TEMPE- The Arizona State Sun Devils turn the page to preparation for playing another Big 12 Conference matchup against the Kansas Jayhawks, which will take place in Tempe on Saturday.
After starting the season 15-0, the team lost two games—both on the road and to teams of the Big 12 Conference— to the BYU Cougars and No. 10-ranked TCU Horned Frogs throughout the month of January.
Head coach Molly Miller and the players are navigating through the challenge of playing games in Conference play.
"I'd like to think that [game against the TCU Horned Frogs] was a learning lesson for us," Miller said Thursday. "We've definitely got back to our ways. We were on our heels, and we're used to putting teams on their heels, so we've gotten back to our pressure defense and how we're going to guard [and] to approach every game."
Since the Sun Devils suffered a blowout road loss to the TCU Horned Frogs on Sunday, they have been preparing to make adjustments and move forward.
Senior guard Marley Washenitz pointed out that Arizona State looks forward to having another bounce-back game, especially after acknowledging their performance from the previous game wasn't their "best by any means."
"I mean, that's never the final score you want to see as a team and as a player, such as a competitor," Washenitz said. "Just knowing that you can't really go back and you can't redo that game, and you can't fix it. What you have to do is you have to flush it and look forward and see how you can learn and grow from that game."
As the Sun Devils continue to compete in conference play, the coaching staff and players have learned many valuable lessons throughout the last three weeks of the season.
"There's always going to be some flows and ups and downs, but to make sure that we don't let the lows get too low, and the highs get too high, and we just stay pretty neutral," Washenitz said. "That's just really what this group has been able to do. ... We understand that there's a next test, the next couple of days, and we're never satisfied. I love that about this group."
Regardless of their Big 12 Conference record, the Kansas Jayhawks, who have impressive frontcourt players, will present a new challenge to the Sun Devils.
When being asked about what she has seen outside of their post play, junior forward McKinna Brackens praised the Jayhawks' backcourt of guards, junior S'Mya Nichols and freshman Jaliya Davis.
"[S'Mya Nichols] a very good player, very strong, very methodical, coming off the ball screens and all that stuff," Brackens said. "She was one of their leading scorers, along with [Jaliya] Davis in the post. So I feel like we have to focus on them too and try to stop them as best as we can."
The Arizona State Sun Devils will welcome the visiting Kansas Jayhawks (11-7, 1-5 Big 12) in Tempe on Saturday, January 17.