Arizona State gears up for road trip to Music City

(Photo credit: Maya Diaz/WCSN)

Packing its bags and hitting the road, the Arizona State women’s basketball team is gearing up for a two-game slate in Nashville to compete in the Music City Classic.

The Sun Devils (3-2) enter the Music City Classic with momentum, coming off two impressive victories in the Briann January Classic over SMU and Oregon State. More importantly, those matchups allowed ASU to address its defensive struggles, tightening coverage and reducing the high-percentage opportunities it had been conceding early on.

On Tuesday, the Sun Devils will face No. 14 Kentucky (5-0), which has a plethora of new faces under first-year head coach Kenny Brooks. Less than 24 hours later, ASU will turn its focus to the South Dakota Coyotes (2-4), led by one of the best scorers in the nation.

For ASU, this trip presents an opportunity to showcase its growth under head coach Natasha Adair and gain valuable experience against top-tier talent.

The Challenge of Kentucky

ASU’s first test in Nashville comes against the Kentucky Wildcats, who have undergone a significant transformation this season under the guidance of Brooks, who brought Virginia Tech to national prominence in his previous role. He has already made a splash by bringing with him graduate guard transfer Georgia Amoore, one of the most electrifying players in the country.

Amoore’s resume speaks for itself. Last season, she averaged 18.8 points and 6.8 assists per game, earning third-team All-American honors and helping lead Virginia Tech to a postseason run. Her scoring ability, combined with her knack for creating opportunities for teammates, makes her the focal point of Kentucky’s attack. The Wildcats’ fast-paced, dynamic style of basketball will be a test for ASU.

For the Sun Devils, defending Amoore will be key to staying competitive. As evidenced in the wins over SMU and Oregon State, Adair has a variety of defensive strategies she can employ. In their repertoire, the Sun Devils have a combination of man-to-man and zone defensive schemes they can use to try to neutralize Amoore’s influence. If ASU can limit her and force other players to step up they might give themselves a chance to pull off the upset and give Kentucky its first loss of the season.

A Quick Turnaround Against South Dakota

Following their battle with Kentucky, the Sun Devils will face the South Dakota Coyotes on Wednesday. The Coyotes may not have the same national recognition as the Wildcats, but they feature a national standout in senior guard Grace Larkins. Larkins ranks eighth nationally in points per game and leads the team in nearly every major statistical category.

Larkins has been a force this season, averaging 23.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Her ability to impact the game in multiple ways on both ends of the floor makes her a challenge to contain.

If the Sun Devils can effectively neutralize Larkins, they position themselves well to secure a victory. South Dakota lacks the depth and firepower of an elite team, making the containment of Larkins a pivotal factor in the game’s outcome.

Key Team Goals

As the Sun Devils take on this two-game slate in Nashville, they’ll be presented with opportunities to achieve broader team goals that extend outside the win and loss columns.

Defensively, ASU has shown steady improvement, but this trip will demand even more from its frontcourt. Against guard-heavy teams like Kentucky and South Dakota, the Sun Devils’ bigs can assert themselves in the paint, and control the lanes to limit drives and second-chance opportunities.

Offensively, ASU has made strides by playing to its strengths in recent games, particularly in fast-break opportunities. In their last two outings, the Sun Devils have scored 20 or more points off turnovers and transition plays. This fast-paced style of play has proven effective and may continue to be a focal point for ASU moving forward.

These games present a chance for ASU to grow in both individual and collective aspects of its game, laying the groundwork for success in the challenges ahead.