Arizona State enters its Big 12 Conference debut with confidence when it visits BYU for a matchup of 9-2 teams on Tuesday in Provo, Utah.
The Sun Devils have won seven of their last eight games. Their only losses so far were to top-10 teams Gonzaga and Florida.
“I think we’re excited,” Arizona State guard Alston Mason said. “We had a really tough nonconference schedule. I know our guys are ready to start Big 12 play, and they’re excited to get after it.
“Hopefully, we shock a lot of people and make an impact in conference play once we get going.”
Mason, a transfer from Missouri State, is averaging 11.5 points and 3.5 assists per game.
Arizona State was picked 12th among the 16 teams in the Big 12 preseason poll conducted by league coaches.
BYU was picked to finish ninth under new coach Kevin Young, who was the Phoenix Suns’ associate head coach from 2021-24 and has 18 years of coaching experience in the NBA and G League.
The Cougars’ losses were to Ole Miss and Providence. Their most impressive win in the nonconference schedule came against North Carolina State in San Diego.
“In hindsight, I wish there could have been more power teams we could have learned to play from even more,” said Young, who replaced Mark Pope after Pope left for Kentucky. “I have learned a ton and will continue to do so as the schedule gets harder.”
Egor Demin (leg) and Richie Saunders (concussion) are available for the game, according to Young.
Demin, who has not played since Dec. 3, is averaging 13.3 points and 5.8 assists per game.
Saunders, averaging 12.3 ppg, did not play in the Cougars’ last game, a 103-57 win over visiting Florida A&M on Dec. 20.
Arizona State’s leading scorer is freshman guard Joson Sanon, who is scoring 14.0 ppg while shooting 50.9 percent from 3-point range (28 of 55).
–Field Level Media
