While most of the country enjoyed great food and quality time with loved ones, the Sun Devils put together two big-time performances to win the Acrisure Classic in Palm Springs.
The four-team field included ASU, Saint Mary's, New Mexico and USC. In the first round, Saint Mary's made quick work of USC, dismantling them 71-36, showing why they are one of the top mid-majors in the country. The Sun Devils squandered an early lead against New Mexico but fought back and overcame a 30-point Donovan Dent performance, winning 85-82.
Saint Mary's came into the championship game boasting an undefeated record and were sitting just outside the AP Top 25 poll. It was another tough, hard-fought game that went the Sun Devils' way as they squeaked out a 68-64 win.
Headlining the success was freshman guard Joson Sanon, who continued his hot streak, scoring 19 in both games. The scoring paired with efficient shooting was enough to crown him tournament MVP. He's quickly emerging as the go-to guy, even though he's coming off the bench. He's been given a lot of praise from his teammates and coaches since this burst in performance.
"Joson believes in himself, he believed in himself before I got him, we're just trying to put him in good spots where he can make plays," head coach Bobby Hurley said through SunDevilSource. "He's the best shooter I've ever coached and he can do it in a number of different ways."
He leads the team in scoring and is shooting 52.6% from three, good for 10th in the country.
"I keep saying this all the time, Joson is the best freshman in the country," senior guard BJ Freeman said through SunDevilSource. "I stand on that every time."
The key to success so far has been balance within the team. The roster construction is done with precision, balancing high-potential freshmen with veterans. This translates into scoring, as ASU doesn't rely on one or two guys to get the job done. Instead, there are multiple double-digit scorers and contributors.
One of those veterans on the squad is the senior forward Basheer Jihad. Jihad is a leader who got things done on both sides of the floor in the Classic averaging 14 points and collecting 4 stocks.
"Just to be the glue guy, do whatever the team needs me to do," Jihad said through SunDevilSource. "One night they need me to be a passer, be a rim protector ... My game translates, and I feel like I can do anything on the court, doing whatever the team needs."
The team doesn't just play on one side of the court either. According to Kenpom, they have the 57th-best offensive and 55th-best defensive efficiency in the country, a solid mark on both ends.
ASU was forced to play two teams on opposite sides of the tempo meter. New Mexico currently clocks in as the fastest team in college basketball, while Saint Mary's is one of the slowest teams, per Kenpom. The Sun Devils, on the other hand, sit at a middling 138. Controlling a balanced tempo for most of the two games was a major reason ASU emerged victorious.
In a crazed week in the world of college basketball, ASU was able to garner some national attention thanks to the championship win. In Jon Rothstein's "Rothstein 45," the Sun Devils sit at No. 26. The NCAA's NET rankings that play a major part in tournament seeding were released for the first time this season and have the Sun Devils at No. 33. In both the Coaches and AP Poll, ASU is right on the cusp of the Top 25 at No. 30.
The Sun Devils now sit at 7-1 while playing one of the most difficult schedules so far. Next is a home game against San Diego on Tuesday. Then comes a major test in Atlanta against currently undefeated No. 13 Florida.
Edited by Henry Smardo, Abigail Beck and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at jkmccar2@asu.edu and follow @jackmccarthyasu on X.
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Jack is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in business. This is his first semester with The State Press. He has also worked at his high school paper.
