7:02 pm
December 17

#20 Arizona State @ Vanderbilt

Who will WIN this matchup?

#20 Arizona State Sun Devils (8-1)

@ Vanderbilt Commodores (6-2)

 

Current odds:

Arizona State Sun Devils: (-110)

Vanderbilt Commodores: (-110)

 

•  The line for this game is even.

• The Bobby Hurley effect is real for No. 20 Arizona State, which has gone 37-11 outside of Pac-12 play under its fourth-year head coach. The surging Sun Devils look to build on that success Monday when they visit Vanderbilt, which has had the past 12 days off for final exams. Sophomore guard Remy Martin scored 21 points while sophomore forward Romello White added 16 for the Sun Devils, who bounced back from last week’s 72-66 loss to Nevada by forcing 19 turnovers overall and holding Georgia to nine field goals in the second half. Arizona State won despite a quiet game from leading scorer Luguentz Dort, a 6-4 freshman guard who was 2-of-10 from the field and finished with 12 points, well below his season average of 20.9.

• Dort looks to return to form against a Vanderbilt team that is adjusting to life without star point guard Darius Garland, who had season-ending knee injury on Nov. 23.

• After being held to five points on 1-of-10 shooting against Nevada, Martin was 8-of-20 with a season-high eight rebounds in the win over Georgia. “He’s not afraid of the moment at all in these tough environments,” Hurley told reporters. “He really has a great spirit about him. He’s a winner.” The Sun Devils have a plus-11.5 rebounding margin and boast a strong frontcourt led by 6-10 senior De’Quon Lake and San Diego State transfer Zylan Cheathan, who is averaging 12.2 points and 9.7 rebounds.

• With Garland sidelined, the team’s offense has revolved around 6-10 freshman Simi Shittu, who is averaging 15.9 points and 7.8 boards while shooting 56.3 percent from the field overall. Shittu had 15 points in a 79-51 win over Middle Tennessee on Dec. 5 while Syracuse transfer Matthew Moyer made his first start of the season and added a season-high 14 points. Senior wing Joe Toye has scored in double figures in five games for the Commodores, who defeated Pac-12 opponent USC 82-78 on Nov. 11.

• Arizona State has won all four previous meetings against Vanderbilt – including 76-64 in Tempe on Dec. 17, 2017.

• Hurley recorded his 100th career coaching victory Saturday.

• Vanderbilt ranks fifth in the SEC in scoring at 83.9 points per game.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#20 Arizona State Sun Devils
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