Can the Sun Devils Outshine the Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion?
As the Arizona State Sun Devils prepare to face off against the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward their momentum from a recent victory. The Sun Devils' performance on December 30 against Stanford Cardinal was nothing short of impressive, securing a win with 76 points to Stanford's 73. This game showcased ASU's ability to execute under pressure, particularly in the second half where they scored an astounding 48 points.
The statistics from that game speak volumes about ASU's potential. With a field goal percentage of 46 percent and a commendable two-point shooting percentage of 61 percent, it is clear that when they find their rhythm, they are hard to stop. Their defensive efforts were also notable with four blocks and five steals contributing significantly to their win.
However, not all recent games have been as favorable for ASU. The December 21 matchup against Northwestern Wildcats saw them struggle offensively with only a 31 percent field goal success rate and an even more concerning three-point percentage of just 17 percent. Despite these challenges, there were still glimpses of promise shown by the six steals and eight fast break points they managed to secure.
Looking further back at the December 17 encounter with TCU Horned Frogs reveals some areas for improvement for ASU. They suffered defensively allowing TCU an overwhelming number of points in paint (44) and fast break points (21). Additionally, turnovers were a significant issue for ASU as they gave up possession nineteen times which led directly to eleven points for TCU.
Moving forward into this upcoming clash against CAL on New Year's Eve, it is crucial that ASU focuses on maintaining strong defense without sacrificing offensive efficiency. If they can replicate or improve upon their shooting percentages from the Stanford game while tightening up ball control as seen in previous performances this season, there is no doubt that they could leave Berkeley victorious.
The Golden Bears should not be underestimated though; any lapse in concentration or execution by ASU could easily be capitalized upon by CAL’s squad who will have home court advantage and undoubtedly be looking to impress their own fans.
Fans eagerly anticipating this end-of-year showdown should mark their calendars for December 31st at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley where tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM local time (-07:00). The action will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Network – don't miss what promises to be an exciting conclusion to Arizona State Sun Devils' year!