The Arizona State men’s basketball team is in a great position.
The Sun Devils (9-2) faced a daunting nonconference schedule and emerged with nine victories, including wins over three teams who made the NCAA Tournament last season.
Now the real test begins. ASU begins its first season in the Big 12 with a road game at BYU (9-2) on New Year’s Eve. The Sun Devils are ranked No. 51 in the NCAA’s Net Rankings, six spots behind BYU.
Coming off a 78-62 win over UMass on Dec. 21, Arizona State has had 10 days to prepare for the Cougars. BYU has had 11 days to prepare after a 103-57 victory over Florida A&M on Dec. 20.
The Sun Devils have five players averaging in double figures, led by freshman guard Joson Sanon at 14.0 points per game. BYU features similar balance with five players scoring in double figures, led by freshman guard Egor Demin at 13.3 points per game.
Despite the identical records and similar profiles, BYU is a heavy favorite – 9.5 points.
BYU’s home arena, the Marriott Center, is one of the loudest venues in college basketball. It seats 19,000, which is the size of most NBA arenas. Arizona State will have to get off to a fast start to quiet the crowd and neutralize BYU’s homecourt advantage.
Here are details on how to watch, stream and follow Arizona State’s Big 12 matchup vs. BYU on Tuesday:
Who: Arizona State vs. BYU in the Big 12 opener for both teams
When: 2 p.m. MST | Tuesday, December 31
Where: Marriott Center | Provo, Utah
Live Stream: Watch Arizona State-UMass live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)
TV Channel: ESPN2
Betting Odds: BYU is favored by 9.5 points.Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
ESPN FPI Prediction: Arizona State has a 20.8% chance to win
Our Prediction: Arizona State 77, BYU 74
Live Updates, Highlights: Follow the game on Arizona State On SI for live updates, in-game analysis and big-play highlights throughout Tuesday’s matchup
There's no official handbook provided on the art of coaching. But if there was, the '1-0' mindset would be in the first chapter.Missouri Tigers head coach Denni
Central Florida high school boys’ basketball teams continued to pound the glass and hit the hole with success this season.We took a look at schools in seven a
Alabama basketball is back on the road with a visit to one of the most iconic venues in college hoops.No. 9 Kentucky welcomes the No. 5 Crimson Tide to Rupp Are
The University of Miami women’s basketball team battled for 40 minutes Thursday evening; however, they fell to Boston College (11-8, 2-4) in a tightly contest