Arizona State basketball continues winning streak

TEMPE, Ariz. — Not since the 2007-08 season has Arizona State basketball started Pac-12 play 4-0. Arizona State eclipsed the feat, taking down Colorado 76-73 on Saturday at Desert Financial Arena.

“Soul Searching” for Arizona State basketball

After starting the season 6-5 and coming off a 65-46 loss to Northwestern on December 20, nobody penciled in ASU to sit atop the Pac-12. Since then, the Sun Devils have reeled off four straight wins and have put themselves squarely back in the conversation for an at-large bid come March. 

“It was soul searching after the Northwestern game and having those hard conversations about what direction we want the season to go,” ASU head coach Bobby Hurley said. “I see that our attitude is better, our approach is better, our unselfishness is better, and you could just see that there’s a better team dynamic right now.”

The Sun Devils forced 20 points off turnovers in the first half against a turnover-prone Buffaloes squad. Colorado commits the most turnovers in the Pac-12, and the Sun Devils took advantage. With ASU’s defense igniting their offense in the first 20 minutes of action, they headed into the locker room with a six-point lead. 

LSU transfer Adam Miller led the way on Saturday, and his addition to the lineup is no coincidence to the recent swing of form, as the team has gone 4-2 since then.

He scored 14 of his first 18 points in the first half, making 3-of-5 3-point attempts, as the team shot 50 percent from beyond the arc heading into the locker room. 

The impact of Adam Miller

This season has been full of ups and downs for Miller. It began with not knowing if he was playing at all this season after the NCAA denied his waiver eligibility in early December. Finally, Miller got good news, in the form of a court case. Later in the month, he was able to suit up in maroon and gold after a federal court judge granted Miller and other transfers eligibility to play for the 2023-24 season. 

It has been a whirlwind of emotions for Miller and his teammates. 

“Everybody kept asking me and telling me that you must be so happy to be playing. I was honesty still upset,” Miller said, who has scored in double figures in four of his first six games. “I prepared my a*s off, worked with these guys, went overseas with these guys, played with them. Didn’t play any scrimmage, barely any of the non-conference games. So, I think it was upsetting but I was just grateful for the opportunity.”

In the second half, Colorado went on a 9-0 run and tied the game at 66-66 with 4:53 left. However, Arizona State basketball would respond. The Sun Devils would go on a 6-3 run to end the game. 

ASU held on and secured their fourth consecutive win, and a Q2 win according to the NCAA NET Rankings.

Next up for Arizona State is a trip to Seattle, where they will take on the 9-6 Washington Huskies.

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