Devils in Detail
Fansided

ASU Basketball: Why Women Playing Thursday is Beneficial

By Sam Ficarro

Jan 3, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne is presented with an award marking her 400th career win during the first half of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Wells-Fargo Arena. The Wildcats won 94-82. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne is presented with an award marking her 400th career win during the first half of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Wells-Fargo Arena. The Wildcats won 94-82. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

ASU basketball women’s team just missed out on a first round bye in Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament. Playing Thursday will prove to be beneficial.

ASU basketball women’s team is gearing up to play Thursday at the No. 5 seed in the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament versus No. 12 Utah.

If the Sun Devils win, they would face No. 4 UCLA who earned a first round bye.

While that might look like a disadvantage on paper, playing on Thursday will be beneficial for this young ASU squad.

Last season, ASU earned the No. 2 seed and had a first round bye.

They ended up losing in the quarterfinals to an upset-minded Cal team led by the league’s Freshman of the Year Kristine Anigwe.

More from Devils in Detail

And that was versus an experienced ASU team with a lineup featuring two seniors and three juniors.

Turn the page to this season, as the lineup is dominated by freshmen and sophomores who are following the lead of the team’s three seniors Sophie Brunner, Quinn Dornstauder and Kelsey Moos.

Playing in the first round this year will prove to be beneficial for the Sun Devils.

It will allow the freshmen to get their early jitters out and get used to the environment at KeyArena in Seattle.

A win versus Utah will give the Sun Devils momentum and confidence shooting the ball heading into the quarterfinals versus UCLA.

UCLA could face a rust factor or some early jitters themselves since they won’t play until Friday.

Next: ASU Basketball: Sun Devils on Easier Side of Bracket

While winning four games in four days to win the Pac-12 Tournament is a daunting task, especially considering this is the most competitive the Pac-12 has ever been, but a win Thursday could get the Sun Devils the momentum they want in March.