(Photo: Spencer Barnes/WCSN)
TEMPE – The atmosphere inside Desert Financial Arena on Tuesday was too vivid for just the basic senses. Sure, you could see the hardwood disappear as an audience of more than 10,000 people swarmed the court. You could hear the “A-S-U” chants rain down, and even smell the popcorn, hotdogs and the sweat of euphoric Sun Devil fans. But more than anything, the emotion of the Sun Devils who played their final game in front of their fans was palpable.
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley said he felt that emotional connection with the family of star senior Moe Odum before tipoff.
“I had goose bumps on the bench to start the game,” Hurley said. “I looked over and Moe Odum’s mom, who flew in from New Jersey, was sitting behind our bench and she was crying. It is moments like that that are so powerful, especially for a kid of his quality and what he has meant to this university this year.”
Odum and his fellow seniors led the way to a 70-60 victory over No. 14 Kansas (21-9, 11-6 Big 12). Arizona State (16-14, 7-10 Big 12) pulled off its second ranked upset, and a court storm in its final home game of the season.
Just a year ago Odum had never played for a Power Four school. He was never supposed to be the featured athlete, especially not against Kansas. Standing opposite Odum was Darryn Peterson, the projected No. 1 NBA draft pick.
On a night where Peterson struggled, shooting just 3-of-18 Odum stole the show. The senior point guard led the game in points, assists and 3-point makes.
Although he was with the team for just one season, it was plays like his deep 3-pointer over Melvin Council Jr. to freeze Kansas’ momentum that built his connection to his fan base.
Hurley said he connects with Odum because he is an underdog, a trait they share. That connection is built on trust and confidence in both player and coach in the biggest moments.
Odum’s 87 3-pointers are the third most in a single season of any ASU player Hurley has coached, underscoring his dual-threat ability. He is also one assist shy of the program’s top five for assists in a single season.
Odum’s fourth assist of the night was his most notable. He found fellow senior Anthony “Pig” Johnson in transition after forcing a steal off Council Jr..
Just one possession prior, Johnson had scored his first field goal of the night. It could not have come at a better time. Kansas cut ASU’s 20-point halftime lead to just two points. Needing a spark, Johnson stepped up and drilled a three.
Johnson said the support of Odum helped prepare him for the moment.
“He saw me the whole game,” Johnson said. “He made sure when my energy went down, he was talking to me like, ‘Bro, your time is going to come. It does not matter if you keep missing; your time is going to come. Just stay in it.’ And when I stayed in it, he found me, and I had to do that.”
Johnson finished the game with nine points and seven rebounds. His defensive intensity was critical in holding Kansas under 30% from the field. Much like his fellow seniors, Odum and Allen Mukeba, Johnson did not come from a high national regard.
“Pig had no scholarship offers,” Hurley said. “He is like one of the best values that anybody could ever get in the portal.”
Hurley has consistently praised the intangibles of his seniors beyond the court. Leadership, passion, and grit have all been points of emphasis for the Sun Devils. Mukeba has embodied each of those as he played through an injury that Hurley said many of his former players would not have.
Mukeba’s impact was necessary; he helped anchor a post defense that only allowed six second-chance points despite giving up 25 offensive rebounds. That defensive resilience was symbolic of a physical resilience that Mukeba was modest about.
“All of us have been playing through injuries,” Mukeba said. “We all know that we all need each other. It does not matter whether I am injured or not.”
The seniors’ dedication to the team has helped them build a connection with underclassmen. Massamba Diop and Noah Meeusen have credited the oversight of Johnson and Odum as reasons for their growth.
As his time in Tempe came to a close, Odum said that his legacy as a role model is more important than as a star.
“I want to be remembered, not as a player, but as a person,” Odum said. “Somebody who was willing to work, willing to be a leader on good days and bad days. I want people to say good things about my character.”
