ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Week 10 Power Rankings

1. Arizona State Sun Devils (10-4, 1-1 Pac-12)

In the midst of Arizona State’s seventh Pac-12 week split in the past two seasons, the same question rose as each of the previous moments.

Are the Sun Devils back?

For now, it’s hard to say. On Wednesday, ASU appeared to add itself to a lengthy list of conference disappointments, dropping its league opener to a Utah squad that finished .500 in non-conference play.

In that game, the Sun Devils built a lead as large as 17. But once quick shots and isolation became their concept, the Utes capitalized by converting 16 3-pointers and 22 free throws.

ASU also gave up 96 points – its most of any outing this season.

Yet two nights later, the Sun Devils appeared the team of old. Rob Edwards and De’Quon Lake joined the starting lineup against Colorado, adding length and size to combat recurring struggles.

It paid off. ASU shot 57 percent from the field – its best in several outings – as five players scored in double-digits and the team compiled 24 assists. Orchestrating a 2-3 zone, the Sun Devils held the Buffaloes to 32.8 percent shooting and forced 15 turnovers.

Despite coming off the bench, Remy Martin and Luguentz Dort had no issues. Martin didn’t score but led the team with eight assists, and Dort finished above 50 percent from the field for the first time since Nov. 21 in a 14-point, four-rebound outing.

This week, the Sun Devils hope to find consistency and achieve their first conference road sweep in the Bobby Hurley era. They open the two-game series tonight against Cal before travelling to face Stanford this Saturday.

– Booth