Arizona State basketball will play BYU this season

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State basketball has officially scheduled a non-conference meeting with Brigham Young University (BYU). The Sun Devils and Cougars will be participating in the 2023 Vegas Showdown.

Arizona State basketball facing off against BYU

ESPN officially announced the matchups on Tuesday after releasing the four teams that would make up the field back in May. Arizona State is joined by BYU, NC State, and Vanderbilt in the four-team event. Two semifinal contests will be held on Thursday, Nov. 23 leading to the consolation (losing teams) and championship games (winning teams) on Friday, Nov. 24.

The Sun Devils will take on BYU on Thursday, Nov. 23 at 9 PM AZT in the second of the two Vegas Showdown semifinals. Vanderbilt and NC State will play in the first matchup of the day, with both games broadcasted on ESPN2.

Last season BYU went 20-15 with a 5-4 record at neutral sites. In comparison, Arizona State went 23-13 with a 6-2 record on neutral sites.

All-time, Arizona State is 2-4 against BYU. The two schools most recently met in 2009, BYU came away with the victory in Provo. The Sun Devils held Jimmer Fredette to just 10 points on 1-13 shooting. Despite the loss, that was an impressive feat on its own.

This is presumably going to be the last time the two schools meet before they are both Big 12 members (beginning in 2024).

Other opponents in the Vegas Showdown

ASU played in a non-conference tournament last year, the Legends Classic in Brooklyn. The Sun Devils won the event, picking up wins over Michigan and VCU.

The other potential opponents for the Sun Devils are Vanderbilt and NC State. Last season Vanderbilt was 22-15 with a 3-3 record on neutral sites. You may remember the Commodores making a last-minute push for the NCAA Tournament late last season.

NC State is the final potential opponent, and that poses an interesting matchup for Arizona State. Former Sun Devil DJ Horne is joining the Wolfpack this season after transferring from Arizona State. Former ASU assistant Joel Justus is also on staff in Raleigh. Justus coached under Bobby Hurley in the 2021-2022 season.

The 2023 Vegas Showdown should provide some intriguing games for Sun Devil fans.

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