Devils in Detail
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ASU MBB: Takeaways from ASU’s Loss to Northern Iowa

By Zach Pekale

Dec 16, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley reacts to a call during a game against UNLV at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley reacts to a call during a game against UNLV at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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ASU Basketball lost its first game of the season to Northern Iowa 83-65 in the teams’ first game of the Tire Pros Invitational.

After building confidence at home and establishing a strong perimeter presence, ASU Basketball dropped a difficult neutral site game to Northern Iowa.

The Panthers not only shot the lights out, connecting on 43 percent of their three point attempts, but locked up a potent ASU offense, holding the Sun Devils to 63 points on 41.5 percent shooting.

Here are my takeaways from today’s game:

1. Northern Iowa played faster than ASU.

It sounds odd when Bobby Hurley has Tra Holder, Shannon Evans II and Torian Graham at his disposal but the Sun Devils were run out the gym against UNI. The offense looked a step off, turning would-be open shots into contested looks and forcing ASU to take a high number of low-percentage shots.

Defensively, the Sun Devils struggled to switch on screens and looked lost on their shifts, opening up the floor for the Panthers to get a lot of high quality looks. Additionally, Northern Iowa moved the ball very well, setting up many of their wide-open baskets.

2. The lack of size was apparent.

In the opening half, UNI junior Bennett Koch was a big problem for ASU, the 6-foot-9 forward used his frame to score eight of his 14 points while getting Sun Devil big man Ramon Vila in early foul trouble.  When ASU adjusted with double teams and help defense, Koch helped open the floor for shooters Jeremy Morgan and Spencer Haldeman.

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Sun Devils forward Obinna Oleka posted his second straight double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds but it fell to the wayside of the shooting performance Northern Iowa put on. Vila’s  quiet night as well as Andre Adams and Jethro Tshisumpa not being ready to contribute big minutes hurt ASU against a very tall Panthers team.

3. Torian Graham is better as the sixth man.

Despite the expected criticism to come with this, Torian Graham can have a bigger role for Arizona State off the bench. The senior guard once again led the Sun Devils in points with 19 in his first start but his overall game took a dip as he failed to record any rebounds or assists.

Coming off the bench against Cal Poly and Portland State, Graham’s presence increased the tempo of the offense and spaced the floor with another shooter who can also get to the rim. It is more difficult for opposing defenses to plan for him off the bench than as a starter.

With Graham starting, UNI was able to focus more on him than if he were to replace Kodi Justice or Sam Cunliffe two or three minutes into the game. Instead, Justice checked in as the sixth man, considerably slowing the offensive tempo when he entered the game which helped the Panthers stagnate the Sun Devils’ offense.

Next: ASU MBB: Sun Devils Hit the Road for Tire Pros Invitational

Following the loss, ASU will play again in the consolation bracket at 3 p.m. MST against the loser of Oklahoma and Tulane. That game can also be seen on ESPNU.

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