Read more for a full Arizona State vs TCU prediction and preview.
Arizona State and TCU battle on Saturday evening at Desert Financial Arena in a clash between two teams in the bottom half of the Big 12 standings. It will be the seventh all-time meeting between both sides, with the Horned Frogs leading the series 4-2. Most notably, taking a 72-70 nail biter in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament and winning 79-59 at home last season.
General Information
Teams:Â Arizona State (12-12, 3-10 Big 12) and TCU (13-11, 6-7 Big 12)
Tip Time:Â 8 p.m. EST
Watch:Â ESPN+
Listen:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP)
Latest on TCU basketball:
The Horned Frogs come into Tempe winning three of their past four games, with one of the most thrilling wins of their season on Wednesday night. They beat Oklahoma State 73-72, clinching the victory in the final second on a miraculous turnaround three-pointer by sophomore guard Vasean Allette.
“The plan was for me to go long, so I told (redshirt freshman guard) Jace (Posey) like if it’s like (the) last option, just whip it,” Allette told reporters after the game. “I’m not gonna let nobody take the ball from me…I was gonna jump, but I waited for it. It just touched my hand, and I just shot it.”
Allette led the way with 16 points. He was one of two starters to reach double figures. The other being senior guard Noah Reynolds (the team leader in points and minutes), who had 13. Freshman forward Micah Robinson and freshman center Malick Diallo also reached double figures off the bench.
Saturday evening would have been a homecoming of sorts for TCU’s senior guard Frankie Collins, who played his last two seasons with Arizona State, leading the team with 13.8 points per game last season. However, he has been injured, not appearing since the matchup against Vanderbilt on Dec. 8. Collins had a hot start to his time in Fort Worth, averaging 11.2 points per game.
The Horned Frogs have the worst scoring offense in the Big 12, averaging 68 points per game. They also give up the same amount of points on defense.
Latest on Arizona State basketball:
The Sun Devils enter the weekend after one of their best performances, but also one of their worst losses of the season, in a 111-106 double overtime defeat on the road to No. 12 Texas Tech.
Arizona State had a few chances to win. Most notably at the end of regulation, as the Red Raiders missed a shot in the waning moments. Luckily for the home side, super-senior guard Chance McMillian grabbed the rebound in the paint, and scored a put back with less than a second remaining.
Texas Tech’s resilience turned to momentum in second overtime, as it jumped out to the lead, forcing Arizona State into taking deep shots. The road side grew more frantic with every missed shot, which led to turnovers and eventual demise down the stretch.
Five Sun Devils landed in double figures, with redshirt senior guard Adam Miller leading the way with 22 points. It was his first 20+ point performance since his first game in Maroon and Gold on Dec. 16, 2023 at TCU. Senior guard/forward BJ Freeman followed with 21 points.
Freshman guard/forward Amier Ali once again stepped up in the shorthanded roster. Fresh off his first career double-double against Oklahoma State, he scored 18 points on Wednesday night, going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, while pulling in seven rebounds.
Bobby Hurley’s side has been playing short handed since November, and will most likely finish the season that way too with the recent news on freshman forward Jayden Quaintance. The five-star recruit will be out for “extended” time with an ankle injury, which has hindered his play since the Jan. 25 contest against then-No. 3 Iowa State.
The first 2,000 fans who go to Saturday evening’s game will receive a limited edition James Harden bobblehead courtesy of Adidas. Harden played for the Sun Devils from 2007 to 2009 before being drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the third overall pick.
Arizona State vs TCU prediction: Sun Devils by 6 (74-68)
Although they lost on Wednesday night, the Sun Devils should have some momentum, knowing they shot over 55% from the field against a Top 15 opponent. That momentum should grow with the fans at Desert Financial Arena creating a hostile environment on Saturday evening. TCU has also struggled away from Fort Worth, with only one true road win this season.
[…] State basketball dropped its fifth consecutive game with a 74-70 home loss to TCU on Saturday […]
[…] Sun Devils continue to suffer in conference play, dropping their sixth consecutive home game 74-70 to TCU on Saturday night. They were once again shorthanded without freshman forward Jayden […]