#25 Arizona State (16-5, 4-5) at Washington (15-6, 5-3)
Tonight, 8 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Arena (Hec Ed)
Line: Arizona State -3
TV: Pac-12 Network Radio: KOMO
After an 80-62 win over rival Washington State last Sunday night, the Huskies are set to square off against No. 25 Arizona State on Thursday night.
For Washington, this game presents a great opportunity at home to get a resume boosting win. The Huskies are currently 15-6 on the season and right on the bubble for the NCAA tournament.
Arizona State meanwhile is a lock for the NCAA tournament if they finish the season out solidly. But the Sun Devils have struggled in conference play after going 12-0 in non conference play – with key wins over Kansas and Xavier. Arizona State currently sits in eighth place of the Pac-12 with a 4-5 conference record.
Despite the Sun Devils’ poor play of late they are still a very dangerous team that can score points in bunches. Arizona State’s 85.9 points per game, ranks No. 10 in the country. The Sun Devils in conference play are averaging 78.1 points per game.
Senior guard Tra Holder, leads ASU with 19.3 points per game. In confernece play, Holder ranks No. 7 in the conference, averaging 16.8 points per game.
As a team the Sun Devils love to push the pace and launch 3-pointers. Tra Holder, Remy Martin, Shannon Evans, and Kodi Justice all shoot at least 37 percent from 3-point range.
Arizona State is coming off an 80-66 win over Colorado.
For the Huskies, it’s been their defense that has carried the load this season. Washington is allowing just 67.9 points per game in conference play – ranking second in the conference. In conference play UW opponents are shooting just 27% from 3-point range – ranking No. 1 in the conference. Mike Hopkins’ 2-3 zone is paying off for a Huskies team that just won nine games a season ago.
On offense, the Huskies are led by true freshman guard Jaylen Nowell, who is averaging 16.7 points per game. Nowell’s 16.4 points per game in conference play ranks No. 9 in the Pac-12.
Washington’s other double-digit scorers per game include, Noah Dickerson (14.2), David Crisp (11.8), and Matisse Thybulle (11.3).
For the Huskies to beat the Sun Devils they will need to takeaway the 3-pointer. Washington will also need to slow the game down. Arizona State runs an uptempo offense under Bobby Hurley and when they are clicking, ASU can score at will. If Washington can do these two things, they will have a great shot at beating a ranked opponent on their home floor.
