Arizona State plays its first home game in more than a month against Colorado on Saturday evening. Read more for a full Arizona State vs. Colorado prediction.
Just as football season finishes in the Valley, Sun Devil nation is getting excited for their men’s basketball team’s first Big 12 home game against a familiar foe in the Buffaloes. It will be the 23rd all-time meeting between the two sides, with the Maroon and Gold taking eight of them.
General Information:
Teams: Arizona State (9-3, 0-1) and Colorado (9-3, 0-1)
Tip Time: 6 p.m. EST
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: ESPN 620 AM (KTAR)
Latest on Colorado basketball:
Not only did the Buffaloes also head to the Big 12 like the Sun Devils, but they also have the same record as them. They are 9-3, but lost their conference opener to No. 3 Iowa State 79-69 last Monday. It was their second matchup against the Cyclones this season, losing to them 99-71 at the Maui Invitational, but that did not count as a conference game. They also beat then-No. 2 UConn in that tournament.
Colorado’s trip to Tempe will be its first road game in the contingent United States this season. It has yet to lose at home, with its closest scare being on Nov. 8 in a 90-88 double overtime victory against Northern Colorado.
Tad Boyle and the coaching staff has retooled the roster after losing their top five scorers from last season’s run to the NCAA tournament Round of 32. Senior guard Julian Hammond III, who made frequent appearances off the bench last season, leads the team with 13.8 points per game after dropping 21 against Iowa State last Monday.
Boyle has a couple of transfers averaging double figures as well in graduate center Elijah Malone from NAIA Grace College and graduate forward Andrej Jakimovski from Washington State. Although a start with the Cougars, Jakimovski only scored two points in his last trip to Tempe. Jakimovski did not play last Monday against Iowa State.
Despite a strong non-conference slate, the Buffaloes have struggled with turnovers, averaging 14.9 per game. Their opponents have scored 15.9 points per game off turnovers.
Latest on Arizona State basketball:
The Sun Devils, like the Buffaloes, did not have a good start to Big 12 play with a 76-56 loss for BYU on New Year’s Eve, their largest margin of defeat this season. It was only the third game this season that both starting forwards, senior Basheer Jihad and freshman Jayden Quaintance, were held to single figures. BYU junior Richie Saunders had 30 points.
It has felt like eons since the last Arizona State home game on Dec. 3, but fans will be treated to a lot of Maroon and Gold hoops, as three of the team’s next four games will be at Desert Financial Arena.
Additionally, the month of January will be busy for Bobby Hurley’s side, with eight conference games until Jan. 28, when they take on Colorado in Boulder. This comes after a relaxing December, that only featured four contests.
Arizona State vs Colorado prediction: Sun Devils by 8 (84-76)
After offensive struggles this past Tuesday, the Maroon and Gold should handle the Buffaloes with the home-court advantage. It will be interesting to see if Jakimovski will play for Colorado. Regardless, Jihad and Quaintance should be able to get into a rhythm.
[…] State basketball outplayed Colorado 81-61 at Desert Financial Arena on Saturday […]