Ryan Clarke, Author at Cronkite Sports

ASU Men’s Basketball: Breakthrough season comes to bitter end in Dayton

by Ryan Clarke - March 14, 2018March 15, 2018

(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN) DAYTON, Ohio — The 2017-18 season brought a wave of newfound success for Arizona State men’s basketball. Signature wins washed away the stench of mediocrity, bathing the Sun Devils in national attention. As the postseason grew closer, frustrating losses made everything murky again. Wednesday’s 60-56 loss to Syracuse —

ASU Men’s Basketball: Sun Devils play themselves onto the bubble

by Ryan Clarke - March 7, 2018March 7, 2018

(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN) LAS VEGAS — Just over two months ago, ASU men’s basketball was one win away from being ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, riding a wave of unprecedented confidence. After dropping the opening game of the Pac-12 tournament to Colorado on Wednesday, the Sun Devils (20-11) are

ASU Men’s Basketball: Sun Devils regain confidence in big win over Cal

by Ryan Clarke - March 1, 2018

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN) ASU men’s basketball took care of business Thursday in its penultimate home game, dominating the lowly California Golden Bears 84-53. The Sun Devils (20-9, 8-9 Pac-12) set the agenda from the opening tip. They played in cruise control for much of the night. The Bears (8-22, 2-15 Pac-12) consistently

ASU Men’s Basketball: Comeback falls short against Ayton, Arizona

by Ryan Clarke - February 15, 2018March 5, 2018

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN) ASU men's basketball has a penchant for comebacks. In its most impressive wins of the season — upsets over Kansas and Xavier — Bobby Hurley’s team overcame double-digit first half deficits. Thursday’s game against No. 17 Arizona followed a similar trend, but the No. 25 Sun Devils (19-7, 7-7

ASU Men’s Basketball: Sun Devils revert to old ways in win over UCLA

by Ryan Clarke - February 10, 2018February 10, 2018

(Photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN) Just over two weeks ago, Remy Martin sat at the podium after ASU dropped a home game in overtime to Utah. Despite the fact that his team was 3-5 in Pac-12 play and mired in mediocrity, Martin maintained an uncanny optimism. “We’re fine. We’re fine,” he said. “A lot

ASU Men’s Basketball: Sun Devils come up clutch against USC

by Ryan Clarke - February 9, 2018February 9, 2018

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN) College basketball seasons can turn in a moment. Months filled with preparation, elation and anguish disappear in its defining seconds, leaving only a fog that grows thicker or burns off. Bobby Hurley doesn’t remember much of his team’s thrilling 80-78 victory over USC on Thursday. He said the final

The Way It Is: Hurley extension a pivotal moment for Ray Anderson, ASU

by Ryan Clarke - January 31, 2018January 31, 2018

(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN) It pays to build a winning culture in college basketball. Just ask Bobby Hurley. Reports from SunDevilSource and azcentral sports indicate that Hurley, in his third year at the helm of ASU men’s basketball, is set to receive a major pay raise and contract extension. Pending approval from the

ASU Men’s Basketball: Win over Colorado cements ASU’s identity

by Ryan Clarke - January 27, 2018January 28, 2018

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN) A poor start to conference play brought about plenty of questions for No. 21 ASU men’s basketball. In an 80-66 win over Colorado on Saturday, the Sun Devils (16-5, 4-5 Pac-12) answered the biggest one: What is their identity? ASU is a perimeter-oriented team that thrives when it can

ASU Men’s Basketball: Sun Devils’ struggles continue in OT loss to Utah

by Ryan Clarke - January 25, 2018January 26, 2018

(Photo: Braidy Klain/WCSN) Decisions, decisions. With nine seconds left in regulation Thursday, ASU guard Shannon Evans hit a layup to put the No. 21 Sun Devils on top of Utah 69-66. ASU elected not to foul on the ensuing possession, allowing the Utes to hit a three-pointer that sent the game to

ASU Men’s Basketball: Sky is far from falling on the Sun Devils’ season

by Ryan Clarke - January 13, 2018

(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN) Just two weeks ago in Tucson, ASU men’s basketball was a few plays away from being ranked No. 1 in the country. Now, after barely pulling out a comeback victory over Oregon State on Saturday, the Sun Devils (14-3, 2-3 Pac-12) were just a play away from falling