TEMPE – Arizona State men’s basketball won its first game in February against Kansas State and looks to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since Dec. 3rd against BYU. ASU’s season started to go downhill after its game against BYU, where it lost 76-56 and then proceeded to go 3-12 in the next 15 games. In the last matchup, the Sun Devils struggled to contain junior guard Richie Saunders, who dropped a career-high 30 points.
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Mar 6, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) reacts after the score against the Iowa State Cyclones at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Saunders shot 6-for-11 from beyond the arc in that game and has made the Cougars the 3rd best 3-point shooting team in the Big 12, shooting 37.0% on 28.8 attempts. BYU has the most attempts and makes by a wide margin, and the junior guard is an essential piece for that, as he shoots 43.8% from the perimeter.
Nov 23, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Kamari Lands (0) dribbles against Brigham Young Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) during the first half at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
ASU has one of the best 3-point defenses in the conference, and outside of Saunders, held BYU to 4-for-21 shooting from beyond the arc in the previous matchup. The Sun Devils possess a lot of strong perimeter defenders they can throw at Saunders, even with the departure of senior guard BJ Freeman.
Senior guards Adam Miller and Alston Mason are shifty and athletic enough to stay connected to the Cougars junior guard, so he doesn’t get any open looks. BYU does have one of the best offenses in the Big 12, but if ASU can cut off Saunders from the half-court, it could cut off the flow for the entire offense.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
