ASU Basketball: Sun Devils Waiting, Looking Ahead

: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The ASU men’s basketball team has the unenviable task of proceeding with business without knowing their fate.  Not really.  Most experts agree that the Sun Devils will in fact be in the NCAA tournament.  However, it is not a lock.  More than a few fans, coaches and players are a little nervous as they await the brackets to be released by the selection committee.

Overall, ASU has probably earned a spot in the Big Dance.  They may not have finished their season well, but they’ve earned a spot in the field of 64.  But as unnatural as it sounds, the players and coaches should really be thinking about other things.  They should be searching for a way to play better basketball.  Coach Sendek should be pulling out every trick in the bag to find a way for his team to come out ready to play from the opening tip.  In the last three games, all losses, the Sun Devils dug themselves into a deep hole right out of the gate.  That’s too much to overcome at this level.

The reality is that Sendek and his players are probably quite confident in their abilities.  They’re just struggling right now and they know it.  The good news is that in college basketball, a bad streak can be turned around in one day.  It only takes one game of “feeling it” to get out of a rut.  The ASU program knows that if each individual on that team plays to the best of their ability, they are almost impossible to beat.  But that’s the hard part-getting everyone to have a good game on the same night.  But it is possible.  This Sun Devil team needs to believe that.

As far as X’s and O’s go, if point guard Jahii Carson is rolling, if center Jordan Bachynski is playing confident and forwards Marshall/Gilling/Barnes/Mckissic can knock down some shots, ASU can beat a higher seeded team next week.  That’s a big “if”.  But it’s possible.  So, during practice, films and meetings this week.  The Sun Devil leadership better be working hard and encouraging each other to prepare to play their hearts out.