Oregon State Basketball: Arizona State Sun Devils Preview (Game 27)

Arizona State Sun Devils (18-8, 9-4)

• Head Coach: Bobby ******* Hurley (5th Season)
• Top Performer: Remy Martin (19.2 PPG, 4.0 APG)
• Points For: 73.7 PPG (123rd)
• Points Against: 69.3 PPG (170th)
• Last Game/Streak: 77-72 Win vs. Oregon (6W)

The Skinny

Few teams in the country are playing as well as Arizona State right now.

The Sun Devils have buried a tough road loss at Washington State on January 29th behind them and have used the letdown as a catalyst to spearhead a six-game winning streak, which was punctuated by a crucial victory over Oregon on Thursday night.

Now sitting at 18-8 and just a half-game back of the lead in the Pac-12 title race, suddenly Arizona State’s NCAA Tournament hopes are looking more concrete, so long as Bobby Hurley and company can avoid another late season collapse. The type of collapse that would come at the hands of a 15-11 squad like Oregon State.

As the Beavers take to Tempe after being throttled by Arizona on Thursday, they know that the task at hand is sizable. The Wildcats quickly overpowered Oregon State and wore them down throughout the contest and Arizona State has the ability to take on a similar game-plan, especially with their prolific ability to score the basketball.

Whether it’s star guard Remy Martin (19.2 PPG), blossoming JUCO product Alonzo Verge Jr. (14.5 PPG), steady veteran Rob Edwards (10.9 PPG) or versatile big man Romello White (10.4 PPG), the Sun Devils currently have four players who average double-figures in scoring and are filling out stat-sheets with ease. How Oregon State finds a way to deal with Arizona State’s multi-headed offense attack is anyone’s guess.

And while morale isn’t exactly high around the Beavers program, the good vibes seem to just keep rolling at Arizona State, where the winners of eight of their last nine overall simply don’t see an end to this change of focus in sight. Sure, Oregon State has an unpredictable nature in them, but I’d be stunned to see the Beavers as the team to end the Sun Devils recent spell of excellent form.

Player To Watch

Cody Glenn-USA TODAY Sports

Alonzo Verge Jr. (Guard - Junior)

A JUCO teammate of Oregon State’s Sean Miller-Moore, Alonzo Verge Jr. has done more than settle in to the mix at Arizona State, he’s becoming arguably their most important piece on any given night. The 6’ 3” guard from Chicago is averaging a ridiculous 21.2 points per contest over the past six games for the Sun Devils.

Game Info

• Date: Saturday, February 22nd
• Time: 5:00 PM PT
• Location: Desert Financial Arena (Tempe, AZ)
• Coverage: ESPNU