Phoenix- Arizona State University has been preparing for the upcoming College Basketball Crown Tournament, set to take place in Las Vegas from March 31 to April 6. The event will be hosted at both the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena. After failing to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, the Sun Devils are looking to make a statement in this competition.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, head coach Bobby Hurley and his team were dealt a major setback when key shooter Joson Sanon entered the transfer portal, leaving the Sun Devils just before the tournament. Just one day later, Arizona State received even more crushing news, freshman forward Brandon Gardner also entered the transfer portal.
Gardner, a 6-foot-8, 185-pound power forward, was expected to play a critical role in the tournament. However, his relationship with Hurley may have been strained, as he had been suspended from play since January due to a team rules violation. His departure leaves Arizona State in a tough position, with only seven rotation players available for their upcoming matchup against Nebraska.
Jayden Quaintance, one of the team’s leading forwards, will be extremely relied upon as he is expected to crush significant minutes on the court. With just seven available players, five on the court and two backups staying healthy will be crucial for ASU. Any injury could put the Sun Devils in an even more difficult situation.
Is Hurley expecting too much from his short-handed squad? As Arizona State braces for a challenging tournament opener, the pressure is on to defy the odds.
What Joson Sanon’s transfer means for Arizona State and where he could land next
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Reporter Dulce Antonsen covers general assignments in The Valley for Burn City Sports.
