(Photo: Max Zepeda/WCSN)
After losing five of its last six games, Arizona State men’s basketball needed a win. The losing spell put immense pressure on the Sun Devils (17-8, 8-6 Pac-12) to handle business against one of the easier opponents down the stretch. However, Stanford (10-14, 4-9) was no slouch, with winners in five of its last six.
The two programs were heading in opposite directions. One was rising after its losses, while the other relishing in its defeats. The start of the game illustrated that type of spirit, with the Cardinal scorching hot from deep and having a 13-point lead in the second half. ASU’s seamlessly neverending collapse looked to tack one more loss to its record.
However, head coach Bobby Hurley has highlighted the resilient attitude of his squad all season. That mentality showcased itself Thursday night as even when down starting big man senior forward Warren Washington – who missed the game due to a positive test for COVID-19 – the defensive energy that was brought late in the game wasn’t faltered.
A late 14-2 run fueled by clutch shooting and stellar on-ball defense led to ASU’s direly needed win over Stanford 69-65.
Clutch Perimeter Shooting Deciding Factor
The Sun Devils shooting was ugly for most of Thursday’s game, as they passed off mismatches in the post for iso, contested 3-point shots. The offense couldn’t establish any presence in the paint and elected to shoot itself out of the slump, which failed for the first 37 minutes, where the Sun Devils shot 21 percent from beyond the arc.
However, those shooting woes didn’t deter the confidence of fifth-year guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. and junior guard DJ Horne. Down 63-55, the duo made four straight 3-point shots that slingshotted ASU ahead for only its second lead of the game. Before their late-game heroics, the two Sun Devils guards shot a combined 3-of-15 from deep.
Regardless of shooting percentage, Horned finished with 18 points, and Cambridge Jr. with 13 points, desperately needed late. Hurley has been consistent all season in letting his shooters roam free and shoot at will. That confidence could lead to some questionable shot selections, like for Cambridge Jr. early in the game, but it also leads to moments like these, late on the road, where that streaky shooting finally starts to fall.
ASU Continues to Struggle to Defend the 3
Entering Thursday’s matchup, Stanford was on a hot streak from beyond the arc, and it didn’t cool off against ASU. The Cardinal shot 12-for-29 from the 3-point line, many of which came wide open. Without their starting big man, the Sun Devils had to overcompensate the paint area by overhelping and not being bullied at the rim.
The frequent double team meant Stanford was just a pass away from an open shooter. The Cardinal swung the rock across the half-court, on the wing, in the paint, toward the corner. It was moving. The Sun Devils were caught scrambling, trying to rotate and recover, but were always on rotation behind Cardinal’s shooters.
Junior forward Brandon Angel and sophomore forward Harrison Ingram were the main culprits for Stanford’s success beyond the arc in the first half. Combining for 25 points, 4-for-7 from deep, the duo caused significant problems for the Sun Devils. While in the second half, senior sharpshooting forward Spencer Jones woke up with 14 points, 4-for-6 from 3.
Collins is Vital for the Sun Devils offense.
Sophomore guard Frankie Collins showed that he is the heartbeat for the Sun Devils offense. Collins excels in dribble penetration, which is crucial to all the moving parts of ASU’s scoring.
In the first half, ASU remained in the runt that has followed the program for the past three weeks. Collins, noticing the lackluster start, attacked the rim, scoring three straight baskets. His aggressiveness in the paint drew in Stanford defenders, opening up the floor to give ASU shooters some space.
Collins’ teammates fed off his energy on the offensive end, gaining back the confidence that this recent offensive slump has diminished. In the second half, when the Sun Devils fell to a 13-point deficit, it was the sophomore guard attacking and getting others involved. Collins finished with 15 points and three assists, but his impact goes beyond the box score to keep ASU within striking distance.
No Warren Washington, Rim Protection
ASU was without its senior forward Warren Washington and started small with senior forward Alonzo Gaffney at the five position. The smaller lineups didn’t hinder ASU’s ability to protect the rim. Senior guard Devan Cambridge filled in nicely for the Sun Devils to deny any attempt toward the basket.
Devan’s 6-foot-6 frame didn’t stop him from swooping in and swatting Stanford’s shot attempts into the third row. In the first half alone, the senior guard recorded three blocks, finishing with four, tied for his season-high. Cambridge provided excellent resistance in the post against bigger Cardinal players trying to slam it on the undersized Sun Devil.
Freshman forward Duke Brennan tallied two blocks of his own in the first half to bring ASU’s total to six in the first half. The Sun Devils took the responsibility to handle the bigger Cardinal team by being the enforcer to push them off the blocks. Stanford couldn’t impose their will against ASU and struggled to finish at the rim shooting 5-20 on layups.
Small Ball Equals High Defensive Intensity
Without their 7-foot big man, the Sun Devils had less size but were more flexible on the perimeter. ASU switched on every ball screen, and while the first half caused some confusion, it eventually led to a swarming defensive effort late. Many Stanford possessions ended with shots late in the shot clock because it couldn’t find any separation. While the long ball was falling for the Cardinal, it couldn’t find much offense anywhere, shooting 11-33 from two.
Pressuring the ball handler forced tough Cardinal shots but also turnovers. ASU is only the sixth team of the 76 programs in the Power 6 to have forced double-digit turnovers in each conference game this season. Tonight it was 15, which gifted the Sun Devils 17 points and was a significant factor in their eventual comeback.
This is the 17th consecutive conference game, dating back to last season, where ASU forced double-digit turnovers. Throughout that streak, including Thursday, it has benefited from its full-court press defense that has lifted some slow starts offensively. Going small gave Hurley more flexibility and energy on the defensive end that eventually sparked the 14-2 run to end the game.
