Arizona State basketball: What has powered the 8-1 start?

TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State basketball scared many fans in a 56-point exhibition game loss against Duke prior to the start of the season. However, the Sun Devils made their adjustments and have looked very good through their first nine games to the tune of an 8-1 record.

ASU put together a very formidable non-conference schedule. The Sun Devils collected wins over Santa Clara, GCU, Cal Poly, New Mexico, and Saint Mary’s. ASU’s lone loss was in Spokane, Washington, by eight points to the Zags.

This week, ASU collected the second most votes in the “receiving votes” category of the college basketball poll. Therefore, the Sun Devils are ranked No. 27 in the country. ASU is ranked No. 35 in the NET rankings and No. 53 in the KenPom rankings. There are seven Big 12 teams ranked ahead of the Sun Devils in both the KenPom and NET rankings.

What has gotten Arizona State basketball to this point?

This ASU squad has nearly completely been remade through the transfer portal and freshman. Redshirt senior guard Adam Miller is the lone starter remaining. However, the Sun Devils’ shot-making and offensive production has taken a huge step forward early on.

ASU averages 80 points per game, which it hasn’t done since 2018. Granted, it is very early in the season. However, this is only the second time during head coach Bobby Hurley’s tenure, and this century, ASU has averaged 80 points per game.

Hurley’s teams have always been rooted in their defense. ASU is allowing 71.1 points per game, which is right in line with previous years. Although, with the increase in scoring, ASU’s current point differential is its best ever under Hurley.

ASU’s 3-point shooting has been lights out. The Sun Devils are shooting 39.5 percent from behind the arc while holding opponents to barely 30 percent. ASU’s offense overall has been a major bright spot as it’s shooting 47.1 percent from the field

The Sun Devils are protecting the rim as well. ASU’s averaging 5.7 blocks a game while limiting opponents to just 3.1 blocks per game.

Who’s stepped up for ASU?

You could read down the roster for this because there’s so many guys who have made a name for themselves. Four Sun Devils average double digits and the leading scorer comes off the bench.

Freshman guard Joson Sanon leads the team, averaging 15.9 points per game. Sanon is shooting an astounding 54.3 percent from 3-point territory this season.

Arizona State guard Joson Sanon celebrates a three-pointer at The Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. Sanon scored a season-high 21 points in a crosstown showdown against GCU on Nov. 14, 2024. (Photo by Spencer Barnes/Sun Devil Daily)

“When he shoots, it leaves his hand. It looks like it’s going in just about like every time he shoots,” Hurley said. “When he misses, I’m surprised. That’s just the bottom line and we need his scoring punch.”

Hurley told a story from summer workouts where Sanon changed the arc of his shot to practice for a defender closing out on him. There was no other player around him in the gym, but he was locked into perfecting his shot motion for every scenario.

Other contributors

Senior guard Alston Mason is ASU’s third-leading scorer with 12 points per game. Mason has played at least 30 minutes in all but one game this season. The senior guard leads the team in assists with 29. Mason could be the calm, collected, and hustle leader at guard ASU needs following Frankie Collins’ departure.

Senior forward Basheer Jihad is ASU’s second-leading scorer with 13.3 points per game. Jihad has been a factor on the interior for the Sun Devils. The 6-foot-9 forward has earned 63 free throw attempts this season, leading the team by a landslide. Jihad is second on the team with 54 total rebounds, including 14 offensive.

Last but certainly not least, freshman forward Jayden Quaintance has been everything ASU could have hoped for so far. The freshman hasn’t gotten the scoring going yet averaging just 7.8 points per game, but that’s more about his shot frequency. Quaintance is shooting 49.2 percent from the field and leading the team with 72 rebounds. However, his most important stat is his 32 blocks this season, which is one of the most in the country. The 6-foot-9 freshman also has 11 steals and 19 assists on the season. Quaintance is doing everything for the Sun Devils.

Senior point guard Alston Mason has been a floor general for Arizona State basketball. (Photo by Spencer Barnes/Sun Devil Daily)

What can ASU improve on?

The defense has always been the name of the game for Hurley. However, when you get an offense generating high production, the defense may falter a little.

ASU’s defense in no way has been bad this season. But when you compare it to past years, it hasn’t been quite the same quality. The Sun Devils are normally very good at winning the turnover battle and generating steals against their opponents.

But, when you have an offense that can generate points in the half-court, you don’t have to rely on points off of turnovers as much. Opponents are turning ASU over 12.7 times a game while ASU is only generating 11.1 turnovers per game. In addition, ASU is collecting 5.4 steals per game, while its opponents are collecting 7.8 steals per game.

These are two areas ASU can work to improve on as conference play is around the corner. The Big 12 is filled with top-tier programs, and ASU will have to win the turnover battle if it wants a chance to win.

What’s next?

This weekend ASU has a big chance to see how it really stands. The Sun Devils will travel to Atlanta, Georgia to face No. 9 Florida on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. AZT. ASU took Gonzaga to the buzzer in Spokane earlier this season, will they be able to finish against the Gators on Saturday?

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