Arizona State Sun Devils
Pac-12 (21-11, 10-8)
Arizona State started off strong with wins in its first six games and 11 of the first 13 contests. Then the Pac-12 season hit and a different Arizona State team emerged. With a 21-10 regular-season record, the Sun Devils have already matched the 21-12 mark posted by Herb Sendek in the 2012-13 season, but Arizona State finished in a tie for third place with four other teams. Arizona State has been a distant stepchild in college basketball when compared to the more successful Arizona program. The Sun Devils last qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2009, and you have to go back to 1995 to find a team that made the Sweet 16. If the Sun Devils are to overcome the stigma of being the second-best program in the entire state, a couple tournament wins would help.
Big Wins: 1/25 Colorado (72-51), 2/8 Oregon (74-72), 2/14 Arizona (69-66)
Bad Losses: 12/1 vs Miami (FL) (57-60), 1/2 Washington (65-76), 3/8 at Oregon State (76-78)
Coach: Herb Sendek (8 seasons at Arizona State)
Why They Can Surprise:
Thanks to a tall lineup that excels at swatting away opponents’ shots, Arizona State has 5.81 blocked shots per game. That is one full block better than that of Oregon State, the second-best team in the entire conference. Senior Jordan Bachynski averages 4.23 blocks per game, and that is two blocks better than USC senior Omar Oraby. Bachynski has more blocks than Oraby and California junior David Kravish put together. No wonder the Sun Devils have such an advantage in that department. There is some parity when it comes to scoring leaders, as Jahii Carson, Jermaine Marshall and Bachynski all average in double figures and Shaquiell McKissic is not too far behind. ASU boasts three of the top 30 scorers in the entire league. As a team, Arizona State has allowed 41.1 percent successful field goals, and its 38.8 percent 3-point field-goal percentage is fourth in the Pac-12. There are plenty of reasons to fear Arizona State, and a large part of that has to do with blocking.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Arizona State’s previous track record speaks for itself. The last NCAA Tournament appearance was five years ago. Before that was 2003, 1995 and 1991. The past two trips to the big dance have resulted in first-round tournament exits. If a team gets hot on the boards it also could create some problems. Arizona State has allowed 38.3 rebounds per game, good for last in rebounding defense among all Pac-12 clubs. That deficit means ASU is also last in rebounding margin at minus-2.3 per game. Although the Sun Devils are the top team in the conference in defensive rebounds, they are last in offensive rebounds. An inability to clean the glass on both sides of the ball could pose a problem.
Probable Starters:
Jahii Carson, Sophomore, Guard, 18.6 ppg, 4.5 apg
Jermaine Marshall, Senior, Guard, 15.0 ppg, 1.4 apg
Shaquiell McKissic, Senior, Forward, 9.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.6 apg
Jonathan Gilling, Junior, Forward, 7.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.7 apg
Jordan Bachynski, Senior, Center, 11.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.1 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Egor Koulechov, Freshman, Forward, 3.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg
Chance Murray, Freshman, Guard, 2.4 ppg
Bo Barnes, Junior, Forward, 4.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.6 (61st in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 68.5 (130, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.2 (127, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.1 (68, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.2 (28, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.8 (29, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 69.1 (198, 8)
Rebound Margin: -2.3 (263, 12)
Assists Per Game: 14.3 (66, 6)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.5 (88, 6)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2013 NIT First Round win over Detroit
2013 NIT Second Round loss to Baylor
2010 NIT First Round loss to Jacksonville
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Temple
2009 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Syracuse
2008 NIT First Round win over Alabama State
2008 NIT Second Round win over Southern Illinois
2008 NIT Quarterfinal loss to Florida
2005 NIT First Round loss to UNLV
2003 NCAA Round of 64 win over Memphis
2003 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Kansas
2002 NIT First Round loss to UNLV
*all team stats through 3/9
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
