ASU Basketball: Sun Devils look to bounce back against Oregon State

March is here, and it seems that every game means just a little bit more. Sunday’s matchup with Oregon State is no different for ASU basketball.

Due to a 79-51 loss at Oregon Thursday night, it becomes even more crucial that the Sun Devils find a way to split this weekend if they want any chance at making the ‘Big Dance.’

It is clear that this team is one of, if not the most inconsistent, squads in the entire nation. After a 2-2 start to conference play, the Sun Devils went on two 3-game winning streaks and were winners of four of their last five, including a 12-point win over Washington.

Then, the loss to Oregon put them right back on the bubble.

So, what do the Sun Devils have to do to make sure the same thing does not happen against the Beavers?

It starts with finding a consistent source of offense. While Rob Edwards has been that of late, he is not a big enough presence on his own to make ASU play to their maximum potential.

Against the Ducks, Remy Martin was 3-of-7 from deep, but the rest of the team shot a combined 0-of-17 from behind the arc. If ASU is plagued with another shooting night like that, it will need to use the inside presence of Romello White, which is something they failed to do Thursday as he only took one field goal on the night.

The next thing the Sun Devils will need to do is find a way to slow down redshirt junior forward Tres Tinkle for Oregon State.

Throughout this season, Tinkle has been one of the best scorers in the conference and a nightmare for opposing teams. He is averaging 20 points and eight rebounds.

When the Beavers were in Tempe on Jan. 17, Tinkle was a big factor in keeping his team in that game, as he finished the night with 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals.

The Sun Devils should hear their name called on Selection Sunday if they can close out the season with wins over Oregon State and Arizona then make noise in Las Vegas at the Pac-12 Tournament.

For now, their focus is on the Beavers. Tip-off in Corvallis is slated for 6 p.m. Sunday, and it can be viewed live on ESPNU or on-air via Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.