ASU Basketball: Sun Devils face first true road test at Georgia

Following a tight loss to seventh-ranked Nevada, No. 20 ASU basketball will play its first of a two-game SEC road trip this Saturday against Georgia.

Arizona State’s unbeaten streak came to a close last Friday. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Sun Devils proved they can battle with top-notch competition.

Still ranked as the nation’s 20th-best team, ASU (7-1) will prepare for a different challenge this Saturday – a true road test versus the Georgia Bulldogs (5-3). This will be the Sun Devils’ sixth non-conference road game under coach Bobby Hurley, a record that currently stands at 4-1.

Saturday’s matchup will also be the first of two consecutive road SEC matchups for ASU, as a game with Vanderbilt awaits on Monday. Much like the impending Pac-12 schedule, the weekend gives the Sun Devils an opportunity to simulate a two-game swing away from home.

Through eight matches, ASU is led by freshman guard Luguentz Dort, who is currently tied at 23rd in the nation in points per game (22) while pulling down 6.3 rebounds per game. Despite the limited exposure, his name has been a hot commodity recent in NBA Mock Drafts, with some projecting him to go in the first round in June.

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Senior forward Zylan Cheatham has also made a name for himself, becoming a triple-double threat while averaging 12.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and five assists. Both Cheatham and Dort are also first-rate defenders, combining for 26 of the team’s 49 steals.

In Georgia, the Sun Devils face a team that’s protected home court to start the season. The Bulldogs have a 4-0 record with victories against Savannah State, Sam Houston State, Kennesaw State and Texas Southern coming by an average of nearly 24 points.

This is Georgia’s first season under coach Tom Crean, who most recently coached at Indiana and led the Hoosiers to a 166-135 record in nine seasons. Before that, Crean led Marquette for nine seasons, leading the Golden Eagles to a Final Four in 2003 with star guard Dwyane Wade.

On a new campus, Crean has inherited success from four players who score in double-figures, including sophomore forward Rayshaun Hammonds. He leads the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game, including a 31-point, seven-rebound outing in a win against Illinois State on Nov. 19.

Trailing Hammons is top rebounder Nicolas Claxton, who averages nine per game while having the second-most points at 12.5. Also a sophomore, Claxton has three double-doubles this season while seeking to stretch the floor at 6-feet-11 inches tall.

Crean’s system in Athens isn’t dependent on one rotation, as the Bulldogs have nine players that average 10 or more minutes through eight games.

While Georgia has multiple weapons, their offensive prowess is yet to be polished. They currently shoot 48 percent the field (34 percent from 3-point range) and hold an assist-to-turnover ratio of .94.

In their three losses, the Bulldogs average 18.3 turnovers per game, surrendering several attempts in the open floor. For a team like ASU, that style of game could play in its favor.

However, there’s a possibility the Sun Devils could meet their match on the glass. Currently ranked as the nation’s seventh-leading team in rebounds per game (44.1), Georgia is only two spots behind the Sun Devils at No. 5 (45.3).

With both teams controlling a positive rebounding margin, ASU must have Romello White and De’Quon Lake stay out of foul trouble. As Georgia is subbing in-and-out, the Sun Devils will need to match it with a consistent paint presence.

It’s yet to be seen how healthy Remy Martin, Rob Edwards and Mickey Mitchell will be one week after their returns. But if they find a better rhythm, the added depth would help ASU match Georgia’s deep rotation.

Expect an emphasis on turnovers and rebounding to make the difference in this game. Whoever controls the pace and momentum will likely be the winner come Saturday afternoon.

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The Sun Devils and Bulldogs will tip-off from the Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia, this Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN’s SEC Network.

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