Sun Devils Shoot Their Way Past the Jayhawks

Not many teams go into Allen Fieldhouse and come out with a victory. Arizona State are one of the few teams to do just that. With some great shooting by the Sun Devils upset the Jayhawks on Sunday afternoon.

Is it time to think differently about this years version of the Arizona State Sun Devils?

It might be. Coming into this season the Sun Devils were picked to finish 6th in the Pac-12 Conference. Right now, the Sun Devils are playing some of the best basketball in the country. People are starting to take notice of what they are doing.

Arizona State came into the game ranked 16th in the country and Kansas came in ranked number two. That’s why you play the game though.

The Sun Devils didn’t seem fazed at all by their surroundings or that they were on the road playing the number two team in the country. If you’re the road team, the longer you hang around, the more confidence you get.

The Sun Devils were down 40-37 at half and it appeared the Sun Devils were not intimidated by the talented Jayhawks.

Arizona State was shooting 44% from the field, but was shooting 50% from the three point line. When you have confidence shooting the ball, it doesn’t matter where you are playing. For shooters, it feels like you’re throwing a ball into a swimming pool.

The good shooting for the Sun Devils had to continue for them to have any chance at pulling off the upset.

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It did.

The Sun Devils turned back any little run by the Jayhawks by hitting shots. Namely, it was Tra Holder and Shannon Edwards who seemed to hit momentum stifling shots to keep the Jayhawks at bay.

The Sun Devils got up big on the Jayhawks in the second half and never really looked back.

After getting down by double digits in the second half, the Jayhawks were forced to shoot a lot of three pointers and they were not dropping for Kansas. The Jayhawks shot 35% from three point land in the second half. To climb the mountain and to get over the top and take the lead a team needs everything to go right.

It didn’t.

When it was all said and done the Sun Devils walked out of Allen Fieldhouse with their first road win over a top-5 team since 1998. The Sun Devils are out to the best start since the 1974-1975 season.

Final score was a 95-85 Sun Devil win.

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Is it time to take the Sun Devils seriously?

You are what your record says you are. The Sun Devils are 9-0 right now, ranked 16th in the country which undoubtedly will go much higher after this win.

With every win Arizona State gets, it bolsters their confidence. By beating the Jayhawks, the Sun Devils now know that they can play and beat anybody in the country.

I feel bad for Vanderbilt next Saturday. Forks Up Sun Devil fans.