Colorado’s and Arizona State’s debuts in the Big 12 did not go well, and one of them will begin the conference season with two straight losses.
The Buffaloes fell at home to No. 3 Iowa State on Monday, and the Sun Devils lost at BYU on Tuesday. Now they meet in Tempe, Ariz., on Saturday afternoon.
Arizona State (9-3, 0-1 Big 12) has played just four of its first 12 games at home, with six coming in a neutral venue to go with two road games. The Sun Devils are led by Joson Sanon (13.5 points a game), Basheer Jihad (13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds), Alston Mason (11.3 points) and B.J. Freeman (11.3 points).
Adam Miller (9.7 points) and Jayden Quaintance (9.3 points, 8.1 rebounds) round out the squad’s top offensive performers. Freeman put up 11 points as the lone Sun Devil to finish in double figures during the team’s 76-56 loss to BYU.
The Sun Devils, who had been in the Pac-10/Pac-12 since 1978-79, realize it will be tough to win in their new league.
Five Big 12 teams are ranked in the Top 25.
“The Big 12 is the best basketball league in the country,” Sun Devils coach Bobby Hurley said.
Colorado (9-3, 0-1) is back in the Big 12 after 13 years in the Pac-12. The Buffaloes played the Cyclones tough before falling 79-69, and now they are set for their first true road game of the season after playing nine of their 12 contests at home and three at a neutral site during the Maui Invitational.
Colorado coach Tad Boyle said his team will have to contend with Arizona State’s freshmen — Sanon, Quaintance and Amier Ali.
“They’ve got some really talented guys,” he said. “They can shoot the ball.”
The Buffaloes are led by senior Julian Hammond III, who is averaging 13.8 points a game. Elijah Malone is second at 11.5 points per game, and Andrej Jakimovski is scoring 11.2 points per contest.
–Field Level Media
