(Photo: Max Zepeda/WCSN)
TEMPE – Coming off the high of its upset win over then-No. 20 Michigan in the Legends Classic Tournament, Arizona State Men’s Basketball (5-1) could have come out against the Grambling State Tigers (2-2), failing to set the tone early. Tuesday’s matchup had the potential to be a trap game for the Sun Devils, who could have ridden the high of their emotional win over a nationally-ranked opponent. However, head coach Bobby Hurley made it crystal clear to the team that wouldn’t happen.
“On the heels of a trip to New York, this was a game that concerned me,” Hurley said. “We knew that we had to be ready to play, or else they could embarrass you with their effort.”
ASU’s defensive dominance in the first half, holding Grambling State to 26.6 percent from the field and helped the early shooting woes before it was kicked into high gear in its 80-49 win, extending the win streak to three. The Tigers already had a win over a Pac-12 team, so Hurley prepared the team to be ready for any circumstance.
“We discussed it a lot,” Hurley said. “We made the guys aware that [Grambling State] had a high double-figure lead versus Colorado and beat a Pac-12 school, so they had our full attention.”
The Sun Devils started with the hot hand, opening the game on a 12-0 run. But they cooled off, scoring only 22 in the following 16 minutes. After being lights-out from beyond the arc against Michigan, ASU shot only 21.4 percent from three and 42.3 percent overall in the first half.
The Sun Devils’ initial run was fueled by great playmaking from sophomore guard Frankie Collins, who tacked up four quick assists by attacking the paint and finding open teammates after the Tigers’ defense collapsed.
“Guys [are] sharing the sugar, man. It’s fun,” junior guard DJ Horne said. “It’s fun to see when everybody’s out there smiling. I feel that’s what we have just kind of been emphasizing. Everybody plays as a team, and if everyone does that, then everyone will eat.”
However, ASU became reliant on the outside shot instead of attacking the smaller Gambling State, finishing the half with only ten paint points.
While defensively, the Sun Devils dominated in limiting any rhythm for the Tigers, their defensive rebounding was problematic. Grambling State had 12 offensive rebounds by halftime, which equated to eight of its 17 first-half points to come via second-chance opportunities.
The initial rim presence by ASU’s defense was stellar, allowing five layups on 12 attempts, but the offensive rebounds held it back from creating separation from Grambling State. The poor rebounding was also a factor in the offense’s cold stretch, with the Sun Devils not able to run in transition, only leading to four fastbreak points.
“Our communication on defense has been getting a lot better,” senior forward Devan Cambridge said. “Rebounding that’ll be a major key, [but] we struggled tonight on that.”
ASU’s saving grace was its physical defense that forced Grambling State ball handlers to look discombobulated on drives and the wings. Many of the Tigers’ shots missed the rim entirely because of the sheer presence of senior forward Warren Washington. The 7-footer’s defensive production went beyond the stat sheet, forcing many drivers to either abort their drive or face the wrath of Washington’s long arms.
The same could be said by ASU’s perimeter defense as its guard stayed connected with their assignment leading to nine turnovers and contested perimeter shots. The Tigers, 1-for-8 from beyond the arc, encapsulated a 21 percent shooting performance from the field in the first half, only continuing after halftime.
“Our defense gets us a lot of wins,” Horne said. “In the VCU game, there was a six or eight-minute stretch where they didn’t score. So, [It’s] just knowing that when our shots aren’t falling, we got to stop them from making their shots too.”
Grambling State’s poor shooting night continued its downward trajectory with no answer for ASU’s rim presence. This time, Washington had an accomplice in the form of freshman forward Duke Brennan. The Gilbert native and Washington offered a spark on the defensive end, making the paint a no-fly zone for the Tigers. Grambling State ended the night 9-of-27 at the rim, unable to establish any positioning at the cup.
Despite the defensive success, the Sun Devils struggled to score out of the gates. However, in almost a reversal of the first half, the ASU offense exploded midway through the second half. After scoring 13 points in the first nine minutes, the Sun Devils proceeded on an 18-1 run to extend their largest lead of the night at 41.
“I think it’s time. We have a new team again. Guys [are] trying to feel their way out in their new jersey,” Horne said on the program’s recent offensive success. “It’s starting to come around now. I don’t even think that we really tapped into how good we can look offensively.”
The difference came from capitalizing on the Tigers’ mistakes. The Sun Devils scored 17 second-half points off Grambling State’s turnovers and bullied its lack of size, scoring 20 points in the paint. Washington was a focal point of that run, and Hurley is excited about what he can provide the team in the future.
“It was good to see Warren get some touches and be productive,” Hurley said. “That’s where you can take further steps in your offense. You can play through him and play inside out a little more.”
ASU had four players in double figures, this was the third straight game, and the cause for the high scoring has been the playmaking. The Sun Devils had 21 assists on 25 baskets, Collins being a primary source from that output, finishing with seven assists and giving ASU an efficient offense.
“Frankie really wants to find his teammates,” Hurley said. “He’s great at finding guys, six assists at halftime, and we had good cutting and good ball movement off the ball.”
