Frustration lures as ASU basketball can’t finish once again

TEMPE, Ariz. – For the second straight week, ASU basketball fought hard and had a chance for an upset bid late in the second half at Desert Financial Arena. But a repeat result ensued.

ASU dropped the Territorial Cup game to Arizona 81-72. It was a very back-and-forth game throughout. However, ASU’s inability to protect its glass down the stretch cost it the game.

The shooting statistics and turnovers all look very similar for both sides. In fact, you could argue ASU had a slight edge with the better 3-point percentage and fewer turnovers. However, Arizona made its mark at the free-throw line.

ASU basketball falls short… again

In the post-game press conference, you could hear the defeat in the voices of both head coach Bobby Hurley and redshirt senior guard Adam Miller. The Sun Devils have shown the ability to compete toe-to-toe with the best teams in the country for stretches. However, ASU continues to struggle to finish games.

“Eventually, you have to do the things necessary to win. It’s getting a little old to walk in there after the game and explain why we just lost,” Hurley said.

It feels like it’s been the same story in many of ASU’s games this season. First, it was the ability to play one great half but not two. Now, it’s become the ability to play one and a half or three-fourths of a great game, but not that final bit.

“We’re right there every time, and that’s the part that hurts. That Iowa State game, that Baylor game, UCF game,” Miller said. “It’s like, a lot of games where it’s like people watch the games, they go to the bathroom, and they come back, and it’s like, ‘Damn, Arizona State’s down.’ We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Adam Miller (center) points to a teammate after scoring a basket against Arizona on Feb. 1, 2025, at Desert Financial Arena. Miller scored 16 points in the loss. (Photo by Sedona Levy/Sun Devil Daily)

Late swings

Against Iowa State, it was the final five minutes of the game. Saturday against Arizona, it was a stretch just before that in the second half.

“Part of it was that stretch where we were up five and turned the ball over twice, and they got the dunk off one, and they got a lot of life out of those couple of possessions,” Hurley said. “You can’t do that. You had a team down. We had a really great start to the second half, and we built a lead, and then we gave the ball away a couple of times.”

During that sequence, ASU had three turnovers committed by three different players. It led to a 10-point swing that resulted in ASU trailing by five points. Whether a lack of focus or a bad offensive strategy, the Wildcats press defense gave the Sun Devils trouble.

Caleb Love led the scoring for Arizona with 27 points, and Jaden Bradley reached double figures as well with 14. Junior guard BJ Freeman led ASU with 19 points and was joined by Miller with 16, and senior forward Basheer Jihad with 14, to all reach double figures.

BJ Freeman led Arizona State with 19 points against Arizona. (Photo by Sedona Levy/Sun Devil Daily)

What decided the game?

Offensive rebounding

Arizona collected 18 offensive rebounds, and ASU brought in 11. The Sun Devils’ inability to protect the glass gave the Wildcats way too many second chances.

In the first half, the offensive rebound margin was only two in favor of Arizona, and ASU had four more second-chance points. But in the second half, the Wildcats grabbed five more offensive boards and turned them into 12 points compared to ASU’s two points.

“We can’t give up that many offensive rebounds in the game to a team as good as Arizona and expect the win,” Hurley said.

When asked about the rebounding, Hurley described his frustration with the way teams block out freshman forward Jayden Quaintance.

“I have to do a better job of teaching my post players how to dislodge a player and just move him as far under the basket as possible into the cheerleader, sometimes,” Hurley said. “As your player drives to the basket, it must be nice to somebody for someone to pave the road for you like that, where you literally just wipe out a help defender and take him out of any type of help defense, because it’s basically a moving screen that’s allowed, and it’s been happening way too often for me to say that it’s not part of the reason that we can’t get an offensive rebound and we can’t challenge a layup in the paint.”

Hurley proceeded to get out of his seat and demonstrate the actions he was talking about. His frustration was evident with the style in which opposing players were attempting to box out Quaintance.

“A lot of times, Quaintance is being pushed into the basketball support. It’s great that they can do that, and it must be nice,” Hurley sarcastically said.

Arizona’s free throws

Hurley put it pretty simple after the game.

“You lose the game by nine, you get outshot by 11, and there you go. Otherwise, it’s really hard to find a lot separating the two teams,” Hurley said.

Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley looks as the Sun Devils duel the Wildcats in Tempe on Feb. 1, 2025. (Photo by Sedona Levy/Sun Devil Daily)

Arizona made 21 of its 22 free-throw attempts, and that one miss came with just 55 seconds left in the game. ASU made just 10 of its 14 free throw attempts.

The Wildcats came into the day ranked No. 57 in free throw percentage shooting 75.51 percent. ASU came in outside the top 200 shooting 70.43 percent.

The Sun Devils shot right at their season average, but the Wildcats had their best game of the season from the charity stripe, and it proved dividends.

Going forward for ASU basketball

After ASU’s loss to UCF, Quaintance discussed the team’s trust in each other. He said players needed to trust that if they pass the ball, they’ll get the ball back. They needed to get away from the mindset of needing to make the play every time the ball was in their hands.

Miller echoed that concept after Saturday’s loss to Arizona.

“I got good guys on my team. I love all my teammates,” Miller said. “But I think that we got like the superhero mentality sometimes, and it kind of backfires sometimes when it’s okay to trust your teammate a little bit more in some situations.”

Miller further explained how this translates into transition offense.

“I feel like if we, you know, have that one more mentality, trust your teammate, I think we go up by even more points, so when teams do make their run, we have a better cushion,” Miller said.

After the loss to Arizona, ASU is at a point where it needs to win most of its games left to be playing in March. Miller said as a veteran leader on this team, it’s time for him to step up and do something. He’s going to have a players-only meeting to talk with his teammates about accountability, trust, and keeping focus, in the hope of being able to finish games going forward.

Upcoming matchup against Kansas State

ASU welcomes Kansas State to Tempe on Tuesday at 8 p.m. in a game ASU is desperate to win. The Wildcats started conference play 1-6 but have won three straight. Kansas State beat West Virginia and upset No. 3 Iowa State in Ames last time out. ASU will have its hands full on Tuesday night.

“Good teams find a way to win. Bad teams find a way to lose. Winning solves everything. It doesn’t look a certain way,” Miller said. “I don’t care if we win by half a point or one or 20 points like you just have to find a way to win.”

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