ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Week 18 Power Rankings
By Trevor Booth
2. Arizona State Sun Devils (20-9, 11-6 Pac-12) LW: 2
Inconsistency has long swayed the pendulum of Arizona State’s puzzling season. Last week was no different.
The Sun Devils were clobbered by the conference’s then-10th-ranked team – Oregon – before redeeming themselves with a significant win at Oregon State. A split salvaged the chance for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, but it also indicated a missed opportunity.
The Ducks were ASU’s final Quadrant 1 opponent of the year, a category that took a big hit Thursday night. Washington – the Pac-12’s best team – lost to 5-22 California, dropping the Sun Devils’ win over the Huskies on Feb. 9 from Q1 to Q2.
In turn, ASU’s Q1 win total lowered to three. This is still the highest count in the Pac-12, but with four combined losses in Q3 and Q4, every big win is necessary to override a bad loss.
It’d be impossible to predict the Sun Devils’ final regular season game at Arizona, considering the circumstances. But one thing is certain – Luguentz Dort is playing his best basketball of the year.
In his last six games, the 6-foot-4 freshman is averaging 16.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and two steals. His 3-point percentage (43.8) has exceeded his field goal average (43.5), and after a slow start to the season, his free throw percentage has reached a respectable 78 percent.
With Sunday’s win over the Beavers, ASU secured the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament for the first time since 2009-10. The Sun Devils’ deepest run in the conference tournament came in 2009, when James Harden led them to the title game.
Before the Sun Devils receive a first-round bye in Las Vegas, they’ll look to pick up their first win at McKale Center since the 2010 season.
– Booth