ASU Basketball: Breaking down the Austin Region

Following a 21-12 record in regular season and Pac-12 Tournament play, ASU women’s basketball will travel to Austin to compete in the NCAA Tournament.

Saturday marks a clean slate for Arizona State and the other 63 teams competing in the 2018 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Although they had to wait until the end of ESPN’s tournament selection show to hear their name called, the ASU women’s basketball team is going dancing. The Sun Devils were selected as a seven-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and ASU will begin the “Big Dance” with a date versus 10-seed Nebraska.

Nebraska finished the season third in the Big Ten with a 21-10 (11-5) record. Most recently, the Cornhuskers were eliminated of the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in a 66-53 loss to Maryland.

In the non-conference portion of their schedule, Nebraska was a solid 9-4, but the Cornhuskers had trouble against quality opponents. Also, Nebraska lost by double digits to both Buffalo and Washington State, both of whom Arizona State easily defeated.

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While the Big Ten is a relatively strong conference and Nebraska is solid, this is a favorable matchup for ASU.

The Cornhuskers do not have any true scorers on their roster, so it will be difficult for them to produce offensively against what is likely the best defense in the Pac-12.

In addition, Nebraska is not overly physically imposing. Freshman Kate Cain is the only player on the roster 6’5” or taller, which significantly helps an undersized ASU team.

If Arizona State gets past the first round, the Sun Devils will face either two-seed Texas or 15-seed Maine. Anything is possible, but it is more than likely that Texas would be ASU’s second round opponent if the Sun Devils were to advance.

Texas, the regional host, played stellar basketball this season, finishing with a 26-6 record. Their record is even more impressive when you consider four of the team’s losses are to Tennessee, UConn and Baylor (twice).

A huge key for a potential game against Texas is stopping the Longhorns’ dynamic duo of Ariel Atkins and Brooke McCarty. Atkins and McCarty average 14.8 and 13.9 points per game, respectively, and both were named First Team All-Big 12.

Unlike Nebraska, Texas has one of the most explosive offenses in the country, and Arizona State’s defense would be tested in a game against the Longhorns.

The Longhorns are second in the Big 12 in scoring offense behind only Baylor, but that’s far from all they do well. Texas was also one of the most efficient teams defensively in the conference in 2018, finishing third in total defense.

While Arizona State has a talented team, everything would have to go right in a game against Texas.

The Longhorns are much more experienced than the Sun Devils, who have zero seniors on their roster. Because of this, the margin of error is microscopic, and ASU would have to play a very efficient game to contend with Texas.

Although not likely, Arizona State could face Maine in the second round if the Black Bears were to defeat Texas. Maine finished the season as American East Champions and won their conference to secure a bid to the NCAA Tournament at 23-9.

Next: ASU Basketball: Sun Devils earn No. 7 seed in Kansas City Regional

The Road to Columbus begins Saturday for ASU, and the Sun Devils will look to escape the Lone Star State with two wins.