ASU Basketball: Road trip to Arizona
By Mike Slifer
Well, it’s here. The first installment of the ASU/UA men’s basketball rivalry happens this Thursday night in Tucson. As in almost every rivalry, the records, rankings and trends matter little for this contest.
For the Arizona Wildcats, things couldn’t be better. They are undefeated and ranked #1 in the nation. They have a lot of confidence and momentum going right now. Morale in Tucson is high. Arizona State is a slightly different story. Make no mistake, the Sun Devils are no slouches, sporting a 13-4 record. But ASU has two conference losses. Both have come in the last 4 games. Most recently, they suffered a frustrating loss to a UCLA team that UofA had already beaten.
Typically, in this series, the home team has the clear advantage. That won’t change tomorrow night. But more important than home-court advantage is the fact that Arizona is a very good team. They are long, athletic, energetic and highly skilled. They appear to have settled into their roles and found a good rhythm. Point guard TJ McConnell is one of the premier point guards in the country, distributing the ball with great efficiency.
Arizona State hasn’t quite had the same rhythm as the Wildcats. The Sun Devils are streaky. Especially when it pertains to their role players. Predictably, if forwards Gilling, McKissic and Marshall have good shooting nights, they can play with anyone. If not, ASU struggles. Regardless, it is safe to assume that ASU guard Jahii Carson and Center Jordan Bachynski will probably be solid. But it won’t be enough if the rest of the Sun Devils have an “off-night”.
All hope is not lost for ASU, however. As good as the Wildcats are, they are not perfect. And like any team, they have strengths, weaknesses and tendencies. First, Arizona only plays about 7 players. That is not a deep bench. That could be a problem, no matter who you are playing. Secondly, Arizona has not quite established themselves as great outside shooters. If ASU can settle into a conservative zone and force outside shots, they might shorten the game and make it interesting.
Regardless, the Sun Devils have got to be focused and mentally prepared for madness at the McKale Center in Tucson. They cannot hang their heads or be intimidated. They must not let U of A get into their up and down transition game, and they absolutely cannot get outworked on the boards.
The match-up between Carson and McConnell should be interesting. And ASU fans will probably be curious to see how effective C Jordan Bachynski will be. But this is a team game. If ASU wants any chance to win this game, they’ll have to earn it. They’ll have to grind it out with relentless defense and rebounding. And they’ll have to execute on offense. They’ll need good screening and movement. They can’t stand around and watch Jahii Carson dribble.
Arizona should win this game, but ASU is a worthy opponent. The emotions caused by the rivalry and the atmosphere should kick the players into a higher gear. Expect a hard-fought game. Enjoy.