Can Arizona State Sun Devils Basketball Finally Break Through This Season?

2025-11-06 09:00

As I sit here watching the Arizona State Sun Devils basketball team practice, I can't help but wonder if this could finally be their breakthrough season. Having followed college basketball for over two decades, I've seen plenty of promising teams come and go, but something feels different about this year's squad. The energy in the practice facility is electric, and the players move with a confidence I haven't seen in previous seasons. This isn't just another preseason hype train - there's genuine substance behind the optimism surrounding this program.

When I think about breakthrough moments in sports history, my mind often drifts to conversations I've had with industry veterans like former HBO sports executive Ross Greenburg. He once told me that true breakthroughs happen when talent meets opportunity at the right moment. Looking at Arizona State's roster this year, I see exactly that combination. The team returns four starters from last year's squad that finished 20-12, including senior guard Marcus Bagley, who averaged 16.8 points per game before his season-ending injury. That experience, combined with what I believe is the strongest recruiting class in program history, creates a perfect storm for success.

The Pac-12 conference landscape presents both challenges and opportunities this season. While traditional powerhouses like UCLA and Arizona remain formidable, I've noticed some vulnerabilities that the Sun Devils could exploit. Their non-conference schedule includes matchups against three top-25 teams, which will provide crucial early tests. If they can navigate that stretch with at least two victories, I'm confident they'll build the momentum needed for conference play. Having watched every Sun Devils game last season, I can attest that their defensive improvements were remarkable - they held opponents to just 68.3 points per game, down from 74.2 the previous season.

What really excites me about this team is their depth. Unlike previous seasons where they relied heavily on one or two stars, this year's roster goes nine players deep with legitimate Division I talent. The addition of transfer point guard Jordan Brown from Nevada gives them the court general they've been missing. I had the chance to watch him practice last week, and his decision-making in pick-and-roll situations is already at an elite level. Combine that with the improved three-point shooting of returning forward Jalen Graham - who worked extensively with shooting coaches over the summer - and you have the makings of a truly balanced offensive attack.

The coaching staff, led by Bobby Hurley, deserves significant credit for the program's development. Hurley's intensity has sometimes been criticized, but I've always appreciated his passion. This season, I'm noticing a more measured approach from him during practices. He's letting his assistants take more control during drills while focusing on big-picture strategy. This evolution in his coaching style could be exactly what the team needs to get over the hump. Having spoken with several players off the record, they seem to respond well to this new dynamic, feeling both supported and empowered.

In terms of competition, the Pac-12 looks more wide-open than it has in years. While Oregon remains the preseason favorite according to most analysts, I actually think USC poses the biggest threat to Arizona State's aspirations. The Trojans' size could cause problems for the Sun Devils' relatively smaller lineup. However, Arizona State's speed and perimeter shooting might just be the perfect counter to USC's interior dominance. It's these strategic matchups that will ultimately determine whether this becomes a breakthrough season or another near-miss.

The mental aspect of the game often gets overlooked in these discussions, but I've observed genuine growth in the team's collective mindset. Last season's heartbreaking overtime loss to Stanford in the Pac-12 tournament seems to have fueled their offseason work ethic rather than demoralizing them. During a recent practice, I noticed players staying late to work on free throws - the very thing that cost them in that Stanford game. That attention to detail and willingness to address weaknesses speaks volumes about their maturity.

Looking at the broader basketball landscape, breakthrough stories often follow similar patterns. Take Rodrigo Valdez, the Colombian middleweight champion who fought his way to recognition through persistence and strategic development. Similarly, the Sun Devils have been building toward this moment through incremental improvements each season. They're no longer the upstarts trying to prove they belong - they've established themselves as legitimate contenders through consistent performance. The question isn't whether they're good enough, but whether they can maintain that level through the grueling conference schedule.

As someone who's covered college basketball since 2005, I've learned to temper my expectations. But watching this Arizona State team, I find myself more optimistic than I've been in years. Their combination of veteran leadership, emerging young talent, and strategic coaching creates the perfect recipe for a breakthrough season. If they can stay healthy - particularly Bagley, who's crucial to their offensive scheme - I believe they can not only make the NCAA tournament but potentially advance to the second weekend. The pieces are there, the timing feels right, and the program has that intangible quality that often precedes major success stories. This could very well be the season that Arizona State basketball announces itself as a national force to be reckoned with.