(Photo: Dominic Cotroneo/WCSN)
This is the big one ladies and gentlemen.
The 12th ranked Stanford Cardinal march into Tempe with revenge on the mind after suffering a crushing, 60-57 loss at home to Arizona State earlier in the season.
The Cardinal have essentially used the rest of the Pac-12 as their own personal punching bag for the last 15 years, dominating the conference as a warm up for one of their deep NCAA tourney runs.
But 2014 has brought a slight shift in the hierarchy, as ASU and Oregon State appear to be the favorites to finish atop the western most, Power Five conference.
With a win against Stanford already under their belt, here’s what the Sun Devils will have to accomplish on Friday to sweep the season series for the first time since 1984.
Attack the Glass
From 2010 to 2013 Stanford has been one of the best rebounding teams in the conference, with their unmatched size, athleticism and consistent presence of a Ogwumike sister. This season, however, has been a down year for them in that category, ranking fourth in the Pac-12 in rebounding margin. Arizona State has won the battle for boards by an average of 6.4 rebounds per game, nearly two boards higher than the Cardinal. ASU dominated Stanford on the low block in their last matchup, out-rebounding them 44-22. If the Sun Devils replicate that in the second go around of this showdown, they should be able to come out on top.
Hit Free Throws
While it seems obvious that a team should look to maximize their free throws made in every game, it feels like something that has to be acknowledged here because of ASU’s disappointing showing from the line in the earlier game against Stanford. ASU shot 60% from the stripe, far off from Stanford’s 80% with the same amount of attempts. A barnburner can be turned into a dribble-the- clock-out win with a few made FT’s, and it’ll be something to watch as Sun Devil slashers, Promise Amukamara and Elisha Davis, get hacked and step up to the line.
Let Katie be Katie
There seems to be a lot of similarities between Sun Devil Small Forward, Katie Hempen and the great Kobe Bryant. They both shoot well, they want the ball in clutch situations, they’re both confident in themselves, and the list goes on. But most importantly, they both know when they are hot.
Hempen is coming off of three straight double-digit point scoring performances, including a 22- point outburst against Oregon State, where she nearly willed ASU to victory. Needless to say, she’s feeling it, and hopefully Charli Turner-Thorne sees it and tells her to let it fly.
Prediction
Playing in the familiar confines of Wells Fargo Arena and playing with fire since their first conference loss to Oregon State, ASU seems to have a slight upper hand in Friday night’s clash. But it still wouldn’t be shocking to Stanford play angry and reignite their so far disappointing season.
Tip off is at 8:00 MST in Tempe.
