ASU falls to Kansas State first round of Big 12 Tournament

(Photo: Spencer Barnes/WCSN)

After one of the most eventful seasons in recent memory, ASU men’s basketball will not receive any glory within the confines of the Big 12.

With the tournament approaching, ASU wasn’t exactly a sleeper team or an underdog. Due to their highly-restricted, injury-riddled and mentally torn roster, most expected them to be first in, first out.

The Sun Devils began Tuesday’s playoff game as the 16th seed out of 16, against the 10th seeded Kansas State Wildcats. ASU upset the Wildcats in late February, a surprising victory given that senior forward BJ Freeman was dismissed from the squad the same day.

Tuesday’s matchup will be their third of the season.

Despite a disappointing record, the ASU basketball season has had some highs, but they have made the lows feel even lower. The Sun Devils may not be a March Madness team, but the Big 12 tournament offers a new opportunity for atonement. It was an opportunity they were given but did not seize. With its lack of depth, ASU (13-19, 4-16 Big 12) was unable to keep up with a season-high 26 points from senior forward Coleman Hawkins, as it lost to Kansas State (16-16, 9-11 Big 12) 71-66.

Given ASU’s dominant victory over the Wildcats less than a month ago, Kansas State might have been the most ideal opponent given their poor conference record. Freshman center Jayden Quaintance played hero in the victory, scoring 18 points on 8-11 shooting, including a rare two from beyond long range.

On Tuesday, he was ruled out.

For an ASU team that is severely lacking in options, depth and rotational pieces, losing their sole true rim defender and interior presence significantly alters the landscape and game plan.

As evidenced by the performance of a player Kansas State was missing the previous time the two met, senior forward Coleman Hawkins. Hawkins is only the Wildcats’ fourth-leading scorer, but given Kansas State’s small size and lack of centers, he plays an important role as the lone size on the court at times.

Hawkins entered this game averaging 6.4 points per game over his previous five games, during which he was severely limited on the interior. Without any Sun Devils to do just that, Hawkins scored 19 points in the first half and went on to eclipse his season high of 26.

The Wildcats actually started the game ahead 17-4, starting 5-for-5 from three-point land, and appeared to make simple work of ASU, but the Sun Devils showed some fight. ASU tied the game at 19-19 shortly after in their best run of the game.

That stretch was about the most fight ASU put up for the rest of the game. Poor shooting as a team — 38.3% on the game, 68.4% from the free throw line, and 1-11 from three point range in the second half — left them with insufficient offensive output to make a second run.

A loss like this is bittersweet. As much as it is a comfort to be moving on from their time versus Big 12 opponents, senior guards Alston Mason and Adam Miller, as well as senior forward Basheer Jihad, are nearing the end of their careers at ASU.

Jihad and Mason, both the Sun Devils’ leading scorers on Tuesday, combining for 30 points. Fitting, given that both have been consistent and reliable contributors in a season marred by injuries and unfamiliarity.

Miller concludes his second Big 12 tournament game with just five points. Considering his recent injury history and regular bumps and falls from game to game, it’s likely that his performance tonight was limited with some of those injuries still looming.

ASU was supposed to conclude their season tonight, but instead, they have a date with the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament. Which could hold importance for the transfer value, or draft position of players such as freshman forward Amier Ali and freshman guard Joson Sanon, with their place next season questionable.

For the time being, Ali and Sanon ended their first Big 12 tournament game as Sun Devils with six and 13 points, respectively. Both had up and down seasons, with Sanon suffering injuries that derailed what was once a possible first-round selection pick and Ali experiencing inconsistencies that kept him out of the rotation at times.

Despite beginning the season with a lot of optimism for the future, the program has now reached a point with as little as possible. With worries surrounding head coach Bobby Hurley’s future and the school’s overall trajectory, as well as their questionable participation in the impending non-NCAA tournament stretch of games at the end of this month, the program’s direction will be a hot topic throughout the summer.

This program will require an offseason turnaround similar to that of ASU football to get back on track.

What ASU hopes to gain from the Crown Tournament is unknown as of now. A chance for redemption, given their success in the non-conference, or a possible confidence or momentum boost into next season?

With a season as disappointing as ASU’s, it may need one. The team unintentionally made the 2025 season memorable for all the wrong reasons. However, this season, like ASU football in 2023 after winning three games, might be a turning point for a program in desperate need of a wake-up call, which they undoubtedly missed in 2024.