ASU Basketball: 2019 NCAA Tournament Roundtable

How Far Will ASU Advance?

A year ago, the Sun Devils entered Dayton on a decline. They lost five of their final six games, being unable to compensate hot shooting for a lack of size and strength.

This season, the tale is different. ASU has won six of its last eight and was one Ehab Amin 3-pointer away from a potential Pac-12 Tournament championship. I expect these strengths to carry them out of Dayton against a smaller St. John’s team and into the field of 64.

However, things get tricky from there. Hurley and his team would then face Buffalo — his former school — and his replacement in coach Nate Oats. Nostalgia aside, the Bulls’ inside-out attack with C.J. Massinburg and Jeremy Harris would directly test ASU’s defensive communication, and that’s what I think gets the best of them in the second round. – TB 

It’s been 10 years since ASU won a game at the NCAA Tournament (Temple in 2009). This team should have little difficulty getting out of Dayton after St. John’s nearly played itself into the NIT down the stretch.

Call me an optimist, I might be over-analyzing matchups. But when the Sun Devils are firing on all cylinders, I think there aren’t many teams better. Given their region and games against Buffalo and potentially Texas Tech, this team is second-weekend talented.

I have the Sun Devils reaching the Sweet 16. After all, Bobby Hurley knows a thing or two about winning in March. – ZP

Honestly, I don’t think ASU could’ve gotten a better Dayton matchup. St. John’s is playing worse than any other at-large team in the tournament, losing five of its last seven. In my mind, this should be an easy, double-digit win for the Sun Devils.

If they do advance, however, things get trickier. Buffalo is no joke as a No. 6 seed, and they likely feel slighted by that seeding. Bobby Hurley’s first trip to the Round of 64 with ASU will end at the hands of his former suitor. – CF 

ASU doesn’t get past the Round of 64 this tournament season. With a very favorable matchup against St. John’s tonight, the Devils should advance past the First Four. But darker days lie ahead as ASU draws a tough second round matchup in Oklahoma.

Buffalo is a fierce opponent with returners all over the court and an acumen that has been building for two full seasons now.

With an extra motivator in playing against the coach (Hurley) who left them, Buffalo should be locked and loaded when ASU makes their way to Tulsa later this week. – RG

I think the St. John’s matchup is an extremely favorable one for Hurley and the Sun Devils. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on ASU finding its way past the Red Storm.

However, I think that Hurley’s previous team, the Buffalo Bulls, will get the last laugh and send the Sun Devils back to the desert. This one will be close and wire-to-wire the entire time, but I think that the deep ball potential will give UB the edge and help them move on to the Round of 32. – BW