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ASU Basketball: Second 2018 Men’s Bracketology Update

By Sam Ficarro

TEMPE, AZ - FEBRUARY 15: Mickey Mitchell
TEMPE, AZ - FEBRUARY 15: Mickey Mitchell /
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ASU basketball has gone 2-1 since the last Bracketology Update defeating USC and UCLA and dropping a back-and-forth game with Arizona.

It’s Feb. 20 and March is quickly approaching and peaking the excitement around the ASU basketball program.

The Sun Devils faced a season-defining three-game stretch against USC, UCLA and Arizona in which some thought ASU was sliding towards the bubble.

That narrative has changed after wins over USC and UCLA as the Sun Devils are close, if not there, to solidifying a spot in the Big Dance.

While the Arizona loss was disappointing for some to take considering the Sun Devils led by as many as seven in the second half, I think most people would have taken a 2-1 record against the L.A. schools and Arizona before the stretch started.

With that said, here are how some of the nation’s Bracketologists have the Sun Devils.

ESPN: No. 8 seed (South Regional)

Joe Lunardi didn’t move the Sun Devils off the eight seed line after their loss to Arizona as he’s slated ASU to face nine-seeded Seton Hall in Charlotte with a potential second round matchup versus No. 1 Virginia.

Seton Hall have lost seven of 12 games but do have a strong win over Texas Tech and a one-point loss to Rhode Island.

The Pirates are led by senior forwards Desi Rodriguez and Angel Delgado. Rodriguez leads the team averaging 18.5 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Delgado is averaging a double-double in 13.3 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game. In total, Seton Hall have four players averaging at 13.0 points per game and it would be essential for Arizona State to win the boards.

If the Sun Devils can get by the size of Seton Hall, they would face the best defensive team in the nation in Virginia. The Cavaliers are closing in on an ACC regular season title leading the conference by three games over second-place Duke.

The Sun Devils would have to hit their threes against Virginia’s strong defense, but to ASU’s advantage, the Cavaliers don’t put up a lot of points averaging just 67.7 points per game.

To contrast, the Sun Devils average 84.4 points per game, tops in the Pac-12.

CBS Sports: No. 5 seed (Midwest Regional)

Stark contrast between Lundardi and Jerry Palm as Palm has ASU seeded at No. 5 and would face No. 12 New Mexico State in San Diego with a potential second round matchup with No. 4 Wichita State.

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This would be a tough draw for the Sun Devils as the Aggies are the frontrunners to win the WAC. NMSU handed the then-sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes their first loss of the season at the Diamond Head Classic in December.

The Aggies have dropped two in a row with losses to Utah Valley and Seattle, but if they get out of the WAC Tournament on top, they would a trendy pick as the 12-seed to pull off the upset.

Senior guard Zach Lofton is one of the nation’s leading scorers averaging 20.2 points per game on 46.8 percent shooting. Outside of Lofton, only one other play is averaging at least 10 points per game in Jemerrio Jones (10.4 PPG).

Arizona State, if they get by the Aggies, would face either the winner of Wichita State-Vermont.

Vermont is currently leading the America East conference with a 12-1 conference loss. The Catamounts have non-conference losses versus Kentucky (by four), St. Bonaventure (by two) and Marquette (by 10). They could be a very trendy 13-seed to pull off an upset.

The Shockers, who would be favored to beat Vermont, were pegged as a preseason Final Four pick as Wichita State features one of the best starting lineups in the country.

Wichita State have had their ups-and-downs in their first season in the AAC, but are coming off an impressive road win at Cincinnati where three starters finished in double-figures.

Guard Landry Shamet scored a game-high 19 points while forward Markis McDuffie and guard Conner Frankamp contributed off the bench.

Arizona State would have to figure out a way to break down the Shockers defense if they want to get to the Sweet 16.

The Athletic: No. 6 seed (South Regional)

Stewart Mandel has the Sun Devils as a No. 6 seed facing No. 11 NC State in Pittsburgh with a potential second round matchup with No. 3 Michigan State.

This would also be a difficult draw for the Sun Devils, but probably a bit more manageable than Palm’s projected road.

Arizona State, I think, would be a slight favorite over NC State even though the Wolfpack have wins over Arizona, Duke, North Carolina and Clemson.

Romello White and De’Quon Lake would be tasked to stopping Wolfpack center Omer Yurtseven who’s averaging 13.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Also averaging at least 13 points per game are guards Allerik Freeman (14.6 PPG) and Torin Dorn (13.4 PPG).

If the Sun Devils can get by NC State, they would face another Final Four contender in No. 3 Michigan State.

The Spartans have tons of NBA talent on their roster in forwards Miles Bridges (17.0 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (11.6 PPG and 5.9 RPG) to go along with forward Nick Ward and guards Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford.

Arizona State would definitely be an underdog against a big and athletic Michigan State team.

The Sun Devils would have to shoot the ball lights out from three as well as drawing fouls inside to have a chance of advancing to the second weekend.

FOX Sports: No. 8 seed (South Regional)

Howie Schwab is with Lunardi putting ASU on the eight-seed line. Schwab has the Sun Devils facing Missouri in the first round with a potential meeting with No. 1 Virginia.

The Tigers, who very well could have Michael Porter Jr. for the NCAA Tournament, have fared well in SEC play posting an 8-6 conference record which includes wins over Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Missouri is a balanced team with six players averaging at least 7.4 points per game with guard Kassius Robertson leading the team averaging 16.5 points per game.

If the Sun Devils got past the Tigers, Schwab has them potentially facing Virginia, which I discussed earlier.

Next: ASU Basketball: Deandre Ayton makes the difference, again

With all the upsets nationwide this season, the seeding on Selection Sunday will be fascinating to watch and see how accurate these projections are.

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