Arizona State vs BYU Prediction and Preview

Read more for a full Arizona State vs BYU prediction.

Arizona State looks to win back-to-back Big 12 games for the first time this season as it takes on No. 25 BYU at Desert Financial Arena on Wednesday night. It will be the 47th all-time meeting, with the Sun Devils being 14-5 in games played in Tempe. However, the Cougars took the first clash of the season 76-56 in Provo, UT.

General Information

Teams: Arizona State (13-14, 4-12) and No. 25 BYU (19-8, 9-5)

Tip Time: 9:30 p.m. EST

Watch: ESPN+

Listen: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP)

Latest on BYU basketball:

The Cougars have become one of the most electrifying teams over the past week. They have averaged 93.5 points per game over the last two games, beating Kansas 91-57 at home on Feb. 18 and upsetting No. 22 Arizona 96-95 in a thriller last Saturday night in Tucson. It was the first time they had back-to-back wins against AP Top 25 opponents since 1988.

Junior guard Richie Saunders led the way with 23 points and three rebounds. He scored the visitors’ final four points. This included driving to the rack with three seconds remaining to draw a controversial foul. He made both free throws to equalize and take the lead. The Riverton, UT native had a breakout game against Arizona State with 30 points.

Freshman forward Kanon Catchings logged 14 points after scoreless outings against Kansas and Kansas State. Freshman guard Egor Demin had 13 points, along with eight assists. But he also struggled with ball security, with eight turnovers.

BYU now leads the Big 12 in field-goal percentage, effective field-goal percentage, two-point field-goal percentage and in three-pointers made per game. It is also averaging 80.8 points per game, which is second in the conference.

While the Cougars are ranked fourth in CBB Review’s most recent Big 12 power rankings, they have higher aspirations. They hold high chances of making the NCAA tournament, with Making the Madness projecting them as a No. 7 seed.

Latest on Arizona State basketball:

For the first time since Jan. 28, the Sun Devils won a game, as they beat Kansas State 66-54 on Sunday afternoon. Their freshman propelled them to victory, with forward Jayden Quaintance having 18 points and seven rebounds and guard/forward Amier Ali posting 11 points.

However, Quaintance, who has dealt with an ankle injury throughout Big 12 play, took a hard fall after driving to the basket with less than five minutes remaining. Play was stopped, and Quaintance had to be helped off the floor. He left Bramlage Coliseum in crutches.

“We’ll know a lot more tomorrow,” Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley told reporters during his media availability on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s a little premature to comment on it. We’re dotting our I’s and crossing our T’s.”

Nonetheless, the victory showed a spirited effort from Arizona State, who found out an hour before tip off that senior guard/forward BJ Freeman was dismissed due to “conduct detrimental to the team.” Freeman, who was the team’s leading scorer, had been ejected twice during the season, and was suspended for the Feb. 9 contest at Oklahoma State.

“We’ve had too many instances of either player or coach conduct with B.J., and he was already suspended once,” Hurley said after the Kansas State game. “It was a really hard decision to make– but it was based on this year, and he’s got another season to play. I’m sure that he’s going to still have a really good market for a place to land next year.”

The Sun Devils received a gift from one of their most famous alumni on Tuesday. Current Los Angeles Clippers player James Harden made a six-figure donation to the Sun Angel Collective, Arizona State’s official NIL organization. Harden had two seasons with the Maroon and Gold, averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

“I wanted to be a part of helping the team and the school get players,” Harden said in an interview with Front Office Sports. “We’re (a) very, very great program and a great school. If NIL is the problem, then I can help with that.”

“He carves out time every year to come back, see the new team, to be around the guys, share his experiences with them,” Hurley said about Harden. “If there’s a game that corresponds with where he is and he can be there, he’s gonna be there.”

Arizona State vs BYU prediction: Cougars by 17 (85-68)

Despite the newfound energy within this Sun Devils side, the Cougars come to Tempe with too much energy on the offensive end. Regardless on Quaintance’s status, Demin and junior center Keba Keita should dominate in the paint, while Saunders continues his hot streak.