ASU basketball lost its fifth straight game, lack of discipline remains an issue

TEMPE, Ariz. – ASU basketball entered Saturday night on a four-game skid needing a home victory. Instead, TCU led nearly coast to coast as the Sun Devils lost their fifth straight game.

ASU overcame a 13-point second-half deficit but couldn’t complete the comeback win in its 74-70 loss Saturday night. The game looked eerily similar to many of ASU’s close losses this season, but one thing in particular that stood out was the Sun Devils’ lack of discipline.

Lack of discipline has led to technical fouls and ejections for ASU basketball

For the third time this season and the third time in the last five games, a Sun Devil was ejected. With over 16 minutes left in the game, redshirt senior guard Adam Miller was accessed two technical fouls and tossed from the game.

“Adam disagreed with the call, and he said things he’s not allowed to say,” coach Bobby Hurley said after the game. “You know, I heard him say it, so he’s going to have to own that now.”

This wasn’t the first time Miller had been ejected from a game this season. Against Kansas State, Miller was ejected with about eight minutes remaining in the game.

“I just think he’s (Adam Miller) been a terrific guy for me to coach,” Hurley said. “We just, we have to find a way to use a little better judgment, and, you know, resist the temptation of losing our cool.”

Arizona State basketball player Adam Miller reacts against Iowa State in Tempe on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (Photo by Spencer Barnes/Sun Devil Daily)

Miller isn’t the only Sun Devil who’s had trouble staying on the court recently. Senior guard BJ Freeman was ejected against Arizona after an altercation with Caleb Love.

“Since the end of the Arizona game, we’ve talked a lot about that, and just the importance of the sportsmanship piece and the controlling your emotions piece,” Hurley continued.

Many of ASU’s games have been very close and come down to the wire. However, ASU has rarely come out on top. Hurley said he believes that’s a reason for the loss of control because the “group truly cares, and they want to win.”

Frustration flowing

After Miller’s ejection against Kansas State, he was suspended for the following game against Oklahoma State. For the same game, ASU suspended Freeman for conduct detrimental to the team.

Both players are seniors for ASU who are supposed to be the leaders of the team. This season started strong with the Sun Devils non-conference play, but it has quickly unraveled in Big 12 play. The Sun Devils seniors’ frustrations boiling over could be due to the path to the NCAA Tournament getting slimmer and slimmer.

However, Saturday night Freeman took accountability for his actions and said it’s on him and his teammates to keep their emotions in check going forward.

“We’ve been having problems with us not keeping our emotions straight, especially me,” Freeman said. “After my throw-out against Arizona, Coach said that they were going to be nit-picking on us and watching us the rest of this year. So that’s on us, not listening to coach, you know, not taking it serious.”

Coming up short

This team has played so well in many games this season with chances to beat top teams in the conference and country. It really feels like it’s simply a culmination of all the frustrations from coming up just short repeatedly.

ASU has already had to battle injuries all season long, from freshman guard Joson Sanon to freshman forward Jayden Quaintance. The Sun Devils can’t afford to play even more shorthanded because players can’t stay disciplined.

ASU’s loss Saturday night essentially eliminated it from an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. If the Sun Devils want to make a run in the Big 12 Tournament, discipline will be essential.

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