Devils in Detail
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ASU MBB: Devils look to Stay Hot at Home Against Wildcats

By Zach Pekale

Feb 26, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Torian Graham (4) rings the victory bell after defeating the USC Trojans during the second half at Wells-Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils won 83-82. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Torian Graham (4) rings the victory bell after defeating the USC Trojans during the second half at Wells-Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils won 83-82. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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In its regular season finale, ASU Basketball gears up for a Territorial Cup showdown with rival Arizona. The Wildcats previously won by 16 in Tucson.

In head coach Bobby Hurley’s second season with ASU basketball (14-16, 7-10), the team has played the role underdog as it lacks depth, size and has seen seven ranked teams on its schedule. While Arizona (26-4, 15-2) is another formidable opponent, ASU’s track record against the Wildcats in recent years indicates this game will be no cakewalk.

Rivalry matchups are the epitome of college basketball as history and proximity heighten the stakes between teams. These games mean even more when the underdog pulls off a few upsets.

In the past 20 meetings between the programs, the Sun Devils hold a 9-11 record including a perfect 5-0 mark during the collegiate career of James Harden. More recently, ASU has won two of the past three contests at Wells Fargo Arena.

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For head coach Sean Miller, a win will clinch at least a share of his fourth Pac-12 regular season title since taking  over for Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson prior to the 2009 season.

Arizona State, guaranteed no worse than the No. 8 seed in the upcoming PAC-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament, is looking to play spoiler. The Sun Devils have come close to pulling off upsets over Oregon and UCLA and will have another chance to take one on their home floor.

To earn a fourth home win over Arizona in six tries, seniors Torian Graham and Obinna Oleka will be called on to show out in the final home game of their careers. Graham is second in the conference in scoring and will need to break out of a recent streaky slump while Oleka will be tasked with limiting Wildcats forwards Lauri Markkanen and Dusan Ristic on the offensive glass.

Matchup to Watch for: Kodi Justice vs. Lauri Markkanen

One of the more popular topics of discussion with ASU is which big man Kodi Justice will guard on a given night. In a four-guard offensive set, the 6-foot-5  junior often finds himself matched up to a power forward and has shown his ability to disrupt the low post despite a clear disadvantage in size. Against the Wildcats, Justice will guard Markkanen, a hybrid forward who has developed a low-post game in addition to his soft touch on the perimeter. This matchup will be crucial in determining how much the Wildcats can space the floor.

Offensively, guards Tra Holder and Shannon Evans have shown vast improvement in finding the open man and with their ball security down the stretch. If both players are able to create off the dribble against Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons, ASU will get good looks at the basket throughout the game.

Next: ASU MBB: Holder Sinks Two Late Free Throws and USC

Tip off between the Arizona State and Arizona will be at 2 p.m. MST from Wells Fargo Arena. The game can be seen on CBS.

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