ASU Basketball: Sun Devils secure No. 2 seed, now what?
By Zach Pekale
ASU basketball would’ve had to claw its way into March with a loss to Oregon State. But, the Sun Devils rallied, clinching the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12.
Oregon State closed the first half on an 8-0 run, sending Arizona State to the visitor’s locker room at Gill Coliseum trailing by seven. It was also in that moment where reality began to set in.
An ASU loss to the Beavers would all but guarantee the Pac-12 to be a one-bid league come Selection Sunday.
Just over a year ago, coach Bobby Hurley exited the floor in Corvallis after ASU was swept on the road in the Beaver State. He responded to media following the loss with the same blanket statement, “I’m a terrible coach right now.”
Facing a similar predicament after a being blown out by 28 at Oregon, Hurley set out to rebut his comments from the season prior. The fourth-year coach navigated his team through a halftime deficit and mass foul trouble to knock off OSU 74-71.
When trailing, the Sun Devils have a tendency to force looks early in the shot clock. Low-percentage attempts often lead to elongated possessions on the other end, causing defenders to be over-aggressive on screens and collapsing in the middle, allowing shooters to spread ASU out.
In situations where emotions run high, sophomore guard Remy Martin can be looked to as the voice of reason. However, Martin’s intensity and minutes were dialed back after picking up his fourth foul with 13:27 to play.
Searching for a win, one pivotal to their postseason hopes, the Sun Devils found a way to stay in control, albeit their patience was tested.