Can the Arizona State Sun Devils Outshine the USC Trojans at Galen Center?
As the Arizona State Sun Devils prepare to face off against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles' Galen Center, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward their momentum from a recent victory. The Sun Devils, coming off a triumphant win against Fresno State Bulldogs on December 20th with an 80-76 scoreline, showcased a robust offensive strategy that could be pivotal in their upcoming game.
In that game, ASU demonstrated remarkable efficiency from inside the paint, scoring 50 points and shooting at an impressive 51 percent from two-point range. Their defense was equally tenacious with 10 steals and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.6, indicating smart ball movement and careful possession play.
However, it's not all smooth sailing for ASU; they faced a tough loss against Arizona Wildcats just two days prior to their victory over Fresno State. Scoring only 52 points compared to Wildcats' staggering 91 points highlighted potential vulnerabilities in ASU's defense which allowed too many points in paint (42) and struggled with three-point defense as Wildcats shot at an alarming rate of 65 percent from beyond the arc.
The Sun Devils also had a close encounter with Grand Canyon Antelopes earlier in December where they fell short by seven points. Despite this loss, there were positive takeaways such as shooting over half of their three-point attempts successfully (54 percent) and maintaining decent fast break scoring.
Looking ahead to the clash with USC Trojans, ASU must leverage its strengths while addressing weaknesses exposed in past games. A key factor will be whether they can replicate or even exceed their performance against Fresno State by dominating inside scoring opportunities and maintaining high defensive pressure leading to turnovers which they can convert into fast break points.
The Trojans will not make it easy though; any lapses similar to those seen against Arizona could prove costly once again. It is crucial for ASU's players to stay focused throughout all four quarters of play and execute both ends of the court effectively.
Fans are hopeful that coach Charli Turner Thorne has prepared her squad well for this challenge as she often does – emphasizing resilience on defense while exploiting every offensive opportunity presented during gameplay.
The scheduled date for this anticipated matchup is February 9th at Galen Center starting at 7:00 PM local time (PST). Fans unable to attend can catch live action through broadcast partners or follow along via live updates provided by sports networks covering college basketball events.