Arizona State basketball takes on Massachusetts at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. Read more for a full Arizona State vs UMass prediction and preview.
The Sun Devils immerse themselves in history on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Springfield, MA–the birthplace of college basketball–to take on the Minutemen. It will be the first matchup between the two sides, and the second game of a doubleheader that starts with Temple facing Rhode Island.
General Information:
Teams:Â Arizona State (8-2) and UMass (5-7)
Tip Time:Â 4 p.m. EST
Watch:Â CBS Sports Network
Listen:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP)
Latest on UMass basketball:
The Minutemen entered this season after going 20-11 overall in the 2023-24 campaign. Despite getting the fourth seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament, they fell to fifth-seeded VCU 73-59 in the first round.
Frank Martin’s side went 9-4 in non-conference play that season. This year, they are 5-7 ahead of the non-conference closer against Arizona State basketball. This includes four defeats by single digits. However, they enter Saturday afternoon’s contest on a two-game win streak, beating UMass Boston 86-52 last Saturday and Northeastern 77-72 on Wednesday.
Massachusetts has three players who have started every matchup this season and average double figures. Sophomore guard Jaylen Curry leads the way with 14.3 points per game, and has shot 38.5% from three-point land. Senior guard Rahsool Diggins leads the team with 374 minutes while averaging 10.9 points per game. Senior forward Daniel Rivera has put up 10.8 points per game.
Junior forward Daniel Hankins-Stanford was also averaging double figures as he started the first eight games of the season.
The Minutmen also have a former Sun Devil in Akil Watson on their squad. The sophomore forward made 21 appearances off the bench, and averaged 6.2 minutes, 1.8 points and 0.7 rebounds per game, while notching three blocks and steals on the season.
Latest on Arizona State basketball:
Arizona State basketball looks to bounce back after an 83-66 loss to No. 7 Florida in Atlanta last Saturday. A couple Gator runs at the beginning of each half put the game out of reach for the team early. Despite the loss, it is still one of the 10 programs nationwide that have at least four wins in neutral-site games this season.
Redshirt senior guard Adam Miller led the way with a season-high 18 points. Freshman forward Jayden Quaintance followed with 14 points and eight rebounds, and senior forward Basheer Jihad posted 13 points.
As of Dec. 19, the Maroon and Gold are ranked 51st in the NET rankings and 61st in KenPom ahead of Saturday’s trip down memory lane.
“Our staff is always looking for ways to challenge our team in the non-conference and competing in this tournament is a perfect way to do that,” Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley said ahead of the matchup. “This trip will not only be a tremendous opportunity to educate our players about the history of the game, it will also present a chance for us to bond and become closer as a unit.”
Arizona State vs UMass prediction: Sun Devils by 17 (85-68)
Arizona State basketball should get back in the win column after the final buzzer on Saturday. Freshman guard Joson Sanon, who only mustered five points against the Gators, should return to his double-figure ways. Additionally, a win would provide the Maroon and Gold some comfort as they begin conference play at BYU on Dec. 31.
[…] Sun Devils rebounded on Dec. 21 with a 78-62 win over UMass at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, MA. They were down 33-31 at […]