ASU Men’s Basketball: Sun Devils face rival Arizona in back-to-back games

(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)

Thursday night’s game between Arizona State Men’s Basketball and Arizona will mark the 240th meeting in the schools’ vaunted rivalry.

But however Thursday plays out, revenge for one may follow soon. The two will have another chance to duke it out once again shortly after, as ASU is scheduled to take a trip to Tucson just 96 hours after Thursday’s throwdown in Tempe due to multiple postponements around the Pac-12 and college basketball as a whole.

“Obviously this is a unique week for us, with the schedule adjustments and playing Arizona here on Thursday and playing them again on Monday,” head coach Bobby Hurley said. “It’s definitely a different scenario but probably one that was necessary with all the postponements. Again, [we’re] leaving that final week [of scheduling] available to try and get additional games in.”

These two games could serve as a major catalyst for the Sun Devils, who sit at 4-6 and have played the fewest amount of games in the Pac-12. ASU has been stripped of the chance to build camaraderie and momentum during this unorthodox year – whether that be due to injuries, COVID-19 concerns and the passing of players’ loved ones. Beating the Wildcats in back-to-back contests could vindicate all of the various challenges ASU has faced this season. Winning could also give the Sun Devils some much needed momentum after a vapid start to Pac-12 play.

That is much easier said than done, though. The Wildcats recently wiped out Oregon State 98-64, the same team ASU lost to 80-79 just two days later. They sit at an overall record of 10-3 (4-3 conference record). Even without fans, the magnitude of this year’s rivalry game is just as important as ever.

“You should have a few more knots in your stomach,” Hurley said. “You should be a little more edgy, there should be some more chippiness.”

The Sun Devils will likely have to possess both of those traits Thursday. Arizona freshman forward Azuolas Tubelis, sophomore forward Jordan Brown and sophomore Christian Koloko all tower around or above 7’0” – which could spell trouble for an undersized ASU team that struggles to rebound.

Each Wildcat big man creates their own problems for the Sun Devils. Tubelis has the ability to stretch the floor at 6’11” and open up the lane for his teammates. He’s also talented in the pick-and-pop and has success as a trailer in transition.

Brown also stands at 6’11” and is a consistent pick-and-roll finisher and rebounder inside, and does a lot the dirty work for the Wildcats.

Koloko has an innate ability to swat shots off the bench. In 15.9 minutes per game, Koloko is averaging 1.2 blocks.

Additionally, Arizona freshman Bennedict Mathurin is a 6-foot-7-inch guard from Montreal who can score – his 31 points in the Wildcats’ win over the Beavers indicates that well. Mathurin has NBA range and is shooting at a 49% clip from three, while offering energy on the glass with almost five rebounds a game. ASU has the option of putting either freshman – guard Josh Christopher or forward Marcus Bagley – on Mathurin for the two upcoming contests.

Despite starting 1-3 in conference play and riding a four game losing streak, the Sun Devils have remained buoyant in the face of crashing waves and constant rainfall. There can be a rainbow after the storm of 2020, but 2021 has been more of the same for ASU, as they’ve started 0-3 to begin the New Year. Regardless of the circumstances, the Sun Devils have remained optimistic.

“It’s frustrating but I wouldn’t want to go to war with anybody else,” senior guard Alonzo Verge Jr. said after the team’s last loss in Corvallis. “We got a special group of guys, it’s just about bringing all together and I think tonight was our first step towards doing that.”

Health is another key aspect keeping the Sun Devils from putting it all together. Injuries in the frontcourt have decimated their depth at the four and five positions.

“We had [sophomore forward] Jalen Graham back yesterday,” Hurley said. “If he looks good [today] he would be available Thursday.”

Graham has not been active in 35 days due to mono and last played on Dec. 16th against UTEP.

Now, after nearly a month off the hardwood, ASU is in desperate need of Graham being a high-octane rebounder and defender in the interior. The Sun Devils have lost the rebounding battle in nine of their first 10 games, and Graham could be the much needed anchor down-low against the Wildcats.

This two game series may serve as the proverbial rainbow for the Sun Devils. The rivalry with and animosity toward the Wildcats could awaken the latent potential that ASU has flash this year, and hoped would be its spark throughout the season.