ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Tournament Roundtable
By Trevor Booth
Who is ASU’s Most Important Player in the Tournament?
There is not a more confusing player to gauge on this ASU team than Kimani Lawrence. The sophomore was dynamite in non-conference play, second on the team in scoring only behind Luguentz Dort.
But after foul trouble limited him in a loss to Nevada, Lawrence quickly lost a grip on his role and confidence, spiraling into a slump that plagued him for much of the Pac-12 schedule.
We saw an uptick in confidence against Arizona, giving ASU the possibility of another viable scoring threat. If Lawrence has in fact found his groove again, he will be the X-factor for the Sun Devils. – ZP
Undoubtedly, ASU’s success hinges on the play of Remy Martin.
Monday’s All-Pac-12 announcements didn’t place the Sun Devils’ 6-foot dynamo on the First Team, but that doesn’t change his importance. In conference play, Martin led all players in assists per game (6.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.2).
This team feeds off his energy, and when he is at his best, ASU typically is, too. In 12 games where the Sun Devils have assisted over 55 percent of their shots, they are unbeaten.
In close contests, Martin has also proven to be the go-to player. With Saturday’s game against Arizona in the balance, he took over to score 12 of the last 19 points, doing it with a variety of pullup jumpers and a pursuit of the rim.
The Sun Devils will need their point guard to be active in this week’s tournament. He is the primary ball handler, and it’ll be up to him to get Rob Edwards and Romello White back involved after the pair struggled at Arizona. – TB
In his first season in Tempe, Luguentz Dort has been great at times. He’s shown his ability to score and play stingy defense. Other times, however, he’s looked his age.
This can’t be the case in Las Vegas. For the Sun Devils to make a deep run in the Pac-12 Tournament, they will need him to provide leadership. If he can be as explosive as he was in games like Utah State and at home against Cal, Dort alone could carry Arizona State to the title game. – CF