, I was pretty pumped.”

Mauss, meanwhile, is looking forward to his first major collegiate test. 

“The fact that we get to have this pressure, and have such high expectations for ourselves, is a privilege,” Mauss said. “We have three of the best players in the country. We know they expect us to play well, and we know how well they are going to play.”

“We have amazing team chemistry. We have been playing our best, we have been working hard, and we all believe in ourselves. I think we have a really good chance of winning.”

Competition without conflict

A Big 12 win would be the perfect cherry on top of a great freshman year for the pair, especially considering how they’ve navigated the transition to Division I life together.

“We both want to beat each other,” Mauss said. “But we also both want the best for each other. I don’t think real friends would root against each other, and that’s the reason why we get better. We both help each other out a lot.”

That familiar support also comes with balance. They can’t remember the last time they argued, despite being roommates, teammates and constant competitors. 

“It’s a mature relationship,” noted Coach Thurmond. “They know they’re not exactly the same personality. They know they need their space, and they’re not totally dependent on each other.”

In fact, Coach Thurmond was taken off guard at the beginning of the season when the two were not joined at the hip. 

“We don’t have cliques on this team, so my worry with these guys was they’re just going to hang out with each other the whole time, and we were going to have to really pull them away from each other.” 

But that was not the case. They branched out on their own while keeping their friendship solid.

“They have this reliable depth of history, and that’s just such a big deal in friendship, to know people’s stories and where they come from and who they really are. I think they have that and it strengthens them,” Thurmond noted. 

“I’ve never heard either of them say anything negative about the other one. They’re always very supportive and have this deep respect for each other.”

Beating the odds

Just as they have in the past, these two kids from Utah are standing in the same lineup, at the same tournament, with the same opportunity in front of them, although the stakes are a little bit bigger. 

The odds of a story like this are slim. But the closer you look, the less it feels like luck—and the more it looks like something they’ve built together.

But off the course? That’s still a work in progress.

They haven’t been able to help each other get girlfriends.

"That’s funny because they are the most eligible bachelors out there,” laughed Coach Thurmond.

“We don’t see many girls out here,” said Mauss. “We’re just not that cool. We play golf.”

"So tell the ladies that we’re available,” added Bracken.