Devils in Detail
Fansided

ASU MBB: Oregon Grinds Devils Down in Second Half

By Zach Pekale

Mar 9, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Arizona State Sun Devils and Oregon Ducks play during the Pac-12 Conference Tournament at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Arizona State Sun Devils and Oregon Ducks play during the Pac-12 Conference Tournament at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

 After earning its first Pac-12 Tournament victory in four seasons, ASU Basketball‘s season came to a screeching halt following a 80-57 loss to top-seeded Oregon.

More from Devils in Detail

Head coach Bobby Hurley’s second season with Arizona State ended Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament with a loss to No. 5 Oregon. The Sun Devils shot 24 percent from the field in the second half after trailing by three at the break.

In the teams previous meeting, the Ducks edged ASU by a point as guard Dillon Brooks thwarted a collective, team effort by the Sun Devils.

In a game where consistency would be needed for ASU to potentially pull off an upset, guard Torian Graham was the only player in double figures for Hurley’s team with a career-high 32 points in what is likely his final collegiate game.

“I just thank Coach for keeping faith in me. We had a lot of adversity last year, and we were able to fight through it and build a strong relationship,” Graham said. ” But I don’t want to talk about points because we lost… I just try to help the young guys prepare themselves for next year. That’s it.”

On the other hand, Oregon received a strong team effort led by big offensive games from guard Tyler Dorsey and forward Dillon Brooks who combined to score 43 of the Ducks 80 points. ASU had no answer for the speed and athleticism possessed by Oregon’s two leading scorers.

“Well, he’s [Brooks] more than a scorer. He’s got a charisma about him or something special about him that gives his team confidence and an intangible quality of toughness,” Hurley said. “[He’s] one of the best players in the country.”

Defensively the Ducks adjusted well to Arizona State’s outside shooting, closing out quickly and sealing the lane to prevent drive and kick opportunities for guards Tra Holder and Shannon Evans II. Forwards Jordan Bell and Chris Boucher limited Obinna Oleka following his career night as Oregon outrebounded ASU 48-29.

With the loss, the Sun Devils season is all but over with seniors Torian Graham and Obinna Oleka both having expended their eligibility. Three starters return in Holder, Evans II and Kodi Justice in addition to utility big men Ramon Vila and Andre Adams.

“I just think for what we were this year and the adversities that we had, and whether it’s transfers and academic red shirts and injuries, that these guys sacrificed and gave as much as they could give,” said Hurley. “I loved coaching them. I’ll always remember this year in a very positive way because of how the five guys competed.”

Next: ASU MBB: Sun Devils Have More to Offer Moving Forward

For Oregon, the Ducks advance to face the winner of the tournament’s second quartefinal matchup between California and Utah. Head coach Dana Altman’s team will continue its quest to win the conference tournament and gain a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Home/ASU Basketball